Statista estimates estimates that approximately 3.51 billion users use messaging apps to communicate. That’s a tremendous amount of messages sent via mobile devices! This includes iOS, Android, and also popular messaging apps like WhatsApp Messenger, Viber, Line, and WeChat. With text messaging and messaging apps now solidified as one of the world’s most popular forms of daily communication, the need to document and preserve text / sms messages for evidence in court has increased dramatically.

What is the best way to document and print out my messages for a court case or legal proceeding?

No matter how you preserve text messages for evidence, you'll want to make sure that the records have all of the information necessary for them to be admissible in court. Consult a lawyer for the specifics in your region about what information is required. For most legal matters the following details should be visible in your text message documentation:

• The date and time of the messages.
• The real contact information for the other party or parties in the text message conversation. For SMS this is a phone number. For MMS or iMessages, this is either a phone number or an email address.

Whether you are a lawyer, law enforcement official, or simply someone who has a pending court case or legal matter, there are several solutions for saving and printing text messages so that you can preserve evidence from your mobile phone's sms message history.

iPhone

For iPhone / iPad, we recommend using Decipher TextMessage to save and print out your text messages for court. Decipher TextMessage is already a trusted and widely used program by lawyers and law enforcement officials for preserving any messaging data in a format that will hold up in a legal environment. Features include:

• The software has a free trial so you can try it out without spending any money.
• Text messages are saved with a time / date stamp and by contact ensuring that your documentation will be upheld in a legal setting.
• Depending on the formatting your jurisdiction requires for text message transcripts, you may need to show the iPhone contact information on every individual message. Decipher TextMessage allows you to print your text messages with the contact information on each message, or to turn that option off if you prefer.
• Decipher TextMessage presents your iPhone text messages and iMessages in a similar format as seen on the iPhone. (Here are links to specific instructions about printing iPhone text messages and exporting iPhone text messages to a PDF file.)
• The software saves your text messages locally on your computer. None of your data is accessible by anyone but yourself and nothing is stored in the cloud or on servers.
• Decipher TextMessage will also show you if there are any deleted iPhone text messages or iMessages accessible in a backup. This feature that is useful for attorneys, police officers, or governmental agencies for evidence. (Click here for our guide about recovering deleted text messages.)
• Decipher TextMessage is compatible with any iPhone running {latest_ios} all the way back to iOS 4.
• The program also supports Windows 7 and above including Windows 10 and 11. Decipher TextMessage works for macOS Sierra and above including Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe.
• You don't always need the iPhone to save your data with Decipher TextMessage. The software will automatically access and read in data from existing iTunes backups on any Windows or Mac computer.
• Decipher TextMessage allows for combining text message conversations from more than one contact/group as well as selecting only a certain span of days or period of time depending on your needs.

Save text messages for court

Follow these steps to print and save text messages for court

1. Launch Decipher TextMessage.
2. Backup an iPhone on your computer.
3. Choose a contact whose text messages you want to save for court.
4. Select Export to save the text messages.
5. Open the saved PDF and choose Print to print the text messages for court, trial, or your lawyer.

All your text messages for court will be read into the software and displayed in chat bubble format with the contact and time/date stamp on each message. Here's an example of what you will see in the program:

iPhone Screenshots

Another way to print out your iPhone text messages is by taking screenshots of each text message screen on your device. To take a screenshot you press the "Home" and "Sleep/Wake" button to capture what is on your iPhone screen. There are various pros and cons of using the screenshot method. Some of these include:

• Screenshots are quick and easy (and free!) if you only have a few text messages.
• One drawback of using the screenshot method is that it is time consuming. If you have lots of messages you will need to screenshot each individual screen and organize the images into a text message transcript manually.
• If you're required to show the time on every message, you'll need to slide left on the Messages app screen to reveal each message time. It's hard to do that and press the screenshot buttons, and cuts off some of the message text.
• If you don't have the iPhone in your possession, there would be no way to use the screenshot method.

Video Instructions - Documenting text messages for trial or legal matters

We have step-by-step instructions outlined in our helpful YouTube video which will walk any iPhone user through the exact steps and directions so that you can immediately save your text messages for court, trial, or your attorney.

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Android

There are several popular programs available for saving text messages from an Android device to your computer Some are free and some can be purchased for a fee in the Google Play Store. One popular app is SMS Backup +. The program stores texts in your Gmail account and lets you access them from any web browser.

• The app is free so you can try it out without spending any money.
• Printing out the text messages from any web browser is convenient and easy.
• It requires that you have a Gmail account. If you don't, you can simply register for one and then be up and running with the application within minutes.

Android Screenshots

To take a screenshot of any Android device is fairly simple, however the commands are different depending on your specific device.

• The first thing to try is pressing down the "sleep / wake" button and also the "volume down" button at the same time. If you see your screen "flash" then you have successfully taken a screenshot.
• For Galaxy devices and other Android phones that have a "home" button, try holding down the home button and the power button simultaneously until you see the screen flash.
• After taking a screenshot the image will then appear in the photo gallery app on your device. Simply look for the screenshot photo album and locate the image you just captured. You can then send, save, or share the screenshot depending on what is best for your needs.

Whether your device is an iPhone or an Android, we hope these tips for preserving and saving your text messages for court or a legal issue have been helpful. Remember to back up your mobile data to your computer on a regular basis so that all your important information is safe and secure.

Feature Phones

We've seen a few questions in the comments section of this article asking about documenting text messages for non-smart phones. Contact us via our support page if you're interested in this and we'll be happy follow up with you! Please be sure to mention the specific kind of feature phone from which you want to document sms/mms messages; the techniques and details vary depending on the phone manufacturer/operating system.

• There are two reliable and trusted ways to transfer text messages and iMessages from your iPhone to computer so that you can print them out.
  
