Export Texts from iPhone 5?

[MotionMan]

Is there a way to export texts from an iPhone 5, like into a computer text file?

If it matters, I sync the phone to iTunes on a Mac running Mountain Lion.

MotionMan

 

[bearxor]

Yes, there are programs that can extract the SMS file from your backup.

http://www.backuptrans.com/iphone-sms-transfer.html

 

[MotionMan]

Yes, there are programs that can extract the SMS file from your backup.

http://www.backuptrans.com/iphone-sms-transfer.html

Is there a free solution?
Is there a way without having to install a new app?

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Any other thoughts?

MotionMan

 

[sygyzy]

Are you asking if there's an officially sanctioned, built-in, way?

 

[MotionMan]

Are you asking if there's an officially sanctioned, built-in, way?

No.

However, I would prefer a free way that does not require installing another app on my phone or Mac.

MotionMan

 

[Tyranicus]

There is no way to do it without a third party application, but iBackup Viewer is free and can export texts in PDF or text format.

 

[Childs]

Off the top of my head there are two low ball ways that you can do this for free. Edit the sms, and forward it to email. Or simply copy the text, and then paste it into a note, email, etc.

 

[MotionMan]

I am not sure why you are reluctant to not having another application which can manage your texts, but I would personally recommend Text Saver from MyPhoneData as I have used it and liked every bit about it.
See, if Apple does not allow you to take backups of your text message (or other data), there needs to be a reliance on 3rd party apps which can do the same for us.

Hope this helps.

Yeah, I am just strange that way. Rather than install another app, I was hoping there was a way to find where the files were stored on my Mac (or phone) and be able to extract the information from there.

This is not an ongoing project. I really just need it for a set of texts that took place during a particular time period (and there are too many to copy, paste and e-mail).

MotionMan

 

[Blackjack200]

Hmm, so you want something that can pull down an SMS file without leaving eviden--ahh I mean, an app on the screen.

Hmmmmmmmm :whiste:

Just teasing.

 

[MotionMan]

Answer:

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/backup-iphone-sms/

and

http://www.iphone-sms.com

Worked perfectly for me.

MotionMan

 

[MustISO]

It's amazing that with all the crap they put on the phones that Apple's genius engineers can't build something like this into the phone. Look at how long it took for them to do the Do Not Disturb.

 

[MotionMan]

For PC or Mac?

Mac.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Necro Update

A friend recently had the same issue and found the following:

http://www.imactools.com/iphonebackupviewer/

I have not tried it, but he said it worked great.

MotionMan

 

[Kaido]

I use iMazing for everything. It has some great SMS features:

https://imazing.com/features/transfer-iphone-text-messages-to-computer

Not free ($40), but there are usually some coupons floating around if you look.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I thought you could back up text messages via iCloud? Am I wrong?

 

[Oyeve]

I thought you could back up text messages via iCloud? Am I wrong?

You can, but its all or nothing I believe.

 

[lopri]

I recently had an impossible time trying to help a friend import/export csv files on an iPhone.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I use iMazing for everything. It has some great SMS features:

https://imazing.com/features/transfer-iphone-text-messages-to-computer

Not free ($40), but there are usually some coupons floating around if you look.

I use to use this publisher's DiskAid and it worked great. But then their meal ticket was to not support future iOS version and instead simply reinvent their own wheel by changing the product name for the newer iOS versions. That basically meant previous owners had to buy again.

Sorry, not going to follow that one trick fony (ahem, pony).