How to Save Text Messages on iPhone in 5 Efficient Methods

Text messages and iMessages on your iPhone are essential for staying in touch with family, friends, and colleagues. If these conversations get lost or accidentally deleted, it can mean losing important memories or information. To prevent this, regularly saving text messages on iPhone is a smart move, especially when upgrading to a new iOS version or facing unexpected data loss. In this article, we'll explore the best ways for iPhone users to save their messages and keep them safe.

Method 1: Save Messages on iPhone to PC via iOS Assistant

One of the best ways to back up your iPhone messages is by using Coolmuster iOS Assistant. This powerful tool makes it easy to transfer and manage your iPhone data. Not only can you export your texts to a computer, but it also saves them in formats like CSV, HTML, and TEXT, which are easy to read and print. You can even preview your messages on your iPhone before moving them to your PC. Along with messages, Coolmuster supports backing up other important data like contacts, notes, photos, videos, and music.

Features of Coolmuster iOS Assistant:

• Transfer messages from iPhone to Mac/PC selectively.
• Import contacts, calendars, and other data from PC to iDevice.
• Preview messages before backup.
• Safe and easy to save your messages.
• Compatible with overall iPhone models and iOS versions, including the latest iPhone 16 and iOS 18/26.

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How do I completely save text messages from my iPhone? Here are the steps to follow:

Video Tutorial:

Method 2: Save iPhone Text Messages via Screenshots

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to save your iPhone text messages, taking screenshots might be a good option. This method is simple, doesn't require any additional apps, and can capture exactly what you want. However, it's important to keep in mind that screenshots can become difficult to organize if you have a large number of messages. Also, the image quality might not be as high as other methods.

1. Open the conversation you want to save in the Messages app.
2. Press the side button and the volume up button simultaneously to take a screenshot.
3. A thumbnail will appear in the bottom left corner. Tap it to edit or save it.
4. If needed, scroll through the conversation and repeat the screenshot process for multiple messages.
5. The screenshots will be saved in your Photos app, where you can organize or back them up as needed.

Method 3: Back Up Text Messages on iPhone to iCloud

iCloud makes it easy to sync and back up your messages, allowing you to access them on other Apple devices like your Mac or iPad. However, it's important to note that iCloud doesn't let you back up only specific messages, everything gets backed up together. Also, keep in mind that iCloud offers only 5GB of free space, so you may need to manage your storage if you have a lot of data. Below are the steps to back up your text messages:

For iOS 11.3 and earlier versions:

1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and a power source.
2. Open "Settings," tap "iCloud," then tap "Backup" (under Storage & Backup).
3. Turn on iCloud Backup, then tap "Back Up Now" to back up your text messages.

For iOS 11/12:

1. Connect your iPhone to a stable Wi-Fi network and a power source.
2. Open "Settings" and tap on your name at the top of the screen. Scroll down and select your iPhone.
3. Tap on "iCloud Backup," then turn on the iCloud Backup switch.
4. Tap "Back Up Now" to start backing up your messages. Keep your iPhone connected to Wi-Fi until the process is complete.

For iOS 13 and later (including iOS 18):

1. Ensure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and has enough battery.
2. Go to "Settings," tap on your Apple ID (device name), then tap "iCloud."
3. Scroll down and tap on "Messages," then enable the sync button (it will turn green).
4. From this point on, your text messages will automatically sync every time you back up your iPhone.

Method 4: Back Up iPhone Text Messages to iTunes

Many iPhone users are familiar with iTunes, Apple's official tool for managing multimedia content and syncing your devices. It can also back up text messages from your iPhone to your PC. However, there are some drawbacks to this method. When you use iTunes to back up your iPhone messages, it backs up all your data, not just your text messages.

Steps to Backup iPhone Text Messages to PC Using iTunes:

1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your PC.
2. Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. When a prompt appears on your iPhone asking whether to trust the computer, tap "Trust."
3. In iTunes, click on the device icon at the top left corner of the window.
4. Click on "Summary," then find the "Backups" section on the right side. Select "This computer," then click "Back Up Now."
5. Click "Apply" to begin backing up all your data, including text messages, to your computer.

Method 5: Back Up Text Messages on iPhone to Gmail

Another option to save messages on iPhone is Gmail. This way, you can effortlessly save the messages from your iPhone to your Gmail. Steps to move messages to Gmail:

1. Head to the "Settings" menu on your iPhone and hit the "Messages" option.
2. From there, click the "Text Message Forwarding" button just below the "Messages" application. Input your Gmail address on the screen. This option will help sync iPhone texts with other phones as well.

FAQs on Saving Messages on iPhone

Q1: How can I back up text messages from my iPhone to a computer?

You can use several methods to back up your iPhone text messages, such as iTunes or Finder. However, an easy and convenient option is to use Coolmuster iOS Assistant, which lets you back up your messages to a computer in just a few clicks.

Q2: How can I back up iPhone messages without using iCloud?

If you prefer not to use iCloud, you can back up your messages using these methods: iTunes, Coolmuster iOS Assistant, taking a screenshot, or syncing with Gmail. If you need to preview messages before backing them up, Coolmuster iOS Assistant is your best bet.

Q3: How can I recover text messages from my iPhone backup?

To retrieve text messages from an iPhone backup, follow these steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer.
2. Open iTunes.
3. Click the iPhone icon in the top-left corner.
4. Select "Restore Backup".

Note: Restoring a backup will overwrite your current iPhone data with the backup content. If you're specifically looking to recover deleted text messages, Coolmuster iPhone Data Recovery is a great tool to help you out.

Concluding Words

So, these are the finest solutions to save iPhone text messages. Some mehods have limitations though they can help you save the texts. Therefore, we recommend using Coolmuster iOS Assistant, a reliable solution to back up your text messages to the computer. It's a safe and secure platform. Besides, it saves your files in any format you want.

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