How to download your Seesaw journal — and what to do with the zip file
Every year, schools archive their Seesaw classes — and family access can close with little notice. If your child's teacher used Seesaw this year, you may only have until the end of the school year to download their photos, videos, and teacher notes — including every caption your child's teacher wrote. Here's how to do it.
Before you start
Two things to know upfront — both will save you from going in circles:
Use a browser, not the app
Whether you're on desktop or phone, go to app.seesaw.me in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari — not through the Seesaw app. The download option only appears on the web.
You need to be a connected family member
Your child's teacher must have added your email address to their account. If you've been receiving Seesaw updates by email, you're already connected.
How to download your child's Seesaw archive
Takes about a minute. Works on desktop and phone.
- Go to app.seesaw.me and sign in with the email connected to your child's account
- Click your name in the top corner
- Click the gear icon
- Click Account Settings
- Click Download Journal Archives
- Click Download Journal next to the class you want
Don't see "Download Journal Archives"? Your child's teacher hasn't enabled Family Access for downloads. Send them a quick message and ask them to turn it on — it's a one-click change on their end.
Seesaw will prepare your archive and email you a download link when it's ready. It can take a few minutes for larger journals.
What you'll get
A zip file, organised by month. Inside each folder: the original photos, videos, and audio files — plus an HTML file for each post containing the teacher's captions and notes.
The honest truth: it's not a photo album. Files are named with long numeric strings, the HTML files need a browser to open, and the captions are tangled up with code. It's a data export. Useful to have, but not something you'll sit down and look through with your kid. If you want those photos and captions somewhere you'll actually use them — that's the next step.
On your phone?
You can do this on mobile — but not through the Seesaw app. Open your phone's browser (Safari or Chrome), go to app.seesaw.me, and follow the same steps above.
One thing to watch: the zip file can be up to 2 GB. Make sure you have enough storage space on your phone before you start, or you'll hit a wall mid-download.
Want it in Google Photos — captions and all?
Little Archive moves your Seesaw photos to Google Photos — teacher captions included. A few clicks, then we handle the rest.
Get started → Free early accessDon't wait on this one
Most schools close Seesaw archive access over the summer. If you're reading this in May or June, do it today — before the window closes. Here's what happens when access ends.