# How to choose a chat and dates for a Messages import

## Quick answer

In a Messages import:

1. Tap **Find chats**.
2. Tap the chat. Tap **Continue**.
3. Tap a date range, or **Choose dates**. Tap **Continue**.
4. Tap **Start import**.

On iOS 27 the ranges are **1 Month**, **3 Months**, and **1 Year**. On iOS 26 they are **1 Week** and **1 Month**.

## What you need

- TextPort on your iPhone
- The TextPort shortcut on your iPhone

## Steps

1. Tap **Find chats**

   The card says **Next, find your chats**. TextPort shows **Finding your chats…**. Then your chats show.

   Tip: No such card? First [install the TextPort Shortcut](https://textport.com/guides/install-the-textport-shortcut.md).

2. Tap the chat, then **Continue**

   Tap the chat. You can search by name. Tap **Continue**. **Which dates do you need?** opens.

### iOS 27

3. Tap the dates, then **Continue**

   Tap **1 Month**, **3 Months**, **1 Year**, or **Choose dates**. Tap **Continue**. **What happens next** opens.

### iOS 26 and earlier

3. Tap the dates, then **Continue**

   Tap **1 Week**, **1 Month**, or **Choose dates**. Tap **Continue**. **What happens next** opens.

### After that, on every path

Numbers continue from iOS 27.

4. Tap **Start import**

   It is on **What happens next**. To change the days first, tap **Change dates**. Then see [the import guide](https://textport.com/guides/import-imessage-and-sms-with-the-textport-shortcut.md).

## Done

TextPort is importing the chat you picked, for the dates you picked.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Your iPhone has iOS 27, but you see **1 Week**. | TextPort shows the older flow on your iPhone. Follow the [iOS 26 and earlier](https://textport.com/guides/choose-a-chat-and-dates-for-a-messages-import#ios-26) steps. |
| You need exact days. | Tap **Choose dates**. Tap the date next to **Start date** and pick a day. Do the same for **End date**. Then tap **Continue**. |
| Your chat is not in the list. | Scroll to the end of the list. Tap **Find more chats**. Or tap **Choose from Contacts**. The name must match Messages exactly. |
| **No messages found** | Tap **Change dates** and pick more days. Or tap **Choose a different chat** and pick it from the list. |
| TextPort says **This may take** a long time. | Tap **Continue anyway**. Or tap **Change dates** and pick fewer days. |
| **This date range contains more than 200,000 messages. Choose a shorter range.** | Tap **Choose dates**. Pick fewer days. Then import the other days as a second chat. |
| **Search stopped** | Tap **Find chats again**. On iOS 26, keep Shortcuts open while it looks. |
| None of these match. | Email [support@textportapp.com](mailto:support@textportapp.com). Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day. |

## Questions

### How long does each range take?

TextPort shows a guess next to each range. Shorter ranges finish faster. A big chat can take longer.

### Can I import a whole chat?

Yes. Tap **Choose dates**. Set **Start date** to before the first message.

### Can I pick more than one chat?

No. Import one chat. Then start again for the next one.

## Next guides

- [How to import iMessage and SMS with the TextPort Shortcut](https://textport.com/guides/import-imessage-and-sms-with-the-textport-shortcut.md): You will get a chat from Apple Messages saved in TextPort, with every message word for word.
- [How to tell TextPort which person is you](https://textport.com/guides/tell-textport-which-person-is-you.md): Your own messages will show on the right side of the chat, marked as yours.
- [How to fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import.md): You will get a Messages import that finishes, or know exactly what to tell support.

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/choose-a-chat-and-dates-for-a-messages-import