This could be the easiest and safest way to view iPhone text messages on PC or Mac. Now, let's have a brief look on the key features of iPhone SMS Exporter: Preview detailed text conversation on PC before exporting as you like. Export and backup iPhone text messages in 4 different formats, including HTML, CSV, Text, DB. 1 Turn on your iPhone and open Settings app. Locate iCloud option and tap on it. 2 Navigate to System Preferences on your Mac. Click iCloud and log into the Apple account you used on iPhone. 3 Open Messages app, click on Messages option on the menu bar. Then select Preferences from the drop-down list. This data backup service offers free 5GB storage space so you can backup your data including text messages on iPhone. If your iPhone is running with iOS 11.4 or above, you can back up your text messages only to the iCloud. The standard backup file on Mac that contains your iPhone SMS messages located at: /Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ Unfortunately, you cannot access or read these text messages on your Mac. If you want to read the text messages on your Mac, you will need to grab a third-party program such as iPhone SMS to Mac Transfer. How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Computer with iTunes. It's not surprising that you can also save text messages from iPhone to computer for free using iTunes. The problem is that when you export text messages from iPhone with iTunes, you have to export other types of content on your mobile phone, too.
By Vernon Roderick, Last updated: August 6, 2021
It is relatively difficult to send your text messages from your iPhone to another device, a Mac computer, for example. However, for the past few years many features or more precisely, tools have been developed for this to be done easily.
One of those tools happens to be a built-in app on Mac and iPhone which is the Messages app. But trying to access text messages through this would still require sufficient know-how. This article will show you everything you need to know on how to save text messages from iPhone to Mac. Let’s start by preparing the app that is the highlight of this guide.
Part 1: Preparing the Messages App
To begin with, you have to prepare the app that you will be using for the entire duration of this guide. And as I have said earlier, that app would be the default Messages app. The Messages app, or sometimes called iMessage, is the default text-messaging app included on most Apple devices. As such, it should be available on your iPhone and Mac.
Normally, it is only used to send messages just like instant messaging. However, it also has the function of being able to access your messages as long as you are logged in to the same account. That is why to start learning how to save text messages from iPhone to Mac, you have to know how to log in on your iPhone and Mac. In this way, you will not be bothered by finding ways to recover your accidentally deleted text messages. Let’s start with how to do it on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on your Apple ID banner which is a combination of your name and picture.
Note: This should be the name and picture that you are currently using on your Apple account, which means you should already have an account.
- Tap on iCloud.
- At the bottom, there will be a list of apps or file types. Simply make sure that the slider for Messages is turned on or green.
Although you have already set up your iPhone, that doesn’t mean it will work instantly. You have to do the same to your Mac first, and here are the steps to do that:
- On your Mac, open the Messages
- From the menu bar, click on Messages > Preferences.
- Now select iMessage.
- Enter the Apple ID and password of the account that you are using on your iPhone.
- After logging in to your account, select Enable Messages in iCloud, only for good measure, though this is not exactly necessary.
You have now successfully set up your devices. Now you can learn how to back up text messages from iPhone to Mac without having trouble.
Part 2: Save Text Messages from iPhone to Mac
Now that the app is prepared, it is time to learn how to back up text messages from iPhone to Mac. To be frank, there is really not much you need to know at this point. You can already access your text messages. However, if it’s not enough to just simply access them, then these steps will help:
- Open the Messages app on Mac.
- Sign in just like you did before.
- A list of text messages will appear. Select the ones that you want to save.
- Now from the menu bar, click on File> Print > Save.
The result would not be perfect, but it should be able to give you the information that was included in the original text message.
Now that you know how to save text messages from iPhone to Mac, it should be doable for you to save all your text messages. Of course, that means you will have to take your time and save one message at a time.
That is why it is still worth a shot trying to do this automatically by using a more specialized tool, which is what the next section would be all about.
Part 3: How to Save Text Messages from iPhone to Mac Without Messages App
How do I transfer messages from iPhone to Mac? As you have seen, it is very time-consuming to save your text messages at a time. However, it will be convenient if you only need one text message. However, if that’s not the case, then I suggest that you use a tool to do the job for you, and that’s where FoneDog iOS Data Backup & Restore comes in.
iOS Data Backup and RestoreOne click to backup the whole iOS device to your computer.Allow to preview and restore any item from the backup to a device.Export what you want from the backup to your computer.No data loss on devices during the restore.iPhone Restore Won't Overwrite Your Data
FoneDog iOS Data Backup & Restore is a tool that has the ability to create backups and restore from those backups. It can contain all kinds of files, including text messages, so it’s very much suitable for your situation. Here are the steps on how to save text messages from iPhone to Mac:
How To Save Text Messages From Iphone To Mac Free Full
Step 1: Connect iPhone to Mac
Connect your iPhone device into the Mac computer. Make sure the FoneDog iOS Toolkit is already open. Now choose iOS Data Backup & Restore from the main page to continue to the next steps.
Step 2: Select Backup Mode
There will be two options on the next page namely Standard backup and Encrypted backup. Standard backups create the backup normally, while Encrypted adds a password. I suggest selecting Standard backup. Now click on Start.
Step 3: Select File Type
The next page will show you different file types. Select the ones that you want to include. In our case, click the checkbox for Messages & Attachments. Click on Next.
Copy Text Messages From Iphone To Computer
Now all you have to do is to wait for the backup to be created. It shouldn’t take too long, considering how you only included messages which are small in size.
The best thing about this is unlike the Messages app, you can include all messages at once. That’s pretty much your best option if you want to how to save text messages from iPhone to Mac.
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Part 4: Conclusion
When handling text messages, you don’t have to go to drastic measures, now that different tools have been created to do it for you. In our case, you have used the Messages app, so it should be very trustworthy. Now that you know how to save text messages from iPhone to Mac, it shouldn’t come as a bother to you to create backups of your text messages for safekeeping.