How To Transfer Text Messages From Iphone To Mac Computer For Free

How to backup messages using a Mac or PC. Alternatively, you could plug your iPhone into iTunes and backup to your Mac or PC. Open iTunes and click on the iPhone icon. Select This Computer below.

  • Forwarding messages from iPhone to Mac. With the iMessages app set up properly, it will be possible to forward messages from one iPhone to another, as well as forward the same messages to your Mac. Go to “Settings”, followed by “Messages” and finally go to “Send & Receive”.
  • How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to Mac Computer Text messaging is one of the most used activities when playing with iPhone. With the rapid development of mobile technology, messaging was involved from text limited functions to media-riched app nowadays.
  • Select the messages, including text messages (SMS) and iMessages, you want to save from your iPhone to the computer and click the 'Transfer to PC' button. After that, MobiMover will start downloading text messages from your iPhone to the computer automatically. When it has finished, you can go to the selected folder to check the messages.

How do I import a series of text messages between myself and another person from my iPhone 4S to my PC desktop. I need them for a legal reason and after importing them want to print them out. Thanks.

Many iPhone users may have encountered with this problem, for certain reasons, they need to copy text messages from iPhone to computer. The users may have tried to export them with iTunes, but get no luck. In fact, iTunes will only transfer the purchased items to computer, so the text messages cannot be transferred. Then can users do to save text messages from iPhone to Mac computers? The answer is YES.

Part 1. Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Mac with Traditional Ways

The easiest method may be using the screen capturing function to save text messages from iPhone to Mac. Users can view the messages on their iPhone and then take a screenshot by holding the Sleep/Wake button and the home button at the same time. The snapshots will be saved in the iPhone Camera Roll, and the users can export them to computer with no efforts. This method is workable and pretty easy, but it may take very long time if the users have tons of text messages to export.

People can share files between MacBook and iOS devices with AirDrop, but to use it, the iOS device should run with iOS 7 or later, and the MacBook should run with OS X Yosemite. That's why an iPhone 3GS with iOS 6 can't copy SMS messages with AirDrop. If other users want to copy text messages from iPhone to Mac computer with AirDrop but have no idea on how to do it, the following tutorial will be helpful for you:

  1. Turn on Wi-Fi on your iPhone and Mac.
  2. Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone (Settings > Bluetooth) and Mac (Menu Bar > Apple > System Preferences > Bluetooth > Turn Bluetooth On).
  3. Turn on AirDrop on your iPhone (Control Center > AirDrop) and choose 'Contacts Only' or 'Everyone'.
  4. Turn on AirDrop on your Mac (Finder > Menu Bar > Go > AirDrop). Click 'Allow me to be discovered by', and choose 'Contacts Only' or 'Everyone'.
  5. Tap the messages you want to copy to Mac computer, and then choose 'Share with AirDrop'.
  6. You will get the messages in your MacBook in short time.

With AirDrop in your iPhone and Mac computer, you are allowed to copy text messages from iPhone to Mac with ease. But if only want to back up the iPhone messages to Mac computer, you don't have to use AirDrop at all. iTunes will be helpful and much easier to use than AirDrop. The following tutorial will show you how to use iTunes to back up iPhone messages to Mac:

  1. Start iTunes and go to 'iTunes > Preferences > Devices', and check 'Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically'.
  2. Plug iPhone into computer via USB cable, and iTunes will automatically launch. If not, you need to manually start it.
  3. iTunes will recognize your iPhone and display the iPhone icon at the upper right corner. Click 'File > Device > Back Up' at the upper left corner.
  4. Then iTunes will create an iPhone backup on your Mac computer.

Part 2. Copy Text Messages from iPhone to Mac with iPhone Data Recovery Software

If you want to transfer text messages from iPhone to computer without spending much time, you can take advantage of the third-party iPhone data recovery program. I would like to introduce Leawo iOS Data Recovery to everyone. This program enables users to recover deleted files from iOS devices, and extract files from iTunes backups. It also helps users to backup iPhone, iPad and iPod touch files to computer, and the software will save the exported files in viewable files. The following guidance will show you how to copy text messages from iPhone to Mac computers, and how to extract text messages from iPhone backup. You are allowed to free download the software to have a try, note that the trial version will stop at the preview window.

1. Run Leawo iOS Data Recovery, and you will see three recovery modes in the main interface. One is 'Recover from iOS Device', and the other is 'Recover from iTunes Backup'.

2. Choose 'Recover from iOS Device' and connect iPhone to computer with the USB cable. The software will recognize your iPhone and check it in the bottom list. Click the 'Start' button to let the software analyze your iPhone.

3. After the analysis of the iPhone, Leawo iOS Data Recovery will scan the contents in your iPhone. It lists 12 categories in the left sidebar, and allows you to choose after the scan. Choose 'Messages' and then the contents will be shown in the right part. Check the text messages you need and click 'Recover' at the right bottom.

4. After clicking the recover button, you will see a pop-up dialog. Click 'Open' to choose a target folder to save the exported files. Then click 'Go' to start exporting text messages from iPhone to computer.

How to Extract Text Messages from iPhone Backup

Three ways for you to export text messages from iPhone to computer for free.

How To Transfer Text Messages From Iphone To Mac Computer For Free Download

Although there are different kinds of messaging apps for you to communicate with others, the built-in text message (SMS) service on your iPhone is still necessary for you when it comes to keeping contact with the ones we know in real life. For the messages that contain important information or precious memories, you will want to transfer the text messages from iPhone to computer to make a backup or for other purposes.

