How to Extract Text Messages from iPhone (2024)

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Can You Export Text Messages from iPhone?

Sometimes, you may want to extract messages from your iPhone. For example, you need to save or print your text messages from iPhone. Or you want to transfer text messages to your computer. This not only allows you to keep the important information contained in the messages safely on your PC so that you can recover them in case of data loss on your phone, but also frees up space on your phone. So can you export messages from iPhone?

Of course you can! Here, to make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of the best methods. These different methods can help you extract messages from your iPhone. Let's take a look!

4 Ways to Extract Text Messages from iPhone

In this section, we list 4 simple ways to help you learn how to extract messages from iPhone. You can pick the ways you like according to your needs.

Way 1. Copy and Paste the Text Message

The first method to extract your text messages is copying and pasting them into another application or document. But it needs you to move the messages one-by-one. Here's how to extract text messages from iPhone:

Step 1. Open the Messages app > Go to the text message you want to extract > Press and hold the message bubble until you see the More option.

Step 2. Tap Copy icon to copy the text message to the clipboard.

Step 3. Then, open another application or document where you wish to save the message > Tap and hold in the text field or document > Select Paste to paste the message.

If you need to transfer multiple messages from your phone to your computer, you can choose Way 4. It allows you to transfer multiple messages at once and the transfer speed is very fast.

Way 2. Save Text Message as A Screenshot

If you want to save the entire conversation as a picture, taking a screenshot is a quick and easy way to do it. If one screenshot cannot contain all the information, you need third-party software to take a long screenshot.

Here's how to extract the message and save them as a screenshot.

Step 1. Open Messages on your iPhone > Locate the message you want to save.

Step 2. To take a screenshot, you have different ways.

  • On Face ID iPhone: Please press Side button and Volume Up button synchronously.
  • On Touch ID iPhone: Please press Side or Top button and Home button together.

Step 3. After that, the picture which contains your messages will be saved in the Photos app. You can export, print, or transfer it as you like.

Way 3. Extract the Text Message with Email

You can use Email to send a text message to your email address, effectively saving it as an email message. Here's how to transfer text messages from iPhone:

Step 1. Open the Messages app > Locate the text message you want to extract.

Step 2. Press and hold any text message(s) in the conversation > Until options appear, choose More. You can select multiple messages if you need.

Step 3. Then click the arrow icon or the forward iconin the bottom-right corner.

Step 4. Enter your email address in the To field > Tap Send to download the text messages to another device with a message or email.

Way 4. How to Transfer All Text Messages from iPhone Easily

FoneToolis a free professional iPhone data backup and transfer software. It has a user-friendly interface and easy to use. You can quickly export multiple messages from iPhone at once, or backup iPhone messages without iTuneson PC. If you want to view them on another iOS device, you could also restore them without covering any data and Apple ID limits.

Preview the messages on your iPhone and select the needed messages.

View your image files of messages on computer without the Internet.

Restore messages to iPad/iPod Touch or another iPhone to conveniently view them.

FoneTool offers a no-data-loss restoration, and it will not erase any existing data on the device.

Supports most iPhone models including the latest iPhone and the latest iOS 18.

Now, you could follow the steps below to learn how to extract messages from iPhone backup.

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Step 1. Download FoneTool for free> Connect your iPhone to computer > Tap Trust on your iPhone.

Step 2. On the home screen of FoneTool, go to Phone Backup > Choose Selective Backup> Tap Get Started to continue.

Step 3. Check the Messages icon to select the specific messages you want to export to PC. Unselect the other files if you don’t need them.

Step 4. After that, click Start Backup to begin the process.

Once you backed up your text messages, to view the message on your computer, you can go to My Backups and tap view button.

By the way, if you want to view WhatsApp messages on your PC, you can go to WhatsApp Manager > ChooseWhatsApp or WA Business according to your needs > Then click the Get Started to begin.

After it is finished the backup process, you can go to My Backups to view and tap Export to Computer icon to download WhatsApp messages on the PC.

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Conclusion

That’s all about how to extract text messages from iPhone. This article shows you 4 different methods. You can copy and paste the text messages directly, save the messages as screenshots, transfer them via Email, or use a professional tool to transfer all the messages you want to your computer at once. You can choose the way according to your needs!

How to Extract Text Messages from iPhone (2024)

FAQs

How to Extract Text Messages from iPhone? ›

Go to the Messages app and click the conversation you want to download. Press and hold one of the texts and choose More. Now manually select the whole conversation and forward them via an email or message. By doing so, you can download iMessage history and an entire text conversation from your iPhone.

Can you export text messages from an iPhone? ›

You can easily export messages from your iPhone to a PDF and then email them by screenshotting the messages and using the Acrobat Reader app. Here's how to export iPhone messages as shareable PDFs directly from your iPhone: Go to the Messages app. Find and choose the messages you want to save.

