What if the chat is not in the list?

TextPort shows only chats saved in Messages on this Mac. Turn on Messages in iCloud on your iPhone and your Mac, and wait for sync. See Fix “TextPort can’t read your Messages” on Mac.

What if a chat shows a phone number, not a name?

Click Allow Access on the Show names instead of numbers card at the bottom of the chat. See missing names.

What if no chat shows after I type?

No chat has that name. Check the spelling. Type the start of the name. Or click the x in Search and scroll the list.

What if the chat list is gone?

Search is still on. Click the x in Search. Every chat shows 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.

Does Search look inside every message?

Yes. Messages with the word show under Messages. See how to search all your chats .

Why does a group chat show for a person's name?

Search also finds the chats that person is in.

What does one letter do?

The list stays and shows only the chats with that letter in the name or the last message. From two letters, you see Chats and Messages.

Which chats are at the top of the list?

The chats with the newest messages.

How to find and open a chat in TextPort for Mac

Mac 3 steps · Updated Nov 12, 2026

Quick answer

In TextPort for Mac:

Click Search at the top of the list.
Type the name of the chat. Two letters are enough.
Click the chat under Chats. It opens on the right.

On iPhone: How to read a chat in TextPort

What you need

✓TextPort for Mac, set up with Messages access

Steps

Click Search

It is at the top of the chat list on the left.
Type the name

Type two letters or more. The chats with that name show under Chats.
Click the chat

It is under Chats. Its messages show on the right.

To get the full list back, click the x in Search.

Done

The chat is open on the right, ready to read or export.

Problems

What you seeWhat to do

The chat is not in the list.: TextPort shows only chats saved in Messages on this Mac. Turn on Messages in iCloud on your iPhone and your Mac, and wait for sync. See Fix “TextPort can’t read your Messages” on Mac.
A chat shows a phone number, not a name.: Click Allow Access on the Show names instead of numbers card at the bottom of the chat. See missing names.
No results, or there is no Chats row.: No chat has that name. Check the spelling. Type the start of the name. Or click the x in Search and scroll the list.
The chat list is gone.: Search is still on. Click the x in Search. Every chat shows 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

To show the newest or oldest messages first, see how to change the order.
Press Command-N for a second window, to read two chats side by side.

Questions

: Yes. Messages with the word show under Messages. See how to search all your chats.
: Search also finds the chats that person is in.
: The list stays and shows only the chats with that letter in the name or the last message. From two letters, you see Chats and Messages.
: The chats with the newest messages.