CaptFox

Q: How to save SMS and iMessages from iOS to a PC or MAC

For legal reasons, we need to periodically save text messages (both SMS and iMessages).  I am looking for a FREE solution preferably, but if there is a known good APP, we will consider it.

 

Any help appreciated.

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.1.3, Windows 7

Posted on Jan 29, 2015 12:11 PM

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Q: How to save SMS and iMessages from iOS to a PC or MAC

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Japib,Helpful

    Japib Japib Jan 29, 2015 12:21 PM in response to CaptFox
    Level 4 (2,798 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 29, 2015 12:21 PM in response to CaptFox

    if you have a Yosemite mac, and enable SMS forwarding, the SMS and iMessage will automatically go in the Messages app in the Mac. you can therefore archive these messages in the app. And even if the Mac crashes/dies, the Time machine backup will have a copy of the SMS+iMessages, forever.

     

    Also, The SMS and iMessage are automatically saved in the iTunes/iCloud Backup, however, this has 2 drawbacks:

    • If the iPhone is lost/dies, you'll be able to recover the messages only by putting the backup on a newly reset/bought iPhone.
    • the backup only saves current SMS/iMessage, which means that if you manually delete from the iPhone the messages, it will also delete from the backup next time the backup syncs. This therefore doesn't allow "archiving".

    So the first solution is best if you have a Mac, especially since it's for legal reasons, for which it is recommended to have 2 versions of the files.

    Hope this helps


    <Edit>: Also, you'll probably never find an app that syncs messages, since iOS is a sandbox OS, meaning the Apps don't have access to the data of other apps. so Messages data isn't available to any other app.

  • by CaptFox,

    CaptFox CaptFox Jan 29, 2015 12:22 PM in response to Japib
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Jan 29, 2015 12:22 PM in response to Japib

    Thanks.  I just figured out option 1.   This confirms I was on the right path.  Thanks much

  • by CaptFox,

    CaptFox CaptFox Jan 29, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Japib
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Jan 29, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Japib

    Back to the drawing board.  User has a Windows machine and no access to a MAC.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jan 30, 2015 2:50 PM in response to CaptFox
    Level 9 (58,959 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 30, 2015 2:50 PM in response to CaptFox

    CaptFox wrote:

     

    Back to the drawing board.  User has a Windows machine and no access to a MAC.

    TouchCopy is a Windows application that will do what you want. However, it is not free.

  • by Trevoorre,Apple recommended

    Trevoorre Trevoorre Apr 28, 2015 1:45 AM in response to CaptFox
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 28, 2015 1:45 AM in response to CaptFox

    I use PhoneView. It's a Mac application. TouchCopy gets recommended for both Windows and Mac.

  • by DianeKruger,

    DianeKruger DianeKruger Sep 28, 2015 1:40 AM in response to Trevoorre
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2015 1:40 AM in response to Trevoorre

    Trevoorre wrote:

     

    I use PhoneView. It's a Mac application. TouchCopy gets recommended for both Windows and Mac.

    Just want to export text messages from iPhone. I never know about PhoneView and TouchCopy. iTune or iCloud can do this for me?

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Sep 28, 2015 6:53 AM in response to DianeKruger
    Level 9 (58,959 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 28, 2015 6:53 AM in response to DianeKruger

    DianeKruger wrote:

     

    Just want to export text messages from iPhone. I never know about PhoneView and TouchCopy. iTune or iCloud can do this for me?

    iCloud and iTunes can back up your messages. They cannot export them. Hence the need for third party software.

  • by ds123321,

    ds123321 ds123321 Nov 12, 2015 9:53 AM in response to CaptFox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2015 9:53 AM in response to CaptFox

    Export iMessages App allows you to Save Print Backup Recover Text SMS iMessages to MAC/PC. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/export-messages-save-print/id952632588?mt=8

  • by KNY,

    KNY KNY May 1, 2016 1:49 PM in response to ds123321
    Level 1 (19 points)
    May 1, 2016 1:49 PM in response to ds123321

    Does anyone know if there are legacy applications to do this on PPCs running 10.5.8?  All the applications I've see require a newer system.

  • by thosapio,

    thosapio thosapio Jul 7, 2016 6:27 PM in response to CaptFox
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Jul 7, 2016 6:27 PM in response to CaptFox

    As far as I know saving text messages on iPhone is really easy and simple. But unfortunately I don't know a free solution. But you could search online for applications which backup iPhone text messages which is simple just as saving them. Many of them might be worth the price if you need to transfer messages or just save them on the system for further usage.