How do I copy an entire text conversation on iPhone for court? ›

If you want to save your entire message thread, the best way to print out text messages on an iPhone is to use a third-party app called iMazing. This app allows you to export your messages as a PDF file, which you can then print from your computer or save as a digital copy.

How do I withdraw text messages from my iPhone? ›

Unsend a message

You can undo a recently sent message for up to 2 minutes after sending it. Open the Messages app on your iPhone. Touch and hold the message bubble, then tap Undo Send.

How to get text messages from iPhone backup? ›

How to retrieve iPhone messages using iTunes
  1. Connect your iPhone to a computer.
  2. Open iTunes if it doesn't appear automatically.
  3. Click on the phone icon at the top of the screen and select Summary from the menu on the left.
  4. Click Restore Backup.
Oct 18, 2023

How do I download an entire text conversation from my iPhone? ›

Go to the Messages app and click the conversation you want to download. Press and hold one of the texts and choose More. Now manually select the whole conversation and forward them via an email or message. By doing so, you can download iMessage history and an entire text conversation from your iPhone.

Is there a way to copy text messages from iPhone? ›

After selecting the text you want to revise, you can type, or tap the selection to see editing options: Cut: Tap Cut or pinch closed with three fingers two times. Copy: Tap Copy or pinch closed with three fingers. Paste: Tap Paste or pinch open with three fingers.

Is there a way to get a transcript of all text messages? ›

Text message records must be obtained from a party's cell phone provider. An attorney can obtain a court order or subpoena to get the records directly from the service provider. However, there are limitations on what the provider can produce.

How do I make a hard copy of text messages from my iPhone? ›

Step 1: Open the messaging app on your iPhone and go to the conversation you want to print. Step 2: Touch and hold the message you want to print. It will provide you with various options like copy, paste, forward, special, and more. Choose the "copy" to copy the content of your messages to the iPhone's clipboard.

How do I forward an entire text thread iPhone? ›

Forward and share messages on iPhone
  1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Touch and hold a message bubble you want to forward, then tap More.
  3. Tap to select one or more messages to forward, then tap .
  4. Enter recipients, then tap .

How do I pull all text messages from my iPhone? ›

Here's how to transfer your iPhone messages to your computer
  1. Launch iMazing on your computer.
  2. From iMazing's Discover view, select Messages.
  3. Connect your device to your Mac or PC via USB.
  4. Select your device.
  5. Select backup options.
  6. Choose messages or conversations to be exported.
  7. Click Export button to choose a file format.
Jul 8, 2024

How are text messages stored on iPhone? ›

Messages are backed up in iCloud and encrypted if you enable iCloud Backup or Messages in iCloud. iMessage is end-to-end encrypted.

How do I retrieve messages from iPhone to iPhone? ›

In iOS 16 and later, tap Show All > Messages in iCloud > and turn the toggle on for Use on this iPhone or Sync this device. On the new phone that you want to transfer the messages to, log in to the same iCloud account and repeat the steps to enable Messages in iCloud.

How do I export text messages from my iPhone app? ›

Can I export an entire iMessage conversation? Yes, you can export a whole iMessage conversation to a PDF file. Simply open up the conversation, select File, then Print. You can then select Export to PDF to export an entire iMessage conversation.

How do I export my iPhone message history? ›

Method 1. Export Text Messages from iPhone to PDF in Files
  1. Open the messages app and select the chat you want to export.
  2. Select all the messages you want to export from the conversation.
  3. Copy the messages.
  4. Open Pages, Google Docs, or any other text editor of your choice.
  5. Paste the messages.
Nov 20, 2023

How to download text messages from iPhone with dates and times? ›

You can use a Windows machine if you purchase third-party software such as iMazing or TouchCopy. Both will allow you to export your messages with time & date stamps to either pdf or text files.

How to save text messages on iPhone to email? ›

To forward text to email on iPhone, open your messages app and select the messages you want to forward. Select 'More', and then 'Forward'. You'll be redirected to a new MMS screen. In the 'To' section, enter the email address, and hit Send!

Is there a way to download iMessage history? ›

Download iMessage history as a printout and PDF
  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac to find your target conversation.
  2. On the upper left corner, click File > Print.
  3. In the pop-up new page, there are many detailed settings of a printout. ...
  4. At the bottom of the page, you can choose to export the chat history as a PDF file.
Mar 6, 2024

How can I get a printout of my text messages? ›

There are apps on the Google Play Store that let you export your text messages in a printable format like PDF. Apps like "SMS Backup & Restore" are popular for this. They let you back up your texts and then you can email the backup to yourself or directly print it from the app if your printer supports mobile printing.

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