  
• You can either take screenshots or you can use a third-party software program on your computer to export and print out the text messages and attachments.
  
  
• When printing text messages, remember messages data usually contains sensitive data. Always be cautious with any app that transmits your text messages data to their servers or processes the messages with AI.
  

Help! I suddenly have a need to save and print iPhone text messages.

Let's dive in so you can decide which method is best for your specific text message printing needs!

When iPhone users need to print text messages and iMessages, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out the best and most secure way to export and print the text messages on one’s computer.

According to Wikipedia, as of last year there were over 3 billion iPhone sold! This amount of iPhones in use daily around the world means that it is commonplace for any iPhone user to wake up one day and have questions about what is the best way to extract, save, and print out text messages from their iPhone to computer as a PDF file.

Whether you need to export and print iPhone text messages for personal reasons, court, legal needs, business, or for family keepsakes and memories, today's instructional guide will help you figure out which method is right for you and we will also share some of the things to be cautious about when exporting or printing your personal iPhone text message data.

Screenshots - When is this the best solution?

Taking a screenshot of your text messages is a quick and easy way to capture the messages that are on your iPhone screen. You then instantly have a a photo / screenshot in your iPhone camera roll of the messages present on the screen when you capture the image.

Pros of using the screenshot method to export and print text messages:

• Free - Taking screenshots doesn't cost anything!

• Only a few messages - If you only need to save and print a few messages, screenshots might be for you.

• Quick and easy - You just take the screenshot and you've instantly captured any texts on your screen at that moment.

Cons of using the screenshot method to save and print text messages:

• Not good for a lot of messages - If you have more than a few text messages you need to save, taking screenshots is not ideal.

• Not way to format - It's difficult and time consuming to try and format all the screenshots into a cohesive document.

• No timestamp on texts - With screenshots, there is no metadata like the time stamp or contact information displayed on your text message captures or print outs.

Takeaway: Screenshots are best used if you only have a couple messages that you need to save. If you have more than a few text messages that you want to export and print from iPhone or iPad, screenshots are not the most effective choice or use of your important time.

Third Party software - When is this the best solution?

Third-party software can be your new best friend if you need to print iPhone text messages.

This way you can export text messages on your computer with ease in different formats and print out the text conversations without having to collate or organize your messages.

One of the key factors when using a third-party software program to print text messages it to make sure you use a program that is vetted and has a proven track record. It is essential that you retain full control over all your text messages data privately on your computer. For this reason we recommend the software Decipher TextMessage.

Decipher TextMessage is made in the USA and has been championed by individuals, businesses, law firms, legal experts, and other industries to be the leading software to reliably save and print text messages from iPhone. You can read customer reviews here.

Pros of using the USA made third-party software Decipher TextMessage to export and print text messages:

• Formatting- Decipher TextMessage enables you to export all your texts in chat bubble format.

• Metadata - The software displays timestamp and contact information on every message.

• Privacy - When you use Decipher TextMessage all your text message data is private and local on your PC or Mac.

• Free trial - The program has a free trial that lets you save and print just a few messages. This way you can try out the program to make sure it is what you want before purchasing.

• Robust export options - Decipher TextMessage lets users export and print text messages in a wide range of formats including PDF, HTML, CSV and TXT. Date range text message export option are also available.

• No subscriptions - Decipher TextMessage has no subscriptions, recurring monthly charges, or hidden billing.

• Text message only backup - The software has a custom back up option that will back up just your text messages and attachments and not your entire iPhone. iTunes is also no longer required for the backup.

What else should I consider when using Decipher TextMessage?

• Cost - To save and print all your text messages, Decipher TextMessage costs $29.99 USD. There are no subscriptions, no recurring charges, and no hidden billing ever.

• Windows or Mac computer required - Apple won't let iPhone users export messages directly on their device. You need a Windows PC or Mac computer to properly export and print your text messages.

Screenshots - Specific details on how to take iPhone screenshots to print text messages

A screenshot is a digital capture of whatever is on your iPhone screen when you take the screenshot. After you capture the image, the screenshot is immediately placed into your iPhone Camera Roll.

iPhone screenshot instructions:

• On your iPhone open the Messages app and pick a contact.

• Press and release the "side button" and also the "volume up" button. This will instantly save the screenshot to your iPhone's camera roll.

• Open the camera roll and select the screenshot. Tap "Print" which will let you print the screenshot of your messages out!

• Repeat this step for the amount of text messages screenshots you need to print.

Source: Apple Support official instructions to take screenshots.

Third-Party Software - Specific details on how to print out text messages from iPhone.

Follow these specific steps to print iPhone text messages:

1. Open Decipher TextMessage on your Windows PC or Mac computer.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
3. Choose "Back Up."
4. After your iPhone backup completes, select your device.
5. Pick the contact that has text messages you need to print out.
6. Choose Export PDF and save the text messages to your computer.
7. Double-click to open the PDF on your computer and choose “Print” to print out your iPhone text messages.

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When you open Decipher TextMessage, your iPhone will appear in the program and you can select any contact with text messages or iMessages that you want to export and print.

Below is what a PDF export of your iPhone text messages looks like when using the software Decipher TextMessage:

Metadata - The PDF example above shows the metadata timestamp and contact information on ever single text message. This is a preference and feature is unique to Decipher TextMessage software.

Generating text message print outs and documents with metadata is often required by businesses, lawyers, attorneys, and legal counsel in order to provide thorough documentation and records.

The metadata option in Decipher TextMessage is also a great way for anyone to be able to easily discern who sent and received each specific text message and what phone numbers are tied to each specific text.

