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 must keep crucial information for legal use, such as a collection attempt or 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.
• You want to save a message to reference later, such as a link, instructions, or a shopping list.

How to Save Text Messages Online using iOS/iPhone

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

Option 1: Use Gmail to Save Text Messages on your 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 text 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.
   

Option 2: Use iCloud to Save Text Messages on your iPhone

1. Go to “Settings.”
2. Tap the “>” symbol to the right of your name at the top.
3. Select “iCloud.”
4. In the “APPS USING ICLOUD” section, tap “Show All.”
5. Select “Messages” from the list.
6. Turn on “Sync this iPhone.”

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.

Option 3: Use your iPhone to Save Text Messages to 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 offering automatic text message backup, like iPhones using iCloud. Yes, Google provides a backup option for text/SMS/MMS, 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 by going to “Settings,” then scrolling down to the “IMAP Access” section and selecting “Enable IMAP.”
2. Install “SMS Backup+” on your Android device.
3. Launch “SMS Backup+,” then tap “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 allows you to save your messages on Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. The good thing about this app is that you can also schedule backup times.

How to Backup Text Messages—Not Save and Manage

Saving text messages individually (using third-party apps) for future use or reference isn’t your only option. You can also use the backup feature on most devices that automatically creates an online copy of your conversations. You need an active internet connection to do so. Regardless, if the backup option isn’t available, you can use an Android device to back up your conversations on Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox or use iCloud for iOS.

How to Save a Text to Send Later

Occasionally, something will distract you while writing a text, forcing you to abandon it for later. It can be annoying to rewrite the message from scratch, mainly if you intend to send an unusually long one. The good thing is that most smartphones are programmed to save your texts as you write automatically. Even if your phone’s battery dies, you can continue where you left off by 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.

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In closing, there’s no reason you should lose all 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 can hold onto your best memories and relive the past whenever needed.

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?

Depending on your phone, you can save your text messages on Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud. If you wish to hide them from prying eyes once you’ve saved them, you have two options: archive them or use a third-party app.

The archiving feature is present in almost all Android messaging apps. To use it, long-press on a specific contact. This action launches a popup window allowing you 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, and then select “Archived.”

You can also find and install a third-party application to hide texts. Most apps are freely available in your phone’s app store and let you manage and read/hide each message individually.

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.