How to Save Text Messages for Later Use

Sometimes you receive text messages that are too important to delete. It could be a job offer you’ve worked all year to nail down, or maybe someone sent you a funny text, and you’d like to hold onto it to lift your spirits.

In this guide, you’ll see how to save messages for later use across various devices.

Why Save Text Messages for Later Use?

It’s safe to say that text messages are now a fundamental part of everyday life. Research shows that, on average, a whopping 23 billion text messages get exchanged daily by phone users worldwide. There are several reasons why you would want to save and perhaps export your text messages:

• You want to hold onto messages from family and friends.
• You need to keep crucial information for legal use, for instance, in an ongoing court case.
• You want to hold onto conversations between you and a loved one who has passed away.
• You want to preserve and protect cherished memories.

How to Save Text Messages Online

The good news is you can save text messages online and retrieve them the same way you access your emails. There are several destinations, any of which can be your go-to tool depending on your personal preferences. You can use Google Gmail, your personal computer, Apple iCloud/iTunes, or your phone’s built-in backup tool.

Newt, you will see how these tools work for different devices.

How to Save Text Messages on iPhone

If you’re using an iPhone, you’ve got several options for saving your text messages for later use.

Use Gmail to Save Text Messages on iPhone

1. Open the text thread you wish to save.
   
2. Tap and hold one of the texts, then tap “More…” This action launches a checkbox next to each text.
   
3. Check the box next to each of the texts you’d like to save
   
4. Tap the curved arrow in the bottom right corner of your screen, then enter the email address where you’d like to save your messages.
   

Use iCloud to Save Text Messages on iPhone

1. Go to “Settings.”
2. Turn on “iCloud Backup.

Besides text messages, you can also backup images, audio files, and videos. Your backups can be restored at the touch of a button whenever you need them, for instance, after buying a new iPhone.

Use your iPhone to Save Text Messages on Windows or Mac PCs

It’s relatively easy to export your text messages to a PC. Here’s how to do it.

To do so, connect your iPhone to the computer. But note that this method has a catch: you can’t see all your messages on the computer. To do that, you’ll have to install a third-party desktop app. Commonly used apps are Decipher TextMessage and CopyTrans.

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer via a Lightning-to-USB cable.
2. Install the desired iPhone messages backup app.
3. Follow the app’s instructions to export your messages.
4. Depending on how you exported the messages and what exporting options the app offers (PDF, HTML, MS Word, TXT, Excel, CSV, etc.), you can view them anytime on your device.

How to Save Text Messages on Android

Most android phones have a messaging app that does not offer automatic backup for text messages. Yes, Google provides a backup option for text/SMS/MMS messages, but that doesn’t offer advanced options like viewing or deleting them. You’ll need to use a third-party app to save your texts for later use. In this regard, SMS Backup+ is a good fit.

1. Ensure your Gmail account has IMAP enabled. Go to “Settings,” then scroll down to the “IMAP Access” section and select “Enable IMAP.”
2. Install “SMS Backup+” on your Android device.
3. Launch “SMS Backup+,” then tap on “Connect” to begin the authorization process.
4. Give the app consent to access your Google contacts.
5. Confirm the Gmail account to use with the app.
6. The “Connected” option now shows it is activated, and you are ready to perform your first backup.
7. Perform the first backup manually. Grant the app access to the send and view permissions.
8. Your first backup should start.
9. Check your Gmail account for a new “SMS” folder to confirm a successful backup job.
10. Click on the “SMS” folder to view your backed-up messages. You can also restore them by following the developer’s SMS Backup+ instructions.

Another third-party app—SMS Backup and Restore—works similarly to SMS Backup+, except it gives you the option to save your messages on Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. The good thing about this app is that you can even schedule backup times, say, after every 24 hours.

How to Backup Text Messages

Most messaging apps these days have a backup option that automatically creates an online copy of your conversations as long as you have an active internet connection. But if the backup option is unavailable, you can backup your conversations on Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox using an android device. If you own a Mac, you’ll be able to create copies of your text on iCloud or iTunes.

How to Save a Text to Send Later

On occasion, something will distract you in the middle of writing a text, forcing you to abandon it for later. It can be a bit annoying having to rewrite the message from scratch, mainly if you intended to send an unusually long one. The good thing is that most smartphones these days are programmed to save your texts as you write automatically. Even if your phone’s battery dies, you’ll be able to carry on from where you left off by simply reopening the messaging app.

If your phone doesn’t save texts automatically, you can manually save the text in the “Draft Folder” for later use.

In closing, there’s no reason why you should lose all of your text messages. That’s because there are several tools you can use to save your texts, and most of them are free. Also, messages consume very little space, and you can therefore export them in their thousands quickly without worrying about storage space. This way, you’ll be able to hold onto your best memories and relive the past whenever you want.

FAQs: Saving SMS/MMS Messages

How can I save text messages from my old phone?

• Launch the text messaging app on your phone

• Open the thread you’d like to save.

• Select all the text messages you’d like to save.

• Tap the curved arrow in the bottom right corner of your screen, then enter the email address where you want your messages saved.

How do I save and hide text messages?

You can save your text messages on Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud, depending on your phone. If you wish to hide them from prying eyes once you’ve saved them, you’ve got two options:

• Using Your Phone’s Archiving Feature

The archiving feature is present in almost all Android messaging apps. To use it, long-press on a specific contact. This action launches launch a popup window giving you the option to archive the entire conversation. To see the messages you’ve archived over time, open the messaging app, tap the three small dots in the top right corner, then select “Archived.”

• Using Third-Party Apps

You can also find and install an application designed to hide text messages. Most of these apps are freely available in your phone’s app store.

What apps can I use to save text messages as PDFs?

Some apps save SMS/MMS messages as PDFs, including PhoneView, Explorer, and TouchCopy.

How do you schedule text messages?

After drafting the text message, tap and hold down on the send button. Doing so launches a popup screen with “Schedule Message” as one of the options. You’ll then need to enter the time and date when you’d like the text sent.