Here are a few of Decipher TextMessage's meta data settings and preferences:

Caution - Tips to make sure your iPhone text message data is private and safe

When exporting iPhone text messages, always be vigilant and use caution with any of the following:

• Apps that require your iCloud password or Apple ID - Always be wary and cautious of any software program or app on your device that requires you to enter your iCloud password or Apple ID. We recommend never giving out this private information to any program or app that claims they will help you export your text message data.

• Software that requires you to upload data or screenshots to their servers - Never let an app or third-party program upload your data to servers. Your text message data should always stay local and private on your computers/devices.

• Apps that use AI to process your texting data - Just like being wary of an app that uploads your messages data to their server, you should also be wary of any app that uses AI to process your text-message data. Your messages likely contain personal data that you want to remain private and only accessible by you and trusted parties you've selected.

Always read product reviews and testimonials prior to purchasing software to print iPhone text messages

• Before downloading a third-party program to transfer and print iPhone text messages, do a little homework and make sure the software you are looking into using is vetted and reputable.

• Check to see where the software is developed and what country the developer and support team are based in so you can evaluate as to whether the software is made and supported by a trustworthy and reputable business.

• Also, before purchasing any program to save and print text messages, it's a smart idea to look for feedback and reviews specifically about the software's customer support ahead of time, in case you need help using the software/app.

Customer testimonials for the USA made app Decipher TextMessage can be viewed at https://deciphertools.com/testimonial.html.

Terry S.
May, 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"I learned of the Decipher TextMessage Tool from my daughter which helped her save/protect some very important text messages. I was so very amazed on how simple the tool was to use and how efficient it worked that I began to use it on my own. Since then I continue to appreciate the tool's capabilities and learn of the enhancements and improvements that continue to be implemented! Whenever I have had a question regarding functionality of Decipher TextMessage or it's behavior, the support team has been so amazing in providing excellent support and information quickly! Everyone that I have interacted with over the years has been great! A quality product, outstanding support. Cannot recommend this product and the Decipher Tools team enough!"

Final thoughts

Hopefully today's instructions have been useful as you decide what is the best method for your needs when it comes to exporting and printing out your iPhone text messages and iMessages to your computer.

It's a great feeling when you are able to save and print your iPhone text message with ease, accuracy, and also the peace of mind knowing that your text message data is private and secure.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to drop us a support email via our contact page and one of our USA-based team will reply back with assistance. Happy text message printing!

When you select "Export" in Decipher TextMessage, you will first be prompted to choose the format for your text message export. In Decipher TextMessage, the robust export options include the following:

• PDF

• PDF (Date Range)

• HTML Archive

• HTML Archive (Date Range)

• Text Only

• Text Only (Date Range)

• CSV

• CSV (Date Range)

You will see these text message export options listed under the export menu choices in Decipher TextMessage.

After selecting one of the export choices, you will then be prompted to pick a directory or folder on your computer and you can then save the text messages to whatever location you prefer.

Windows Computer - Here is what you'll see when being prompted to save your iPhone text messages on Windows:

Mac Computer - Here is what you'll see when being prompted to save your iPhone text messages on a Mac:

What is the best location on my computer to save my iPhone text messages?

You can export your iPhone text messages to any folder on your computer that you want. Saving text messages to either the Desktop or Documents folder are popular and convenient choices.

Save iPhone text messages to Desktop
Many users like to save text messages from their iPhone to the Desktop on their computer. This way it’s easy to find the exported PDF file on your Desktop and you don’t have to search or try and locate it elsewhere.

Save iPhone text messages to Documents folder
The Documents folder on any Windows or Mac computer is another familiar and convenient place for any user to save the PDF containing their text messages. After you export the text messages, simply navigate to the Documents folder and you can open and print the PDF of your iPhone text messages that was generated by Decipher TextMessage.

Can I save my iPhone text messages to an external hard drive or thumb drive?

Yes, after you export and save your iPhone text messages as a PDF to your computer, you can then copy the PDF document to any thumb drive or external hard drive.

Also, if you have the external drive plugged into your computer, you can save the text messages directly to the external drive instead of first saving the file to your PC or Mac.

Which of the export options is the most popular for exporting iPhone text messages?

Most Decipher TextMessage users choose the PDF export option. The PDF option enables users to export, save, and print text messages including any photo attachments include in the text conversations.

Metadata Preference - All exports made with Decipher TextMessage software include metadata like the timestamp and contact information on every text message both sent and received. This is very helpful and often necessary for documentation and organizational purposes.

How many text messages can I save and is my text message data private?

When you activate a device with your Decipher TextMessage product license code, you can export all the text messages from that specific iPhone forever as many times as you need.

Text Message Data Privacy - When anyone uses Decipher TextMessage software to export and print text messages from iPhone, the user's data is completely private and local on their computer. Only the user has access to their data and none of it is stored on servers and no Apple ID is required to extract and exports the texts. The user is in complete ownership and control of their data.

"Decipher TextMessage is a truly amazing app if you have a need to store and organize text messages! If you want to go back to a particular date and revisit every conversation you had in the order those texts took place this program will do it! Every question I had was quickly answered by the support team. I highly recommend both the application and this company to anyone looking to save and organize their text messages."

-Sam H. / April 6, 2026 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Source: Customer review / testimonial for Decipher TextMessage software to save and print iPhone text messages..

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Do you need additional help with exporting iPhone text messages to a Windows PC or Mac?

If you need any help saving and printing your iPhone text messages or are having issues picking a convenient location on your computer or external hard drive for the saved document, you can email us via our Decipher Tools support page and someone from our USA-based team will reply and help.

When you use Decipher TextMessage for copying, exporting, or printing iPhone text messages, the software not only makes the process of extracting your text messages easy, but the program's intuitive user-interface also makes it simple to choose the exact folder or directory so you can store and save your text messages to wherever is most convenient on your personal computer.

