How to Download Text Messages from iPhone to Computer

by Jenefey Aaron   Updated on 2020-02-19 / Update for  iPhone Recovery

Sometimes you may want to download text messages from iPhone to your computer for several reasons. Maybe your organization requires you to keep a copy of your text messages on your computer or maybe you simply want to have a backup of your iPhone messages on your computer. Regardless of the cause, you want to do the task and here is how you can do it.

The following guide shows how you can download iPhone text messages to your computer.

Part 1: The Tool You Need

To download iPhone text messages to your computer, you need to use a tool. While there may be several tools that let you do that, only one of them stands out of the crowd and it's called Tenorshare UltData.

Tenorshare UltData allows you to download text messages from your iPhone to your computer. Not only that but it also helps you download messages from an iPhone backup - something not available in every backup tool out there.

Now that you know what tool to use, you may want to learn how you can use it to download messages from iPhone XS/XS Max/XR/X/8/8 Plus/7/7 Plus/6S/6/SE/5s/5 to your computer. The following section will help you with it.

Part 2: How to Download Text Messages from iPhone with Tenorshare UltData

Make sure your iPhone has enough battery time left so that it doesn't get turned off during the downloading process. Without further ado, let's get started:

Method 1: Download Text Messages from iPhone Directly

If all the text messages that you want to download to your computer are saved on your iPhone itself, you can use the following steps to get those messages on your computer:

Download and run the software on your computer. Connect your iPhone to your computer and select Recover from iOS Device, checkmark Messages & Attachments, and hit the Start Scan button in the software.

start scan

When the software has scanned your iPhone, you will see your messages as shown below. Select the ones you wish to download and click on the Recover button in the software.

preview photos by dates

On the following screen, choose the option that says Recover to Computer to download your messages to your computer.

Your iPhone text messages should be downloaded to your computer. You can now find and read them on your PC.

Method 2: Download Texts from iPhone with iTunes Backup

When you create a backup of your iPhone using iTunes, your text messages are also backed up and are stored in the backup file. Should you ever want to get access to those messages, you can do so by opening the iTunes backup file and extracting your messages out of it.

Not sure how to do that? The following steps teach you just that:

Download and open the software on your PC. When it opens, click on the option that says Recover from iTunes Backup file at the top. Then, select your iTunes backup from the list and click on Start Scan to continue.

scan backup

When the software has scanned your backup, you can choose what to download to your computer. Select Messages from the list and click on Recover to recover your messages to your PC.

There you go. Your text messages have been successfully downloaded to your computer and you can view them just like any other files.

Method 3: Download Messages from iPhone with iCloud Backup

If your text messages are stored in an iCloud backup, then you also have an option to extract and download them to your computer. The procedure to do so is quite like the iTunes backup procedure except for you need to log-in to your iCloud account.

The below steps should teach you how you can download text messages from an iCloud backup:

Download and launch the software on your PC. Click on Recover from iCloud Backup file at the top and log-in using your iCloud credentials. Then, hit the Enter key on your keyboard.

sign in icloud account

Select your iCloud backup on the following screen and click on Next to continue.

select icloud backup

Select Messages & Attachments on the screen that follows and click on Next.

select icloud file types

Wait while the software downloads files from your iCloud backup. You can now preview the files to be downloaded to your PC. Select your Messages and click on the Recover button to start downloading.

preview photos by dates

You are all set. Your text messages from the iCloud backup are now available for you to read on your computer.

Part 3: Other iOS Apps to Download Text Messages from iPhone

If you would not like to use a PC software to download text messages from iPhone, you can use the below listed iOS apps that will let you download text messages from your iPhone without requiring you to use a computer.

1. SMS Export

sms export

As the name implies, SMS Export allows you to export text messages from your iPhone to your Windows PC or Mac. It's quite simple to use the app and you are just a few clicks away from downloading messages to your computer.

2. Export Messages

export messages

Export Messages is yet another app that allows you to export messages from your iPhone to your computer. Besides text messages, it also supports exporting of audio and video attachments which is quite handy if you have shared a lot of media with your friends in messages.

3. Text Message Export & Backup

text message export backup

Text Message Export & Backup allows you to export messages from your iPhone to your computer. That way you can keep a backup of your messages on your computer. It has an easy to use interface that does the job perfectly for you.

4. SMS Export or Chat to PDF

sms export or chat to pdf

SMS Export or Chat to PDF lets you export your iPhone messages to the widely popular PDF format. You can then share the file with your computer and get access to your messages from the large screen of your computer.

5. Export Messages & Chat Pro

export messages chat pro

Export Messages & Chat Pro is an app that uses Bluetooth to help you export text messages from your iPhone to your computer. It helps send mass messages from your iPhone to your other devices such as your computer. You can also use the app to export messages to cloud services like Dropbox and iCloud.

With the above-mentioned methods and apps, you should easily be able to download text messages from iPhone to your computer without a hitch. We hope the guide helps you get your iPhone messages on your computer, so you can read them on a big screen.