What if it says it skipped some chats?

Those chats had nothing to export. For Attachments, they have no photos or files on this Mac.

What if some chats couldn’t be exported?

The other chats are saved. Export that chat by itself. See how to export one chat.

What if it says Waiting for Messages to load?

TextPort is still reading your chats. Wait. To stop, click Cancel.

What if photos show as placeholders in the PDFs?

Click Choose Attachments Folder… in the sheet. In the picker, click Choose Attachments. Then export again.

What if the files have only photos and files, and no text?

You clicked Export in the toolbar on the Attachments tab. Click Messages at the top of the chat. Then export again.

What if none of these problems match mine?

Email support@textportapp.com. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Can I export only some dates?

For some chats, yes. Select them, click the date range in the toolbar, and pick the dates. Then click Export in the toolbar. Export All, Command-E, and right-click save every date.

What are the files called?

Each file name has the chat name and today's date. For example, Messages_Grace Liu_export_2026-11-05.pdf.

What does Attachments save?

One ZIP file for each chat. See how to save photos and files .

How to export many or all chats on Mac

Mac 5 steps · Updated Nov 5, 2026

Quick answer

In TextPort for Mac:

Some chats: hold Command and click each chat. Then click Export.
All chats: choose File › Export All.

Click PDF, Spreadsheet, Text File, or Attachments. Pick a folder and click Export. TextPort saves one file for each chat.

On Windows: How to export all conversations at once on Windows

What you need

✓TextPort for Mac, set up with Messages access

Steps

Some chats

Hold Command and click each chat

They turn blue in the list on the left.
Click Export

It is the blue button in the top right. Export Chats opens.

Or press Command-E.

All chats

Choose File › Export All

It is in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Export Chats opens.

Or press Command-Shift-E.

Click PDF, Spreadsheet, Text File, or Attachments

The sheet says how many chats it will export. A folder window opens.
Pick a folder and click Export

TextPort saves one file for each chat in that folder.
Click Show in Finder

The sheet says Export complete. Finder opens the folder.

Done

You have one file for each chat in the folder you picked.

Problems

What you seeWhat to do

It says Skipped some chats.: Those chats had nothing to export. For Attachments, they have no photos or files on this Mac.
It says some chats couldn’t be exported.: The other chats are saved. Export that chat by itself. See how to export one chat.
It says Waiting for Messages to load.: TextPort is still reading your chats. Wait. To stop, click Cancel.
Photos show as placeholders in the PDFs.: Click Choose Attachments Folder… in the sheet. In the picker, click Choose Attachments. Then export again.
The files have only photos and files, and no text.: You clicked Export in the toolbar on the Attachments tab. Click Messages at the top of the chat. Then export again.
None of these match.: Email [email protected]. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Tips

You can also right-click a selected chat. The menu says how many chats, like Export 3 Chats.

Questions

: For some chats, yes. Select them, click the date range in the toolbar, and pick the dates. Then click Export in the toolbar. Export All, Command-E, and right-click save every date.
: Each file name has the chat name and today's date. For example, Messages_Grace Liu_export_2026-11-05.pdf.
: One ZIP file for each chat. See how to save photos and files.