"Are the text messages on my iPhone exportable? I don't want to take screenshots since I have a lot of texts that I need to save to PDF and print out for work before I get a new iPhone. Is there a way to save all the text messages off the phone?"
-Michael Buck, San Diego, California

Answer:

"Yes, it is possible to export and save iPhone text messages from the Messages app on iPhone to any Windows or Mac computer. The popular third-party app Decipher TextMessage is the tool of choice for iPhone users who need to extract, save, and print text messages."

Follow along with these steps to export and save iPhone text messages to any computer:

1. Install the Decipher TextMessage app on your computer.

2. Plug an iPhone into your PC or Mac and select the “Back Up” option in the program.

3. Choose “Export” and pick “Current Conversation PDF.”

4. Select a folder on your computer to save the PDF of your iPhone text messages.

5. You have now successfully exported text messages from iPhone to your computer.

Bonus tip: To print the exported iPhone text messages, open the saved PDF in your PDF viewing software on your computer and select “Print” to print out the iPhone text messages.

After opening Decipher TextMessage and backing up your iPhone in the program, the software will display all your text messages with any contact. Here is an example of how your iPhone text messages and contacts appear when they are imported into the app on your Windows PC or Mac.

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What are my export options and choices when saving text messages from iPhone?

Decipher TextMessage gives any iPhone or iPad user the ability to export, save, and print text messages, iMessages, and SMS/MMS messages.

Decipher TextMessage offers the following helpful export format options:

• PDF

• PDF (Date Range)

• HTML

• HTML (Date Range)

• Plain Text (TXT)

• Plain Text (TXT) (Date Range)

• CSV / Excel

• CSV / Excel (Date Range)

When you are using Decipher TextMessage and select "Export," you'll see the different export options displayed in the program so that you can choose the one that best fits your specific SMS export needs.

What does an exported text message document in PDF format look like?

Below is an example document exported with Decipher TextMessage software. Notice that the software preserves the "chat-bubble" formatting as displayed in the Messages app on your iPhone.

Additionally, take note that there is important metadata like the contact information and date and timestamp on all text messages both received and sent. This is a unique preference in Decipher TextMessage software that is critical for organizing and archiving text messages for personal use, business reasons, court, evidence, or legal documentation.

"The ability to transfer and save text message threads for court purposes is very useful. Decipher TextMessage also provided a summary count of texts and attachments by month/year etc... Very helpful for billing proof!"

-Melinda / January 27, 2026 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Source: Customer testimonial / review for Decipher TextMessage software to save and print iPhone text messages..

When I use software to export text messages, is my text message data public?

Always make sure that the third-party software you are using is trusted and vetted.

If you are saving text messages with Decipher TextMessage, all your personal text message data is private on your PC or Mac computer. Anytime you purchase a program to copy and save text message data, make sure the software is reputable and doesn't ever store your text message data in the cloud or online!

Source: Decipher Tools Software / Decipher TextMessage verification and data privacy..

Is there a video I can watch so I can better understand how to save and export my iPhone text messages?

If you need additional help, here is a simple instructional video that walks you through how to export and print out iPhone text messages. ytvideo{ayywP8AGKM4}

"I have a family member who recently passed away. For many years we exchanged a lot of photos and videos in our text messages. Is there any way for me to extract all the pictures and videos so I can keep the photo memories forever or have copies of the photos on my computer?"
-Ursula Butler, Miami, FL

Answer:

"We’re sorry to hear about you losing your family member. If you want to export and save just the photos and videos from your iPhone text messages, the third-party program Decipher TextMessage will let you conveniently transfer all the attachments from the Messages app on your iPhone to your computer. It’s a great way to preserve all your photos and memories with any family friend or loved one."

iPhone users in countries around the world regularly receive a large amount of photo and video attachments via text message on their iPhone.

Over time, the photo and video attachments in the iPhone Messages app can take up a lot of precious storage space on the device itself.

If your iPhone's storage is getting near to capacity, extracting attachments that are located in the Messages app is a great first step to free up important iPhone space.

Even if you currently have plenty of iPhone storage available, it's a smart idea to occasionally transfer photo and video attachments from the Messages app on iPhone to your computer. This will ensure that you have a secondary copy of the attachments safely backed up should anything ever happen to your iPhone or iPad.

Exporting photos and videos from the iPhone Messages app one at a time can be very timing consuming and tiring.

However, with the help of the third-party software program Decipher TextMessage, iPhone users can quickly bulk copy photos and videos from their text message conversations with any contact to their computer for safekeeping and archiving.

How to export photos and videos from text messages on iPhone

Here are the exact steps to extract and save all your photo and video attachments from iPhone text messages to your computer:

1. Open Decipher TextMessage on your Windows PC or Mac computer.

2. Plug your iPhone into your computer and select “Back Up” in Decipher TextMessage.

3. Once the backups finishes, select your iPhone.

4. Pick a contact that has photo attachments that you want to save to your computer.

5. Choose Export and pick the “HTML Archive” option to save the photo and videos.

6. After you have saved the attachments, open the exported folder and you will have an "Attachments" folder containing all your photo and video attachments with that contact in high resolution format that you can keep forever.

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When you launch Decipher TextMessage on your computer and back up your iPhone, your iPhone will will appear in the left-hand column of the software. After selecting a contact, you’ll see all your text messages including any photo and video attachments in the program.

Most people that need to export text messages simply choose the helpful PDF export option which will embed any photos in the PDF that are part of that specific text message conversation.

In order to export a separate folder of just your photo and video attachments that are part of the text messages threads, you can select the HTML Archive export option in Decipher TextMessage.

When you open the exported HTML Archive folder, you’ll see a separate stand-alone “Attachments” folder that contains all your photos and videos with that contact.

