# How to find and open a chat in TextPort for Mac

## Quick answer

In TextPort for Mac:

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

## What you need

- TextPort for Mac, set up with Messages access

## Steps

1. Click **Search**

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

2. Type the name

   Type two letters or more. The chats with that name show under **Chats**.

3. Click the chat

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

   Tip: 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 see | What 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](https://textport.com/guides/fix-textport-cant-read-your-messages-on-mac.md). |
| 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](https://textport.com/guides/fix-textport-cant-read-your-messages-on-mac#problem-no-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 [support@textportapp.com](mailto:support@textportapp.com). 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](https://textport.com/guides/show-newest-or-oldest-first-on-mac.md).
- Press **Command-N** for a second window, to read two chats side by side.

## Questions

### Does Search look inside every message?

Yes. Messages with the word show under Messages. See [how to search all your chats](https://textport.com/guides/search-all-your-chats-on-mac.md).

### 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.

## Next guides

- [How to search all your chats in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/search-all-your-chats-on-mac.md): You will find a message in any chat on your Mac and open it in its chat.
- [How to search inside a chat in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/search-inside-a-chat-on-mac.md): You will find a word in a chat and go to each place it shows.
- [How to export one chat to PDF, CSV, or TXT in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/export-one-chat-to-pdf-csv-or-txt-on-mac.md): You will get a file of one chat on your Mac, as a PDF, a spreadsheet, or plain text.
- [How to install TextPort for Mac and give it Messages access](https://textport.com/guides/install-textport-for-mac-and-give-messages-access.md): You will have TextPort for Mac open, showing every chat saved in Messages on that Mac.

## On other platforms

- On iPhone: [How to read a chat in TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/read-a-chat.md)

TextPort guide for Mac. Updated 2026-11-12. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/find-and-open-a-chat-on-mac