How to download or export text messages from iPhone to computer? This guide shows you ways to transfer and backup iPhone messages to computer.
iPhone Data to Computer
Messages app is an important tool for you to contact and communicate with your family, friends, or workmate. There are many text conversations saved. To avoid text messages that could be disappeared due to various factors, such as iOS upgrading, jailbreak, water damaged, etc, you need to transfer those messages to computer as a backup. And sometimes, you want to save some text for print need or as PDF format. For whatever reason, there are useful ways for you to transfer iPhone messages to computer, also you can save the one you want as other formats.
Quick Tips to Save iPhone Text Conversations
- Make a full iPhone backupwith iTunes on PC or Mac computer which will contain your iPhone messages. But you can’t view those messages from iTunes backup without a third-party app’s help.
- On your Mac computer, you can log in with the same Apple ID in iMessage app, and sync messages between your Mac and computer.
- Screenshot the text messages on your iPhone and save the photos to your iPhone and thentransfer those pictures to your computer.
- Try some iPhone data transfer or iTunes backup extractor to export text messages from iPhone or extract messages from backup.
WhatsApp Messenger: More than 2 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere. WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world. Nov 15, 2019 Step #1 – First, connect your iPhone to the Mac using the appropriate USB cable and launch the program when you’re ready to begin. Step #2 – On the program’s main menu, click on the bottom icon on the right side, and click on the “ Messages ” option to begin.
View and Download Text Messages from iPhone with AnyTrans
To download text messages from iPhone to the computer, all you need is a professional iOS data transfer AnyTrans, why?
- Enables you to export all text messages (SMS)/iMessages from iPhone in just one click.
- Save text messages on iPhone as a PDF, or other formats like .txt and .html.
- Besides Text Messages, it also supports transferring more than 24 other types of iOS data, like photos, videos, notes, etc.
- Work well on transferring messages to your new iPhone too.
- Help you make a full backup of iPhone data including messages, and you can view them on computer at any time.
Here are the detailed steps that you can follow:
Step 1. Download AnyTrans and install it on your computer > Launch it > Connect your iPhone to computer (PC or Mac) with a USB cable. Choose the Device Manager in the main interface.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Step 2. Choose the Messages category to enter the Messages manage page.
Manage Content Category-wise in AnyTrans
If this is the first time you try AnyTrans, it will ask you to make a backup of your iPhone and then AnyTrans can access the text messages on your iPhone. It takes a few minutes, please be patient.
Step 3. Preview and select text messages you want to transfer. Tap To PC button in the upper right corner to transfer text messages to the computer.
Step 4. Under To PCbutton, you can choose to export iPhone messages to .txt, .html or .pdf format.
AnyTrans works for all iPhones and iOS systems including iOS 14:
- Supported iPhone:iPhone 5/5s, iPhone SE, iPhone 6/6s (Plus), iPhone 7 (Plus), iPhone 8 (Plus), iPhone X/11 series, iPhone 12/12 mini/12 pro/pro max.
- Supported Computer:Windows 7/8/10, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, etc.
Here is a video tutorial that illustrates how to transfer iPhone messages to computer with AnyTrans.
And also, you can refer to this text steps to access text messages on an iPhone: open AnyTrans and connect your iPhone to your computer. You would see the Device Manager tab > Tap on Messages in the category box > Select the messages you want to export > Tap Send to PC button. The messages should be downloaded to computer immediately.
Export iPhone Text Messages to Mac with iMessage Sync
If you are a Mac user, congratulations, you can export your iPhone messages to Mac by syncing with the iMessage app. The step-by-step guide below will show you how. Please keep reading and learn more about it.
Step 1. Find the icon of the Messages app on your Mac and launch it.
Step 2. Sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your iPhone.
Step 3. Once you have logged in, your messages on iPhone will be synced to your Mac automatically.
Transfer iPhone Messages to Computer with iTunes
With iTunes, you can make a backup of your iPhone on the computer and it will contain messages. But as we mentioned, you are not allowed to view the exact content of your messages.