Windows - Photo and video attachments exported to computer from iPhone with Decipher TextMessage.

Mac - Photo and video attachments exported to computer from iPhone with Decipher TextMessage.

Note: The photos and video attachments exported from your iPhone to your computer with Decipher TextMessage are all high resolution files.

Pro Tip: Also contained in the exported folder is an HTML file. This HTML file contains all your text messages exchanged with that contact. You can open this HTML file locally in your web browser to view and print your text messages should that also be helpful!

"The Decipher TextMessage application to offload SMS text messages from iPhone to PC and then save as PDFs worked very well. Highly recommended if this is needed. This will work well in my upcoming court case."

-Michael / February 01, 2026 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Source: Customer review for Decipher TextMessage software to save and print iPhone text messages with photo attachments..

Reasons for exporting text messages attachments (photos/videos) from iPhone.

Some of the many reasons why iPhone users sometimes have a need to extract and save attachments from text messages include the following:

• Reducing iPhone storage - Copying photo and video attachments to one's computer helps free up important space on your iPhone or iPad.

• Court or legal needs - Extracting text message photos and videos is a common request for legal needs or court cases. Lawyers, attorneys, and individuals regularly use Decipher TextMessage to save and print text messages from iPhone for court. Having the ability to also extract text message attachments as standalone files is incredibly useful and often required by lawyers for evidence purposes.

• Photo search and organization - Exporting photo attachments from text messages gives iPhone users the ability to organize their photos on their computer or via any photo storage method of their choice like iCloud Photos. After extracting attachments and saving photos to your Windows PC or Mac computer, you also have the ability to search, locate, and access photos with ease instead of having to endlessly scroll back through older text messages via the Messages app on iPhone or iPad.

• Mobile device loss, theft, or damage - Transferring photo and video attachments from the Messages app on iPhone to computer with Decipher TextMessage is a great way to ensure that important attachments are safely backed up and stored on your computer in the event you lose your iPhone or if your mobile device is stolen or broken.

• Separate standalone copies of photos and videos - The ability to have a separate standalone copy of photos and video attachments is useful if you have have a need to sent the attachments to a friend, family member, or business colleague.

• Photo attachment recovery if texts are deleted - Saving photos attachments from text messages to your computer ensures that, if you ever accidentally delete text messages off of your iPhone in the Messages app, that you'll have copies of the important photo or video attachments already stored on your computer and backed up.

Review Large Attachments - How to check the size of attachments stored in the iPhone Messages app

If you are curious to review and see which attachments are taking up the most storage space on your iPhone, here is how:

On your iPhone select: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages. You'll then see the option to Review Large Attachments.

Do you need extra help exporting attachments from your iPhone text messages?

If you have a need to export iPhone text message attachments to your Windows PC or Mac computer, we hope today's Decipher Tools tips and instructions have been helpful.

If you need any further assistance, you can reach out to us via our Decipher Tools support page and we'll have one of our USA-based team in San Francisco or Phoenix reply back to assist.

Most users of the Voice Memos app will have a need at some point to copy voice memos from their iPhone to their computer. There is a lot of confusing information about how best to accomplish this task.

With the help of the popular third-party program Decipher Backup Browser, any iPhone user with a Windows or Mac computer can quickly bulk export all their iPhone voice memos to computer. This will ensure any iPhone user has a separate copy of all their voice memos stored on their PC or Mac for safekeeping.

Why do people use Apple's Voice Memos app?

A few of the reasons why people use the Voice Memos app on their iPhone or iPad include:

• Recording business meetings for work documentation.

• Musicians recording song ideas for composition, inspiration, and songwriting.

• Lawyers recording voice memos or for depositions or legal hearings.

• Parents recording their kids or family members.

• Recording lectures or classroom instructions for educational purposes.

• To record and capture ideas and thoughts for personal projects.

Are Apple Voice Memos saved to iCloud?

Yes, when you use iCloud your voice memos will be accessible across all your Apple devices. However, you have to make sure you have that setting turned on.

Here is how to ensure that your voice memos sync to iCloud:

On your iPhone or iPad go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud. Next, select the See All option and turn on Voice Memos.

Source: Apple's official site

Keep in mind that using voice memos with iCloud still doesn’t give you a quick and easy way to transfer all your voice memos to computer. This is where Decipher Backup Browser comes in handy.

How to transfer and copy all voice memos from iPhone to computer.

Here are the steps to follow to export and transfer iPhone voice memos to computer:

1. Launch the third-party app Decipher Backup Browser on your Windows or Mac computer.

2. Plug your iPhone into your computer, open Decipher Backup Browser, and select "Back Up.""

3. When the backup completes, select your iPhone in the program.

4. Choose “Voice Memos” in the middle column of Decipher Backup Browser.

5. Click “Save” to immediately transfer and copy all your voice memos to your computer.

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After you back up your iPhone with Decipher Backup Browser, when you open the app on your computer, you can select a device and choose the "Voice Memos" option in the middle column of the program. Here is an example:

You will then see your Voice Memo recordings in the far right column of Decipher Backup Browser and you can select "Save" to transfer all the voice memos to your Windows or Mac computer.

Now that you've successfully copied all your iPhone voice memos to your computer, you will have back up copies of the voice memos for safekeeping and also that you can share with anyone.

Also, in the event that your iPhone is lost, stolen, or broken, having copies of all your voice memos on your computer will ensure that you still have access to your important audio recordings.

What if I only need to save and export a few voice memos?

The following other methods are useful if you only have a few voice memos to save and you don't want to export a large amount of voice memos:

Mac users

If you are on a Mac computer and only need to transfer a few voice memos, you can send the iPhone voice memos to your Mac via Apple's AirDrop feature.

