“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.
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.
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.
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.
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Step 2. Choose the Messages category to enter the Messages manage page.
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.
That’s how to download text messages from iPhone to computer. Don’t hesitate to try AnyTrans for seamless transfer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you want to view and export the text messages from the backup, please keep reading the 4th method:
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:
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Step 1. Run PhoneRescue for iOS on your computer > Select Recover from iTunes Backup > Click right arrow to continue.
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.
Step 3. Now, you can preview the Messages and select the items you want to save on your computer > Click on To Computer.
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.
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