Steps to Sync Messages from iPhone/iPad to Computer with iTunes
- Connect your iPhone to your Windows or Mac computer and launch iTunes if it doesn’t open automatically.
- Trust the computer on your iPhone.
- Click the iPhone icon in iTunes. Check this article if your iPhone has problems with iTunes.
- Click Back Up Now to back up your iPhone to the computer.
- Then your iPhone backup, including Messages and other data would be stored. And whenever you want to restore messages from iTunes backup, it’s useful.
Backup iPhone to iTunes
Where to Find iTunes Backup on Computer
After backing up your iPhone to computer, you can find the backups but you are not allowed to view them. Here is where iTunes backups stored on computer:
On a Windows computer, the location of your iTunes backup folder is: Users(username)AppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup
You can use “Search Bar” on your PC to search “%appdata%”, and then go to Apple Computer > Mobile Sync > Backup, to find all backups files on your Windows computer.
On a Mac computer: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
To access backup files, you can go to Finder menu bar > Go > Go to Folder…, > Type into the location > Click “Go”.
Or on iTunes menu bar > iTunes > Preferences… > Devices, control-click a backup and go to show it in finder.
View iPhone Backup on Mac
If you want to view and export the text messages from the backup, please keep reading the 4th method:
Alternative Way to View and Export Messages from iTunes Backup
With PhoneRescue for iOS, an iPhone data recovery & backup extractor, you can view and export text messages from iPhone backup. Now download the free trial to have a try:
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Step 1. Run PhoneRescue for iOS on your computer > Select Recover from iTunes Backup > Click right arrow to continue.
Choose Recover from Backup
Step 2. Select the iTunes backup you want to restore messages > Click right arrow > It will pop up a screen for you to choose data types. So choose Messages > Click OK button.
Step 3. Now, you can preview the Messages and select the items you want to save on computer > Click on To Computer.
Preview the Messages and Select to Save on Computer
The Bottom Line
That’s all about transferring iPhone text messages to computer. If you have any questions about this guide, please let us know in the comment section or via Email. If you want to try AnyTrans, you can now download the free trial.
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Here's how it works
Messages in iCloud are updated automatically, so you always have the same view everywhere you use iMessage. When you delete a message, photo, or conversation on one device, it’s removed from all of your devices. And since all of your attachments are stored in iCloud, you can save space on your device.
You can use Messages in iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Before you begin
- Update your iPhone and iPad to the latest iOS or iPadOS and your Mac to the latest macOS.
- Set up iCloud and make sure that you’re signed in with the same Apple ID on all of your devices.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID.
- Set up iCloud Keychain.
Turn on Messages in iCloud
Turn on Messages in iCloud from Settings on your iPhone and iPad, or Preferences on your Mac.
On your iPhone and iPad
- Go to Settings.
- Tap [your name].
- Tap iCloud.
- Turn on Messages.
On your Mac
- Open Messages.
- In the menu bar, choose Messages > Preferences.
- Click iMessage.
- Select the checkbox next to Enable Messages in iCloud.
Turn off Messages in iCloud
When you turn off Messages on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can choose to turn off Messages in iCloud for just that device or all of your devices. Any device where Messages in iCloud is still turned on continues to store what you send and receive from that device in iCloud.
On your iPhone and iPad:
Download Messages For My Mac Computer
- Go to Settings.
- Tap [your name] > iCloud.
- Turn off Messages.
On your Mac:
- Open Messages.
- In the menu bar, choose Messages > Preferences.
- Click iMessage.
- Deselect the checkbox next to Enable Messages in iCloud.
If you turn off Messages in iCloud on an iPhone or iPad, your message history will be included in a separate iCloud backup.
Make the most of Messages
Download Ios Messages
- Learn how to use Messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
- Personalize your messages with Digital Touch, iMessage apps, and message effects.
- Send photos, videos, or audio messages and group messages.
- Learn how to use Messages on your Mac.