• Open Voice Memos on your iPhone.

• Select the voice memo you want to share or transfer.

• Tap on the three dots (•••).

• Select the "Share" option and choose AirDrop.

• Select your Mac's computer when it appears.

• On your Mac, click accept to download the iPhone voice memos to your computer.

Windows users

If you are on a Windows computer and you only need to transfer a few voice memos, you can email the voice memos to yourself.

• Launch voice memos on your iPhone.

• Select the recording you want to export.

• Choose the three dots (•••).

• Select the "Share" option.

• Pick your email app to send the Voice Memo to yourself in an email.

• Open the email on your Windows PC and download the iPhone voice memo to your computer!

Note: These two methods are best used when you only need to transfer just a few voice memos. If your goal is to transfer a large amount of voice memos to your computer, using the third-party program Decipher Backup Browser will save you time and effort.

Do you need additional help copying iPhone Voice Memos to computer?

If you need further guidance exporting voice memos from your iPhone to your Windows or Mac computer, simply email us via our Decipher Tools support page and someone from our San Francisco or Phoenix team will be happy to help. Good luck with exporting your voice memos!

How to rebuild the Spotlight Index on your Mac

To ask macOS to refresh the Spotlight index on a drive, you essentially turn indexing off on that drive, and then turn it back on again:

1. Select the Apple menu in the top left corner of your Mac and pick "System Settings."

2. Click the "Spotlight" choice or the "Siri & Spotlight" option.

3. Choose the "Search Privacy" or "Spotlight Privacy" button.

4. Select and drag your hard drive (often named Macintosh HD) that you want Spotlight to re-index to the list of locations that Spotlight is prevented from searching. In addition to dragging, you can also click the add button (+) to add it that way.

5. Wait a few seconds and then click the remove button (–) to remove your Macintosh Hard Drive from this list. This will then force Spotlight to "re-index" all the files on your computer so that they appear in search results.

6. Select Done.

Note: The re-index can often take a little time and this all depends on the amount of data that Spotlight has to re-index. Be patient and when you try your Spotlight search again you should now see the entire contents of your Macintosh hard drive indexed and searchable.

Source: If you want to read more about how to have Spotlight re-index the files on your Mac, you can navigate to Apple's official instructions here.

Make sure you've allowed Spotlight to search all the files on your Mac.

Here is one additional thing to check in order to ensure that all the files on your Mac are searchable.

Select System Settings on your Mac, click on "Spotlight" or "Siri and Spotlight," and make sure that all the file categories are checked so that they are available to be indexed and searched by Spotlight.

If you are one of these users and you regularly send messages via WhatsApp, then there might come a time when you have a need to save and print your WhatsApp messages as a PDF file on your computer.

Today's instructions will walk any iPhone or Android user through how to export and print their WhatsApp messages to PDF using the popular third-party program Decipher Chat.

Reasons to save and print WhatsApp messages

There are a myriad of reasons why WhatsApp users often have a need to export and print their WhatsApp messages and conversations. Some of these include:

• Capturing WhatsApp messages for business documentation.

• Saving WhatsApp chats for court, trial, or legal disputes.

• Exporting messages from WhatsApp to save chats with a family member or loved ones.

• Parents that need to retain and print WhatsApp messages of their teens or kids.

• Having a secondary copy of WhatsApp chats saved to computer before switching phones or in case of a lost or stolen mobile device.

Steps to print WhatsApp messages - iPhone

Here are the specific steps to follow so you can print out WhatsApp chats on iPhone:

1. Open Decipher Chat on your computer.

2. Plug your iPhone into your PC or Mac and select "Back Up" in Decipher Chat.

3. After the backup completes, select your iPhone.

4. Choose any WhatsApp contact that has messages you want to export and print out.

5. Select Export and pick the PDF option.

6. Open the file of your WhatsApp messages and choose “Print” to print out your WhatsApp chats to PDF on your computer.

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After backing up your iPhone, when you open Decipher Chat you'll see your device and all your WhatsApp contacts in the software. Then you can export any WhatsApp chats to PDF right away. Here is an example of how your WhatsApp messages look imported into Decipher Chat.

Below is an example of what a PDF of your WhatsApp chats and messages looks like when you export your WhatsApp conversations to computer with Decipher Chat:

Pro Tip: Notice that the WhatsApp messages exported with Decipher Chat contain metadata such as the timestamp and contact information on every single WhatsApp chat. This type of documentation is helpful for record keeping, legal needs, court, and evidence.

"Great program, worked perfectly. Decipher Chat helped save important WhatsApp chats. And also, excellent support. I can only recommend it."

-Dima / January 27, 2026 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Source: Customer testimonial / review for Decipher Chat software to save and print WhatsApp messages..

Steps to print WhatsApp messages - Android

Here are the specific steps to print WhatsApp chats from Android phones:

1. Open a WhatsApp chat on your Android phone.

2. Choose "More Options" > "More" > "Export chat."

3. Select "Include Media."

4. Email or save the zip file of your WhatsApp data to your Windows or Mac computer.

5. Open Decipher Chat on your computer and select Preferences.

6. Choose "Custom Backup Location" and pick "Add WhatsApp Export Zip Files."

7. Select the WhatsApp zip file that you want to import into Decipher Chat.

8. Click on the WhatsApp contact in Decipher Chat and choose "Save" to export your WhatsApp chats as a PDF to your computer.

9. Open the exported PDF and select "Print" to print out the WhatsApp messages.

Source: Export WhatsApp messages to your computer.
Source: Decipher Chat import WhatsApp data preference.

After exporting the zip file of your WhatsApp data from your Android phone to your computer, when you open Decipher Chat and select "Preferences" in the program you'll see the option to import the zip file of your WhatsApp data.

