Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Computer Free 2024

“I’m looking for a reliable and free method to download text messages from my iPhone 15 to my computer (Windows 11 laptop). I have some important conversations that I need to save for personal reference and possibly for legal backup. I prefer not to use any paid software unless absolutely necessary, so I’m reaching out for your advice and recommendations on how to do this.” – Asked by an iPhone user.

Author Avatar Joy Taylor Last Updated: Nov. 07, 2024
AnyTrans – Download Text Messages from iPhone to Computer

Free download AnyTrans to transfer text messages from iPhone to computer as pdf. txt. or HTML format. It supports transferring all messages from iPhone to computer in just one click, including the latest iPhone 16.

Messages app is an important tool for you to contact and communicate with your family, friends, or workmates. There are many text conversations, photos, videos, and other attachments saved in the Messages app. To avoid text messages that could disappear due to various factors, such as iOS upgrading, jailbreak, water damage, etc, you need to transfer those messages to the computer as a backup. And sometimes, you want to print text messages from iPhone in PDF format. For whatever reason, there are useful ways for you to transfer iPhone messages to a computer for free, also useful methods on how to save text messages from iPhone to computer in other formats.

Tansfer Text Messages from iPhone to Computer

Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Computer

Quick Tips to Save iPhone Text Messages

  • Back up iPhone text messages with iTunes on PC or Mac computer. But you can’t view those messages from iTunes backup without a third-party app’s help.
  • On your Mac computer, you can log in with the same Apple ID in iMessage app, and sync messages between your Mac and computer.
  • Screenshot the text messages on your iPhone and save the photos to your iPhone and then transfer photos from iPhone to computer.
  • Try some iPhone data transfer or iTunes backup extractor to export text messages from iPhone or extract messages from backup.

Transfer Messages from iPhone to Computer in One Click

When talking about how to download text messages from iPhone to the computer, all you need is a professional iPhone transfer AnyTrans, why? Because, unlike iTunes, it allows you to only transfer messages to the computer without backing up the entire iPhone. Therefore, you can save storage space on your computer.

  • Download text messages from iPhone to computer in one click.
  • View text messages and iMessages on the computer directly.
  • Save text messages on iPhone as a PDF, or in other formats like .txt and .html.
  • Supports transferring more than 24 other types of iOS data, like photos, videos, notes, music, calendars, bookmarks, etc.
  • Work well on transferring messages to your new iPhone and even transferring messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.
  • Help you make a full backup of iPhone data including messages, and you can view them on computer at any time.

Here are the detailed steps to learn how to save text messages on iPhone to computer:

Step 1. Download AnyTrans and install it on your computer > Launch it > Connect your iPhone to computer (PC or Mac) with a USB cable. Choose the Device Manager in the main interface.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 2. Choose the Messages category to enter the Messages manage page.

Transfer Messages from iPhone to Computer via AnyTrans

Transfer Messages from iPhone to Computer via AnyTrans

If this is the first time you try AnyTrans, it will ask you to make a backup of your iPhone and then AnyTrans can access the text messages on your iPhone. It takes a few minutes, please be patient.

Step 3. Preview and select text messages you want to transfer. Tap To PC button in the upper right corner to transfer text messages to the computer.

Step 4. Under the To PC button, you can choose to export iPhone messages to .txt, .html, or .pdf format.

Export iPhone Messages to TXT, PDF, or HTML

Export iPhone Messages to TXT, PDF, or HTML

That’s how to download text messages from iPhone to computer. Don’t hesitate to try AnyTrans for seamless transfer.

Transfer iPhone Text Messages to Mac Computer for Free

If you are a Mac user, congratulations, you can export your iPhone messages to Mac by syncing with the iMessage app. The step-by-step guide below will show you how. Please keep reading and learn more about it.

Step 1. Find the icon of the Messages app on your Mac and launch it.

Step 2. Sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your iPhone.

Step 3. Once you have logged in, your messages on iPhone will be synced to your Mac automatically.

Check the Messages on Mac

Check the Messages on Mac

Transfer iPhone Messages to Computer with iTunes for Free

With iTunes, you can make a backup of your iPhone on the computer and it will contain messages. But as we mentioned, you are not allowed to view the exact content of your messages.

Steps to Transfer Messages from iPhone to Computer with iTunes

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Windows or Mac computer and launch iTunes if it doesn’t open automatically.
  2. Trust the computer on your iPhone.
  3. Click Back Up Now to back up your iPhone to the computer.
  4. Then your iPhone backup, including Messages and other data would be stored. And whenever you want to restore messages from iTunes backup, it’s useful.
Backup iPhone to iTunes

Backup iPhone to iTunes

Where to Find iTunes Backup on Computer

After backing up your iPhone to computer, you can find the backups but you are not allowed to view them. Here is where iTunes backups are stored on computer:

On a Windows computer, the location of your iTunes backup folder is: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

You can use “Search Bar” on your PC to search “%appdata%”, and then go to Apple Computer > Mobile Sync > Backup, to find all backup files on your Windows computer.

Find iTunes Backup Location on Windows

Find iTunes Backup Location on Windows

On a Mac computer: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

To access backup files, you can go to Finder menu bar > Go > Go to Folder…, > Type into the location > Click “Go”.

Or on iTunes menu bar > iTunes > Preferences… > Devices, control-click a backup and go to show it in finder.

View iPhone Backup on Mac

View iPhone Backup on Mac

If you want to view and export the text messages from the backup, please keep reading the 4th method:

How to View and Export Messages from iTunes Backup

Since iTunes backup is not supported by view and export separately or directly from a computer, it’s necessary to use a third-party tool for this aim. With PhoneRescue for iOS, an iPhone data recovery & backup extractor, you can view and export text messages from iPhone backup. Now download the free trial to have a try:

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 1. Run PhoneRescue for iOS on your computer > Select Recover from iTunes Backup > Click right arrow to continue.

Choose Recover from Backup

Choose Recover from Backup

Step 2. Select the iTunes backup you want to restore messages from> Click the right arrow > A screen will pop up asking you to choose data types. Choose Messages > Click the OK button.

Choose Messages to Scan

Choose Messages to Scan

Step 3. Now, you can preview the Messages and select the items you want to save on your computer > Click on To Computer.

Preview and Choose to Recover Texts

Preview and Choose to Recover Texts

The Bottom Line

That’s all about transferring iPhone text messages to a computer. If you have any questions about this guide, please let us know in the comment section or via Email. Also, don’t forget to try AnyTrans on your computer. You can now download the free trial.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Author Avatar
Joy Taylor Twitter Share Facebook Share

Senior writer of the iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android-related issues.

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