How to Backup Text Messages on iPhone

Text messages and iMessages on iPhone are important forms of communication with family, loved ones, friends, and colleagues. If those conversations got lost, or accidentally delete the iMessage conversation, some of your memories or important information would not be found again. So, backing up the messages on your iPhone regularly is a good way to prevent message loss, especially when you update to a new iOS version or a sudden data loss.

So in this post, we would like to share the most popular yet simplest way firstly for iPhone users who are seeking a simpler way to backup iPhone messages. Also, the traditional iTunes and iCloud way will also be provided.

How to Backup Messages on iPhone via Backup Tools

A professional data backup tool would help save lots of time while backing up iPhone messages. Although iTunes/iCloud can back up iPhone messages, they won’t support viewing the messages. Also, the storage on iCloud is unfriendly for iCloud backup users. Therefore, here in this part, we recommend 2 professional data backup tools that can easily back up iPhone messages without any limitations.

#1. AnyTrans – The Most Reliable iPhone Message Manager

If you prefer a way that avoids the annoying problems of iTunes and iCloud, then AnyTrans – iPhone Data Manager is the exact tool. It is highly recommended here because it can view, backup, and transfer messages on your phone, etc. Users can view every message before transferring or backing up it.

Also, with AnyTrans, you can manage and transfer photos, videos, music, and manage app data like WhatsApp messages, etc. Backing up the whole phone is just a piece of cake for AnyTrans. It can even help you switch from an Android phone to an iPhone easily.

Here are some outstanding features for backing up messages on the iPhone:

Now, Free Download AnyTrans on your computer, and follow us to backup iPhone messages in minutes.

Step 1. Launch AnyTrans on your computer > Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable > Choose Device Manager > Choose Messages.

Step 2. Preview and select conversations you want to backup, and tap the To PC tab to backup text messages on iPhone to PC/Mac computer. Then you can also set the text message output format (Here we take .html as an example).

#2. PhoneTrans – Professional Utility on iPhone Message Backup

PhoneTrans – Backup iPhone Data to Computer is designed for data transfer and backup. For better security concerns, PhoneTrans provides a professional data backup function that could cover all the needs while switching phones.

With PhoneTrans, you can choose to back up some of the messages with the Selective Backup function or one-click backup all messages with the Full Backup function. You decide the way in which things will be done.

Now you can download PhoneTrans and see how to back up iPhone messages with PhoneTrans.

Step 1. Download PhoneTrans and run it on your computer. Connect your iPhone to the computer at the same time. Click Phone Backup on the left panel and tap on Start Backup to go on.

Step 2. Follow the instruction on the screen. Now click on the Messages on the iPhone and tap on Back Up Now to back up iPhone messages.

Minutes later, PhoneTrans will complete the backup journey. Then you will see Backup Complete words on the screen which means all the messages have backed up via PhoneTrans. Also, there is a full backup option on PhoneTrans which means you can back up your iPhone wholly.

How to Back up iPhone Text Messages to iCloud

iCloud is a way that allows you to sync your messages to iCloud with a Wi-Fi network connection. With iCloud backup, you can view your data on other iDevices, like Mac or iPad, but you can’t back up the only wanted messages like iTunes. So if you have lots of data on your iPhone, you may not know how long does iCloud backup take. And also iCloud has only 5GB of free space for every user. Considering how to back up messages on iPhone to iCloud, here are the steps:

Here is how to back up iPhone Messages to iCloud for iOS 11.3 and older versions:

1. Make sure your iPhone is using a stable Wi-Fi network. (Please keep your iPhone connected to a Wi-Fi network and a power source).
2. Go to “Settings” > Tap “iCloud” > Click Backup (Storage & Backup).
3. Turn on iCloud Backup > Then tap Back Up Now to back up messages on iPhone.

Here is how to back up iPhone Messages to iCloud for the iOS 11/12  version:

1. Make sure your iPhone is using a stable Wi-Fi network and connect your iPhone to a power source.
2. Go to “Settings” > Tap on [your name] at the top of the screen. Scroll down and choose your iPhone.
3. Choose the “iCloud Backup” option > Turn on “iCloud Backup” switch.
4. Tap on “Back Up Now” to backup text messages on iPhone to iCloud. Please keep your iPhone connected to the Wi-Fi network until the process completes.

Here is how to back up iPhone Messages to iCloud for the new iOS 13/14 version:

1. A stable Wi-Fi network and enough power would be necessary.
2. Head to Settings > Click on the Apple ID (Device name) > Click on iCloud > Tap on Messages and enable the Sync button.

Once you enable the sync button, it will turn green. Every time you back up your iPhone, the Messages would be synced.

Further Reading: How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud >

How to Save Text Messages on iPhone with iTunes

iTunes is a must-have tool for iOS users. It supports backup and restores your iPhone. When you connect your device to your computer, iTunes will automatically back up it, or you can back it up manually. However, you need to know some tips: first, iTunes backup is a long journey, because it backs up the whole device. So you cannot selectively back up the items you want. Besides, you cannot view or read the messages in iTunes backup directly unless you restore it.  So for faster and smarter operation, we recommend you move to Method 1 with a more user-friendly tool. Here is how to backup iPhone text messages with iTunes:

1. Open iTunes and plug in your iPhone to your computer. Click the device button – the Phone icon.
2. Under Summary, you will see your iPhone info.
3. Move the mouse to the Backups section, click on “Back Up Now”. iTunes will start backing up your iPhone as well as text messages.
   

   Backup Text Messages on iPhone with iTunes

The Bottom Line

Compared with all these methods mentioned in this post, using AnyTrans or PhoneTrans would be much easier to back up messages on the iPhone. If this article helps you with how to backup messages on your iPhone, don’t forget to share them with more friends.  And any questions or problems, don’t hesitate to leave them in the Comments section.