Once you have imported your WhatsApp zip file into Decipher Chat, you will then see your WhatsApp data in the program and you can choose the WhatsApp contact and export and print your WhatsApp messages to your Windows PC or Mac.

Pro tip: Exporting a zip file of your WhatsApp data directly from the WhatsApp app on your mobile phone can be done by both Android and iPhone users.

Video Instructions - Exporting WhatsApp data from Android or iPhone with Decipher Chat

If you are exporting your WhatsApp data directly on your phone and your goal is to import the zip file of your WhatsApp chats into Decipher Chat, here is a helpful tutorial video that walks you through the process outlined above so you can save WhatsApp chats to PDF.

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The two primary ways to save and print iPhone text messages is by taking screenshots or by using a third-party software program to export the text message data.

In order to decide which method is best for your own personal needs and data privacy, there are several things to consider:

How many text messages do you need to save and print?

Screenshots - If you have a very small amount of iPhone text messages to save and print, you might consider taking screenshots.

Screenshots are a safe, easy, and quick way to capture the text messages so that you have a basic photo or "screenshot" of the important conversations.

However, if you need to save more than a few messages, taking screenshots is not very ideal or user-friendly.

It can take a large amount of time to take the screenshots and then you have to figure out a way to organize the screenshots into a format that is cohesive and printable.

Third-party Software - If you have a need to print out many text messages, then using a third-party software program to export and print the texts is a smart choice.

Third-party software enables you to print as many iPhone text messages as you need without the hassle of taking a lot of screenshots.

If you use a trusted third-party software program like Decipher TextMessage, the software will organize and export your messages in a variety of options including as a PDF file.

You can then email or share the exported text message document with friends, family, business colleagues, lawyers, legal counsel, or anyone.

Cost and budget

Screenshots - Taking screenshots of text messages on your iPhone or iPad is free and doesn't cost anything. This is great if you have a limited budget.

Third-party Software - Using third-party software is not free, however the features and functionality of a reputable third-party software program to save text messages will enable you to quickly and reliably export and print text messages while simultaneously save you time and effort.

If you decide to go with a third-party software program to save and print text messages from iPhone, do your research to ensure you pick an app that doesn’t have any subscriptions, recurring monthly charges, or hidden billing. Decipher TextMessage is a program that meets all these important requirements.

Data Safety and Privacy

Screenshots - When you take screenshots of text messages on your iPhone or iPad, all the screenshots are private on your iOS device. The screenshots can only be seen or viewed by you or whoever has permission to access and use your device.

Third-party Software - When you use a third-party software program to save messages, it is important to make sure that the software you are using is reputable and doesn’t store your text message data on servers/in the cloud. (Text message data stored on someone else's server is vulnerable should that server be compromised.)

When saving and printing iPhone text messages with a third-party app, it's important to choose a program that guarantees data privacy and that the user of the software is the only person with access to their text messages and exported message history.

What is a trusted third-party software program that prints text messages while keeping my data safe and private?

We recommend the popular USA-made third-party software Decipher TextMessage for this task.

Decipher TextMessage enables users to save and print text messages on any Windows PC or Mac computer and the program is known for its reliability and data safety.

When you use Decipher TextMessage to export and print text messages, all of one’s data is completely private on the computer where the software is used. Nothing is ever stored on servers or remotely in the cloud.

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Method #1 - How do I take screenshots of iPhone text messages?

Here is how to take iPhone screenshots:

• Open the Messages app on your iPhone and select a contact.

• Press and release the "side button" and also the "volume up" button. This will save the screenshot to the camera roll in your iPhone.

• Open the camera roll and select the screenshot. You can now tap "Print" which will let you print the screenshot.

• Repeat this step for however many text messages screenshots you need to print.

Data Source: Apple Support.

Method #2 - How do I save and print iPhone text messages with a third-party software app?

These are the exact steps to print your iPhone text messages:

1. Open Decipher TextMessage software on your computer.

2. Plug your iPhone into your computer and choose "Back Up" in the program.

3. When the backup completes, select your iPhone.

4. Choose a contact and select Export / PDF to save the iPhone text messages to your computer.

5. Open the PDF and select "Print" to print out your iPhone text messages in a safe, private, and secure manner on your computer.
   
   

Here is an example of what iPhone text messages look like when exported to PDF using the safe and secure software Decipher TextMessage.

Metadata - Do you need the timestamp and contact info displayed on your iPhone text message print outs?

One of the benefits of using Decipher TextMessage to export and print iPhone text messages is that the program generates print outs with important metadata like the timestamp and contact information on every text message that you have both sent and received.

The example above shows this metadata timestamp and contact on ever single text message feature which is unique to Decipher TextMessage and often required by lawyers, attorneys, and legal counsel when generating text message transcripts for evidence.

The metadata option in Decipher TextMessage is also a simple and helpful way to ensure your text message conversations are organized and comprehensive, giving any user a clear understanding of when texts were sent and received and by whom.

Things to avoid when printing iPhone text messages - Safety and privacy

If you are concerned about safety and data privacy when printing iPhone text messages, here are several important things to avoid and be cautious about:

• Apple ID - Do not give out your Apple ID to any software program requesting it for text message export purposes.

• iCloud password - Never give out your iCloud password to any third-party company to save and print iPhone text messages.

• Data uploads to servers or the cloud - Stay away from programs that require you to upload your text message data to external servers or cloud storage.

• Jailbreaking - Do not use software that requires you to Jailbreak your iPhone in order to export and print text messages.

• Public computers - Never use a public computer to back up your iPhone or to save and print text messages.

Read reviews - Always read product reviews before purchasing third-party software to save and print iPhone text messages.

Before you use or purchase a third-party program to export and print iPhone text messages, it's recommend that you Google the software and read product reviews and testimonials.

