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saving texts messages to mac

Is there a way to transfer iphone text messages to a mac?

iPhone 3G

Posted on Apr 27, 2011 8:03 AM

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Posted on Apr 6, 2017 1:15 AM

A backup to iCloud does save information from your phone and it does include text messages. See About backups in iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support for information on what a backup includes. Note however that the backup to iCloud can only be used to do a full restore or to setup a new iOS device. You cannot access the contents of an iCloud backup in any other way.


In addition to iOS backups, iCloud can also be used to sync data between devices. That is not related to a backup. Syncing of various things is turned on via Settings > iCloud

Messages are not one of the things you sync via iCloud and there is no Messages app at icloud.com..


One method to print the messages would be to use iTunes instead of iCloud to do the backup. An iTunes backup is also meant only to be used to do a full restore or set up a new device but there are 3rd party extractor apps that can access it. One such app ishttps://www.wideanglesoftware.com/ibackupextractor/

They also have an app that they state will allow you to transfer messages directly to the computer from the phone without doing the iTunes backup step: https://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/

I have not personally used either.


The following previous discussion may also help:

How can I print text messages for a court case? I need the date and times on the messages.

11 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 6, 2017 1:15 AM in response to maclawyerFL

A backup to iCloud does save information from your phone and it does include text messages. See About backups in iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support for information on what a backup includes. Note however that the backup to iCloud can only be used to do a full restore or to setup a new iOS device. You cannot access the contents of an iCloud backup in any other way.


In addition to iOS backups, iCloud can also be used to sync data between devices. That is not related to a backup. Syncing of various things is turned on via Settings > iCloud

Messages are not one of the things you sync via iCloud and there is no Messages app at icloud.com..


One method to print the messages would be to use iTunes instead of iCloud to do the backup. An iTunes backup is also meant only to be used to do a full restore or set up a new device but there are 3rd party extractor apps that can access it. One such app ishttps://www.wideanglesoftware.com/ibackupextractor/

They also have an app that they state will allow you to transfer messages directly to the computer from the phone without doing the iTunes backup step: https://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/

I have not personally used either.


The following previous discussion may also help:

How can I print text messages for a court case? I need the date and times on the messages.

Sep 30, 2017 7:41 AM in response to wjosten

I'm a software engineer and I've used ecamm's products for a at least five years. I don't work for ECamm and the only way I know about them is by using their products.


The PhoneView product is great. Just be patient with the sync operation because it takes a bit of time depending on the amount of data on your phone.


Writing software that syncs with iPhone and keeping that updated through various iPhone updates is a lot of work and very difficult. The folks over at a exam do a great job.


I also use their Skype Recorder application and it works flawlessly. Highly recommend it.

Aug 31, 2011 8:58 AM in response to lydiafrommission viejo

actually i found a way to save ur messages without spending any money, or any software. So on ur iphone, you know how when u look at a text message and on the top right there is button that says "Edit"? Well when u click it u have an option of either deleting specific messages or fowarding them. In this case, all u need to do is tap each circle which checks of each of the messages that u would like to foward. Then once you have clicked all the messages that u would like to save, click the 'foward' button on the bottom right. This will bring u to a new message screen where all the messages will combine into one text message. All you need to do is type in ur e-mail address as the recipient and then ur text messages that u would like saved will be sent to ur inbox. that simple. Much better than spending money, or downloading software that u have no idea how to work.


**for long messages that you want to save u might have to go back and forth and save seperate parts instead of doing the whole thing at one time.

Jan 30, 2012 11:06 PM in response to bubbles12

True this works but for a long ongoing convo it's too long and from my experience having tried this awhile back, when you open the email you sent yourself, it does look like one long run on sentance where you can't tell who the sender and recipient is.


If you want a easy and cheap "what you see is what you get" program I'd buy the Deciphertools.com thing for $9.99. Just bought it a little while ago after wasting $20 yesterday on another crap thing that wasn't cool (too bare bones). This one works great, saves easy, exports anywhere, etc.


One thing, it doesn't highlight senders texts (my outgoing) in a lime green colour like how it looks on the iPhone, it's more a plain grey, but otherwise looks the same and includes attchments--> Important! Not all services do...

Oct 16, 2013 11:23 PM in response to lydiafrommission viejo

User uploaded file

iPhone SMS backup file location in Windows


Since there are multiple versions of Windows, here are the possible locations of the iPhone backup file:
%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Windows XP:
%APPDATA% = C:\Documents and Settings\[your username]\Application Data\

Windows Vista:
%APPDATA% = C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming

Windows 7:
C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Everything else is the same as above, look for the same files and you’ll need to open them in a SQLite editor.


but also them cannot read as they are an inaccessable format, you need to extract them and read it, therea are many app can do that: like iStonsoft, iPubsoft, Vibosoft and more...


iStonsoft

http://www.istonsoft.com/iphone/save-iphone-text-messages-to-mac.html


Vibosoft iPhone backup extractor:

http://www.vibosoft.com/ios/copy-text-messages-from-iphone-to-mac.html


Coolmuster:

http://www.coolmuster.com/ios-recovery/extract-iphone-messages-from-backup.html


and more....

saving texts messages to mac

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