Threads Data Download ZIP File Format: What Each Folder Contains

When you request a data download from Threads, Meta delivers a ZIP file containing your account information. Many users open the archive and see a dozen folders without knowing what each one stores. This article explains every folder you will find inside the downloaded ZIP file and describes the data each folder holds.

The download includes your posts, likes, saved items, profile information, and activity logs. The file is structured to match Meta’s internal data storage layout. Understanding the folder structure helps you locate specific records quickly and verify what Meta stores about your Threads activity.

This guide covers the complete folder list, file types used, and the meaning of each subfolder. You will also learn how to interpret JSON files and what to do if expected folders are missing.

Threads Data Download Folder Structure Explained

The ZIP file you receive from Threads is named with your account username and a timestamp. When extracted, the top-level folder contains several subfolders. Each subfolder groups related data types. Meta uses JSON files for structured data and keeps media files in separate subdirectories.

The download does not include deleted content or data from other Meta products such as Instagram or Facebook. You must request a new download to receive updated data. The file size depends on how many posts and media files you have created.

Below is the complete list of folders you will see inside the extracted archive.

your_activity_across_threads

This folder stores your core activity on Threads. It contains the following JSON files:

• posts.json – Every public Threads post you created, including text, timestamps, and media references.
• likes.json – Posts you liked, with the post ID and timestamp.
• reposts.json – Posts you reposted, with the original post ID.
• saved.json – Posts you bookmarked or saved for later.
• quotes.json – Posts where you quoted another user’s post.
• mentions.json – Posts where other users mentioned your username.

Each JSON file contains an array of objects. Every object includes a timestamp in ISO 8601 format and a unique identifier for the related post. Media references point to files inside the content folder.

profile_information

This folder stores your account profile data. Files include:

• profile.json – Your display name, username, bio text, and profile picture URL.
• account_information.json – Account creation date, email address associated with your Instagram account, and account status.
• profile_photos.json – Metadata about your profile picture changes, including timestamps.

Your actual profile picture image is stored in the content folder under a subfolder named profile_photos.

followers_and_following

This folder contains your social graph data:

• followers.json – List of users who follow you, with their usernames and the date they started following.
• following.json – List of accounts you follow, with usernames and follow dates.
• pending_follow_requests.json – Accounts you have requested to follow if your account is private, or accounts that have requested to follow you.

Each entry includes a username string and a timestamp. The data does not include profile pictures or bios of those users.

content

This folder stores all media files you uploaded to Threads. Subfolders include:

• photos – Images you posted, named with a unique hash and the original file extension.
• videos – Video files you uploaded, in MP4 format.
• profile_photos – Your current and past profile pictures.

Media files are not embedded in JSON. Each post’s JSON file contains a media field with file paths relative to the content folder. If you deleted a post, the media file may still appear in the download if it was not removed from the server.

other_activity

This folder logs additional actions that are not posts or follows. Files include:

• search_history.json – Search queries you entered in the Threads search bar, with timestamps.
• login_activity.json – Login events with IP addresses, device type, and browser user agent strings.
• device_information.json – Devices you used to access Threads, including operating system and app version.
• session_information.json – Active session tokens and login timestamps.

This data is used by Meta for security and troubleshooting. The IP addresses are truncated to the first three octets.

settings_and_privacy

This folder stores your privacy and notification settings:

• privacy_settings.json – Whether your account is public or private, who can reply to your posts, and if you are visible in search engines.
• notification_settings.json – Which notifications you receive, such as likes, follows, and replies.
• blocked_users.json – List of usernames you have blocked.
• muted_users.json – List of usernames you have muted.

Blocked and muted lists include only the username and the date the action was taken.

ads_and_business

If you have interacted with advertisements or business accounts, this folder contains:

• ad_interests.json – Topics that Meta uses to show you ads, derived from your activity.
• advertisers_you_interacted_with.json – Ad accounts whose posts you clicked or engaged with.

This folder may be empty if you have not interacted with ads.

about_you

This folder contains a single file:

• your_topics.json – Topics Meta’s algorithm associates with your account, such as sports, technology, or entertainment.

The topics are generated automatically based on your activity. You cannot edit this list directly.

How to Read the JSON Files

JSON files in the download use a standard structure. Each file begins with a top-level object that contains a key named data. The value of data is an array of objects. Every object includes at least a timestamp field and a string_map_data field that holds the actual content.

For example, in posts.json, each object has a string_map_data key containing the post text, media references, and the post URL. The timestamp field shows when the post was created in Coordinated Universal Time.

You can open JSON files with any text editor. For easier navigation, use a JSON viewer or a code editor with syntax highlighting. Do not edit the files inside the ZIP archive. Edited files will fail verification if you try to re-upload them to Meta.

Missing Folders and What They Mean

Not every folder appears in every download. The following situations cause missing folders:

• ads_and_business folder missing – You have never clicked or engaged with an advertisement on Threads.
• content folder missing – You have not uploaded any photos or videos.
• settings_and_privacy folder missing – Your download request did not include settings data. Request a new download and select the option to include settings.

If a folder that should contain data is empty, it means the associated activity did not occur. An empty followers.json file means no one follows you.

Threads Data Download vs Instagram Data Download

Item	Threads Data Download	Instagram Data Download
Folder naming	Uses underscores and lowercase	Uses underscores and lowercase
JSON structure	Uses string_map_data key	Uses string_list_data key
Media storage	Separate content folder	Separate media folder
Federation data	Not included	Not applicable
Direct messages	Not included	Included in messages folder

Understanding the folder structure inside your Threads data download gives you full visibility into what Meta stores about your account. You can verify that your posts, followers, and settings match your expectations. If you find unexpected data, you can delete content directly from the Threads app and request a fresh download to confirm the changes. For advanced users, the JSON files can be parsed programmatically to create backups or analyze posting patterns over time.