Reviews for Decipher Tools, the USA-based software company that develop and support Decipher TextMessage, can be viewed at https://deciphertools.com/testimonial.html.

Decipher Tools software has an established track record and are experts in saving, printing, and managing iPhone text messages both for individual users and also enterprise clients in the legal and business world.

Stephen H.
January 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"I Googled and found a Reddit comment was a listing of 2-3 software programs that might work to save and print iPhone text messages. I downloaded one called Decipher TextMessage from Decipher Tools onto my Windows 11 laptop and within an hour, everything loaded and worked to perfection. I was able to download 8,323 pages of all our texts since 2018 into a searchable PDF and archive the whole thing. Amazingly, for only one reasonable purchase price with no monthly/annual subscription required (unlike the software that failed so miserably!)"

Wrapping Up

We hope that today's instructions about how to safely and securely print iPhone text messages has been helpful.

Following the steps outlined above should enable you to evaluate which method of saving and printing iPhone text messages is best for your own personal needs. You will also have the peace of mind knowing that your important text message data is safe and secure when transferring the text messages, SMS, and iMessages to your PC or Mac computer.

Copying iPhone text messages to a USB thumb drive is useful for many reasons including:

• Text Message File Sharing - Easily share iPhone text messages with friends, business colleagues, legal counsel, or family members.

• Portability - Having a secondary portable copy of your important text message conversations lets you store backups of your text messages is different locations for safekeeping and security.

• Free up space on iPhone - Many users like to copy and transfer text messages from iPhone to a USB drive so that they can deleted text messages from the Messages app on their device which frees up important iPhone space.

• Print iPhone text messages from any location - Having a copy of iPhone text messages on a portable USB flash thumb drive enables you to print out the messages in PDF format on any computer or printer that has the ability to read USB thumb drives.

• Organization - Exporting text messages to a USB drive helps users organize text conversations as PDF documents in different folders and directories.

What do I need to save iPhone text messages to a USB flash thumb drive?

In order to export text messages from iPhone to a USB flash or thumb drive you need the following:

• Windows or Mac computer

• USB flash / thumb drive

• Decipher TextMessage software

Decipher TextMessage software runs on any Windows or Mac computer and gives iPhone users the ability to save text messages (including photo and video attachments) in a variety of formats such as a PDF, HMTL, CSV, and TXT.

Text Message Data Privacy: When you run Decipher TextMessage all your text message data is stored privately on your PC or Mac and only you have access to the data.

How to copy and save iPhone text messages to USB flash drive.

Follow these specific steps to save text messages from iPhone to a USB thumb flash drive:

1. Run Decipher TextMessage on your computer.

2. Plug your iPhone into your PC or Mac and select Back Up in the program.

3. When the the backup completes, select your iPhone.

4. Pick a contact that has text messages you want to save to a USB thumb drive.

5. Choose Export/PDF to save the iPhone text messages to computer.

6. Plug the USB thumb flash drive into your Windows or Mac computer and copy the PDF containing the iPhone text messages to the USB thumb drive.

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Can I copy iPhone text messages directly to a USB Flash thumb drive without having to first save the messages to my computer?

Yes! If you want to save iPhone text messages directly to a USB thumb drive without first exporting the messages to your computer, plug the USB drive into your Windows PC or Mac. When you select Export / PDF in Decipher TextMessage, instead of choosing a folder or directory on your computer, select your USB thumb drive and you can copy the PDF of your iPhone text messages directly to the USB drive.

What are the different formats for saving iPhone text messages to a USB thumb flash drive?

Decipher TextMessage enables anyone to export text messages from iPhone to a USB thumb drive in a variety of formats that include:

• PDF - The PDF export option in Decipher TextMessage lets users save iPhone text messages, iMessages, and photo/video attachments in PDF format. This is a convenient and easy format to share text messages with anyone.

• HTML - The HTML Archive export feature is a way for iPhone users to save text messages and photo attachments as a HMTL file. Users can then open the HTML file locally in their web browser on any computer. Once of the perks of the HTML Archive export choice offered by Decipher TextMessage is that this export format also saves a separate stand-alone folder of all the text message photo and video attachments with any contact.

• CSV - The CSV (Comma-Separated Values) export option will format iPhone text messages in a CSV text file so that the text message data can be opened and imported into a spreadsheet or also into programs like Google Sheets, Excel, or Numbers on a Mac.

• TXT - Saving text messages from iPhone using Decipher TextMessage's Text (TXT) export option is simple to copy text messages without any formatting to a USB drive. You can then open the text file using Notepad on Windows, Text Edit on Mac, Microsoft Word on both Windows and Mac, or any text software reader of your choice.
  
  

As a Systems Administrator at a fairly large company, I have reached out for support for a number of tools/services over the years. DecipherTools support is stellar and Decipher TextMessage software works great! But if you have a question or issue, these guys are incredibly quick and thorough helping. Unrivaled support!.

-David / February 19, 2025 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Source: Customer reviews and testimonials for Decipher TextMessage.

What size USB thumb drive do I need for copying iPhone text messages?

The capacity of a USB thumb drive needed for exporting text messages all depends on how much text message data you have stored on your iPhone and whether the text message conversations also include large amounts of photo and video attachments.

USB flash thumb drives usually come in a variety of sizes including 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Any of these sizes from 16GB and larger should hopefully accommodate your needs when transferring text messages from iPhone to a USB thumb drive.

Do you need additional help?

Hopefully you have found that today's instructions about how to save and copy iPhone text messages to a USB flash drive have been useful.

If you need any assistance with transferring your texts to a thumb drive, simply reach out to us via our Decipher Tools support page and one of our USA-based team from our San Francisco or Phoenix office will be happy to reply and assist.