Export Zendesk Tickets With Comments
Here is how to export zendesk tickets for the whole company. Zendesk exports are off by default, and the CSV leaves out comments. Here's how to turn them on and get the full ticket history.
Data exports are off until the account owner asks Zendesk Support to turn them on. Then an admin goes to Admin Center, Account, Tools, Reports, Export and picks JSON, CSV or XML. Use JSON: the CSV export leaves out comments and ticket descriptions. Zendesk emails a download link that works for at least three days.
Before you export Zendesk tickets
| Format | Comments included? | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| JSON | Yes | Recommended over 200,000 tickets. Over 1 million exports in 31-day chunks. |
| XML | Yes, in full XML | Capped at 500 MB, about 200,000 tickets |
| CSV | No | Leaves out comments, descriptions and deleted tickets |
Exports need a Suite Growth plan or higher, or Support Professional or Enterprise. Team plans can only export through the API.
Step by step
01Ask Zendesk to turn on exports
The account owner contacts Zendesk Customer Support with the Support subdomain and asks for data exports to be enabled.
02Open Reports
In Admin Center, go to Account, then Tools, Reports, and open the Export tab.
03Pick JSON
Choose the JSON ticket export. Set the date range to cover your full history.
04Export users and organizations too
Run the user and organization exports so tickets can be matched to requesters and companies.
05Download from the email
Zendesk emails a link to a ZIP file. It works for at least three days. If the email doesn't arrive, use the latest link on the Reports page.
How to find the size of your Zendesk data
The ticket views and Explore reports show total ticket counts. Note total tickets, how many years, and how many have full back-and-forth conversations rather than one-line replies.
What a full Zendesk export is worth
AI companies license company records like this to train software agents on real work. Support tickets show a problem, the back-and-forth, and how it got solved. Years of full ticket threads are some of the clearest training records a buyer can get.
Buyers price on depth: years of continuous history with real discussion in it. A partial export or a single report is worth far less than the complete record.
How much is your Zendesk data worth? · Run the value calculator
Common problems
- No Export tab. Exports are off by default. The account owner has to ask Zendesk Support.
- Comments missing. You exported CSV. Use JSON or full XML.
- XML export unavailable. Accounts over 200,000 tickets can't use full XML. Use JSON.
- Some tickets missing comments. Tickets over 1 MB lose their comments in JSON.
Common questions
How do I export all tickets from Zendesk?
Get exports turned on by Zendesk Support, then Admin Center, Account, Tools, Reports, Export, JSON.
Does a Zendesk CSV export include comments?
No. Use JSON or full XML for comments.
Which Zendesk plans can export data?
Suite Growth and above, or Support Professional and Enterprise. Team plans use the API.
Should I export Zendesk before closing my business?
Yes. Start early, since turning on exports needs a request to Zendesk Support.