If you are looking to save text messages from your iPhone to a computer, be it a PC or Mac, read on and you will know three ways to do it.

PAGE CONTENT:
Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Computer in a Readable Way
Save iPhone Text Messages to PC with iTunes (Messages Are Inaccessible)
Copy Text Messages from iPhone to Computer via iMessages (by Syncing)

Method 1. How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Computer for Free

Advantages: Export iPhone text messages to an accessible and readable format

Are you planning to export text messages from iPhone to computer for free in a format that you can access and view whenever you want? If so, you are recommended to try the free iPhone transfer software - EaseUS MobiMover.

EaseUS MobiMover is an iOS data transfer tool that allows you to transfer files to or from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Other than messages, other types of files, including photos, videos, music, ringtones, audiobooks, contacts, and more, are also supported.

How To Transfer Text Messages From Iphone To Mac Computer For Free

To save text messages from iPhone to PC for free:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer (Mac or PC) and click Trust on your iPhone to trust this computer. Launch EaseUS MobiMover and navigate to 'Content Management'. Choose 'Messages'.

Step 2. Go to 'Settings' to choose a folder to save the items to be transferred.

Step 3. Select the messages, including text messages (SMS) and iMessages, you want to save from your iPhone to the computer and click the 'Transfer to PC' button. After that, MobiMover will start downloading text messages from your iPhone to the computer automatically. When it has finished, you can go to the selected folder to check the messages. (The items will be saved an HTML file on your computer, thus you need to open it with a browser to view its details.)

After you export your iPhone messages to PC, you can choose to print text messages to a PDF file if you need to. You can also use similar steps to transfer photos from iPhone to PC or export other types of content from your iOS device to comptuer.

You may have noticed that there is a feature called 'Video Download' in this tool. Yes, if you need to, you can also use EaseUS MobiMover to download videos (or audio) from YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, SoundCloud, MySpace, and many other sites to your computer or iPhone/iPad without any cost. Go to the guide on how to download YouTube videos to iPhone for more details.

Method 2. 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. That's because iTunes works to transfer text messages from iPhone to computer by backing up your device.

Moreover, although you can access the iPhone backup location on Windows or Mac, you won't be able to access and view the details in the backup. Thus, even if you download text messages from iPhone to computer successfully, you cannot view the messages freely as you want to. The only way you can access the iPhone messages from the iTunes backup is to restore your iPhone data from the backup.

To transfer text messages from iPhone to computer with iTunes:

Step 1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your computer.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable and wait for iTunes to launch automatically.

Step 3. When the prompt asking you whether to trust the computer appears on your iPhone, click 'Trust'.

Step 4. In iTunes, click the device icon in the top left corner of the window.

Step 5. Choose 'Summary' and select 'This computer' > 'Back Up Now' in the 'Backups' section.

Step 6. Click 'Apply' to start transferring text messages and other supported files from your iPhone to the computer.

Method 3. How to Save iPhone Messages to Computer via iMessages

If you use a Mac computer and have turned on iMessage on your iPhone, you can copy the text messages on your iPhone to your computer by turning on iMessage on your Mac. Afterward, all your texts and conversations will be synced to your Mac's Messages app automatically.

Unlike you transfer text messages from iPhone to computer using a tool like EaseUS MobiMover, the messages you synced to your Mac computer will also be deleted if you remove them from your iOS device. Given that, if you intend to make a backup of your iPhone texts, using iMessage is not advisable.

On the contrary, if you just want to sync your messages across your devices, using this solution is highly recommended.

To copy text messages from iPhone to Mac:

Step 1. Launch the Messages app on your Mac.

Step 2. Enter the Apple ID and password you use on your iPhone.

Step 3. Click 'Messages' from the Apple menu and choose 'Preferences'.

Step 4. Go to the 'Accounts' tab and click your iMessage account.

Step 5. Select 'Enable Messages in iCloud' and choose 'Sync Now' to sync your iPhone messages to your computer.

How To Transfer Text Messages From Iphone To Mac Computer For Free Windows 10

Bonus Tip: How Can You Copy an Entire Text Conversation on iPhone

Iphone Message Transfer To Pc

Other than questions like 'How can I transfer text messages from my iPhone to my computer for free?', many users also ask the question 'How do I copy an entire text conversation on iPhone?' related to iPhone texts. If you also have a problem copying a whole conversation, follow the steps below to learn how to do it.

Step 1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone and click the conversation you'd like to copy.

Step 2. Press and hold one of the texts in the conversation until options appear.

Step 3. Choose 'More...' and then you will see there is a checkbox before each of the texts.

Step 4. Click the checkbox to select the entire text conversation as you want to.

The Bottom Line

The three ways in this guide work differently to export text messages from your iPhone:

  • EaseUS MobiMover helps you to transfer text messages from iPhone to computer for free and you can access and read your iPhone messages on your computer easily.
  • iTunes works to back up your iPhone content, including text messages, to your computer. But you cannot access the items in the backup.
  • iMessage syncs messages across your devices but is unavailable on Windows computers.
How To Transfer Text Messages From Iphone To Mac Computer For Free

Carry out one of the simple and safe ways to download text messages from iPhone to your computer with ease.