How do I export an entire iMessage conversation to PDF on a Mac?

Open TextPort, pick the chat and choose PDF. The whole conversation exports in one go, with names, dates and times on every page.

Can I just print from Messages?

For a short chat, printing from Messages works. TextPort exports whole conversations at once, lets you pick a date range, and also saves CSV, text and the photos and attachments.

Do I need to connect my iPhone to my Mac?

No. TextPort reads the Messages already on your Mac. To bring over your iPhone's full history, turn on Messages in iCloud on both your iPhone and your Mac and let it finish syncing.

Can I export iMessages to Excel or CSV?

Yes. Choose Spreadsheet to save a CSV file, which opens in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.

Does it save photos and attachments?

Yes. TextPort saves a conversation's photos, videos and other attachments as a ZIP next to the transcript.

Why does TextPort ask for access to Messages?

macOS asks you to allow access to your Messages folder before any app can read it. TextPort only reads it, and nothing leaves your Mac. See how to give access.

Which Macs does it run on?

Any Mac with macOS 14.6 or later, with Apple silicon or Intel.

Are my messages uploaded anywhere?

No. TextPort for Mac reads and exports your messages on your Mac. There's no account, and your messages never leave your computer.

Can I use the PDF in court?

TextPort's PDFs are print-ready, with names and timestamps on every page, and can be used in court. Keep the original messages on your devices and check the export before you use it.

TextPort for Desktop

Get the iPhone app Download Get the link

TextPort for Mac · On the Mac App Store

Export all your iMessages on your Mac

Whole conversations, every timestamp, photos and attachments. PDF, CSV or text, in one go.

Download on the Mac App Store

Free download · macOS 14.6 or later

4.9

Mac App Store

150,000+

Chats Exported

Rated and loved by 1,651 real people.

TextPort for Mac exporting an iMessage conversation with photos to PDF

How to export iMessages on your Mac

No cable and no backup. TextPort reads Messages right on your Mac.

1

Get TextPort for Mac

From the Mac App Store, no account.
2

Turn on Messages in iCloud

It brings your iPhone's history to your Mac.
3

Export to PDF, CSV or text

Pick chats and dates. Save attachments as a ZIP.

A closer look

The real app, shown with sample chats.

List of every iMessage and SMS chat in TextPort for Mac — Every chat in one list

Choosing a date range to export iMessages on a Mac — Choose the dates

Export options in TextPort for Mac: PDF, CSV, text and attachments — Pick a format

Built for your whole history

Search, filter, and export years of messages, attachments included.

Printed iMessage conversation exported as a PDF with names and timestamps

Every chat, all at once

One Mac user turned 32,000 messages into a single 3,266-page PDF.

Names, timestamps, and order kept
Group chats included
No limits

Photos, videos, and voice notes

Saved in a ZIP next to your transcript.

Pick the exact dates

Export only the months you need.

Find anything

Search years of texts in seconds.

Stays on your computer

No account. No uploads.

A printed export with timestamps, names, and message order

Print-ready PDFs

Names and timestamps on every page, ready to print or take to court.

Print Conversation… ⌘P

Print straight from the app

Oldest or newest message first.

Why people export their texts

From court dates to a full phone, these are the reasons we hear most.

A court date is coming

Your lawyer needs every text since 2022. Pick those dates and export one clean PDF.

Reading from the beginning

Your iPhone won't scroll back that far. Open the chat on your computer, first message first.

Out of iPhone storage

Group chat photos are filling your phone. Save every attachment to a ZIP.

Business records

You run your business over text. Export a spreadsheet of every message.

Keeping the memories

Keep your texts with the people who matter in a copy that's yours.

That one message

Someone sent you an address years ago. Search your whole history in seconds.

Don't take our word for it

TextPort for Mac is rated 4.9 on the Mac App Store

TextPort gave me something I thought I wouldn’t be able to get

After meeting my biological brother for the first time in 48 years, our text conversations became some of the most meaningful memories I've ever had. We texted so much over the past year, than when I wanted to go back...

rosecantu76

Fantastic app—it did everything I needed it to do

I lost my partner of 5 years and there was really no way to go back and read everything we had written since the beginning of our relationship until I used TextPort. The software was able to take all of the messages...

KRitt73

Great App

I tried a few other apps but they were either intrusive or overly complex. My goal is to keep records of older iMessages for general purposes (non-legal or other more serious purposes). I saved to PDF and can easily...

Suibrom

Works Perfectly

Other apps take you all the way then force you to pay a monthly sub. TextPort did what I needed perfectly, downloaded a large message file of over 6,000 messages to PDF including images without a problem and for free....

CameronQ

Excellent app

TextPort is genuinely useful, purposely simple, and an effective app. It is FREE by honest definition (as of August 2026). This app is not designed to TAKE your data; it GIVES your data to you without consequences.

skeeterbuzzie

This app works. This might be the 4th app review in my life.

I have been trying to figure this out for years, how to do this.No good way until this. The app and its creator deserve the respect of a great review. Best thanks I guess I can stay.

Adair Worlie

Frequently asked questions

Need WhatsApp, Instagram, or Messenger? Use TextPort for iPhone.

: Open TextPort, pick the chat and choose PDF. The whole conversation exports in one go, with names, dates and times on every page.
: For a short chat, printing from Messages works. TextPort exports whole conversations at once, lets you pick a date range, and also saves CSV, text and the photos and attachments.
: No. TextPort reads the Messages already on your Mac. To bring over your iPhone's full history, turn on Messages in iCloud on both your iPhone and your Mac and let it finish syncing.
: Yes. Choose Spreadsheet to save a CSV file, which opens in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.
: Yes. TextPort saves a conversation's photos, videos and other attachments as a ZIP next to the transcript.
: macOS asks you to allow access to your Messages folder before any app can read it. TextPort only reads it, and nothing leaves your Mac. See how to give access.
: Any Mac with macOS 14.6 or later, with Apple silicon or Intel.
: No. TextPort for Mac reads and exports your messages on your Mac. There's no account, and your messages never leave your computer.
: TextPort's PDFs are print-ready, with names and timestamps on every page, and can be used in court. Keep the original messages on your devices and check the export before you use it.