# How to finish or discard an unfinished recording

## Quick answer

In **Saved Chats**, find **Unfinished recording**.

- To finish it, tap **Continue**. Then tap **Start Processing** if **Trim Recording** opens.
- To delete a row that says **Needs trimming**, tap **Continue**, then **Cancel**, then **Discard Recording**.
- To delete any other row, tap the gear, then **Your Data**, then **Screen Recordings**. Swipe it left and tap **Delete**.

TextPort deletes an unfinished recording by itself after 30 days.

## What you need

- TextPort on your iPhone
- A row that says Unfinished recording in Saved Chats

## Steps

### Finish it

1. Tap **Continue**

   It is on the **Unfinished recording** row. The row also says how far the recording got.

2. Tap **Start Processing**

   **Trim Recording** opens if the row said **Needs trimming**. Otherwise TextPort goes on by itself. See [Trim a recording](https://textport.com/guides/trim-a-recording-before-processing.md).

### Delete it

1. Tap **Continue**

   The row must say **Needs trimming**. TextPort may save the recording first. Then **Trim Recording** opens.

   Tip: If the row says something else, see [delete it in Your Data](https://textport.com/guides/finish-or-discard-an-unfinished-recording#problem-delete-from-settings).

2. Tap **Cancel**

   It is in the top left of **Trim Recording**. TextPort asks **Are you sure you want to discard your recording?**

3. Tap **Discard Recording**

   The recording is deleted.

### After that, on every path

Numbers continue from Finish it.

3. Check **Saved Chats**

   The row is gone. A finished recording is now a chat in the list.

## Done

The recording is now a chat in Saved Chats, or it is deleted.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **Recording Couldn't Be Recovered** | The video did not save in full, or your iPhone is full. Tap **Discard Recording**, then record the chat again. Or tap **Keep for Later**, free up space, and tap **Continue** again. |
| The row says **Not uploaded** or **Upload stopped**. | Check that your iPhone is online. Tap **Continue**. TextPort sends the recording again. |
| The row says **Almost done**. | Tap **Continue**. TextPort finishes the last step. |
| **Couldn't import this chat** | Check your internet. Tap **Retry**. If you tap **Dismiss**, the row stays in **Saved Chats**. |
| You cannot see the row. | The row shows only in **All**. Tap **All** in the folder bar. |
| You want to delete a row that does not say **Needs trimming**. | Tap the gear, then **Your Data**, then **Screen Recordings**. Under **Unfinished Imports**, swipe the recording to the left. Tap **Delete**. |
| 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

### Why do I have an unfinished recording?

You stopped a recording but did not tap **Start Processing**. Or the upload stopped before it was done.

### How long does TextPort keep it?

30 days. Then TextPort deletes it.

### Does discarding delete my chat in Messages?

No. It deletes only the recording in TextPort.

## Next guides

- [How to import a chat with Scroll Capture](https://textport.com/guides/import-a-chat-with-scroll-capture.md): You will get a chat from any app saved in TextPort, made from a screen recording of you scrolling.
- [How to trim a recording before processing](https://textport.com/guides/trim-a-recording-before-processing.md): You will cut your recording so it starts and ends on the chat, then send it to be read.
- [How to see and delete your data](https://textport.com/guides/see-and-delete-your-data.md): You will see which files TextPort keeps on your iPhone, and you can delete them.

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/finish-or-discard-an-unfinished-recording