How To Save iMessages To A Computer
Back the iPhone up to the computer. On a Mac that is Finder, and on a Windows PC it is Apple's Apple Devices app. The backup holds every message as it was that day. For one conversation as a file you can open, export it as a PDF or a book.
How do I save iMessages to a Mac?
Connect the iPhone by cable, open Finder, select the iPhone, and click Back Up Now. If Messages in iCloud is on, the Messages app on the Mac also shows your conversations, but it deletes what the phone deletes. The backup does not change after it is made.
How do I save iMessages to a Windows PC?
Open the Apple Devices app, select the iPhone, click General, and click Back Up Now. Our Windows helper can then read one conversation from that backup and send only that, as text, to be set as a book.
Can I open the backup and read my messages?
Apple's pages do not say the backup lets you read messages. Our Mac app and our Windows helper read a conversation from it. A PDF or an EPUB of the conversation is the version you can open yourself.
Should I encrypt the backup?
Encrypting is optional. If you set a password, write it down, because the backup cannot be read without it.
Can I save iMessages to an external hard drive?
Save a PDF or an EPUB of the conversation to the drive, because those open anywhere. Copying a whole phone backup to a drive keeps it, but you will need a computer and software to read it later.
How do I save a single conversation as a PDF on a computer?
On a Mac, open it in Messages, choose File, then Print, and save it as a PDF. For years of messages, the digital edition sets the whole conversation as pages, as a PDF and an EPUB, the same day.
What does a book of my iMessages cost?
The paperback is $49 and the hardcover is $89, with the digital edition included and free US shipping. The digital edition by itself is $19. read receipts is not affiliated with Apple or Microsoft.
Related Guides
- How To Back Up An iPhone To A Computer For Its MessagesFinder on a Mac, Apple Devices on Windows, then Back Up Now.
- How To Export iMessages Without A MacA backup on a Windows PC with Apple's own app, and a helper that reads it.
- How To Save iMessages ForeverKeep Messages on Forever, a backup on a computer, and one copy outside Apple.
- How To Print Texts From An iPhone BackupAn old backup on a computer still holds the messages. iCloud is not read.
If You Want It As A Book
On a Mac, our app reads Messages and lays the book out on your Mac. On Windows, our helper reads the conversation you pick from the backup. Or start with the free receipt.