# How to fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import

## Quick answer

An import is stuck only when the count on **Importing messages...** has not moved for three minutes. Then try these in order:

1. Tap **Open Shortcuts**. Leave Shortcuts on the screen.
2. Close Shortcuts and open it again.
3. Restart your iPhone. Start again with fewer days.
4. Tap **Import not working?**, then **Contact support**.

On iOS 27 the import runs in TextPort. Tap **Resume** or **Try again**.

## What you need

- TextPort on your iPhone
- Apple's Shortcuts app

## Steps

1. Check the count

   Open TextPort. Look at the count on **Importing messages...**. If it goes up, the import works. Wait.

2. Tap **Open Shortcuts**

   Leave Shortcuts on the screen. The count starts again.

3. Close and reopen Shortcuts

   Swipe up from the bottom and hold. Swipe **Shortcuts** up and away. Then open TextPort and tap **Open Shortcuts**.

   Tip: Do this only if the count has not moved for three minutes.

4. Restart your iPhone

   Hold the side button and a volume button. Slide to power off. Turn the iPhone on again.

5. Tap a shorter range, then **Continue**

   Start the import again. Tap **1 Week**, or **1 Month** on iOS 27. Tap **Continue**. Fewer days are less likely to stop.

6. Tap **Import not working?**

   It is at the bottom of the import card. **Import not working?** opens with a list of fixes.

7. Tap **Contact support**

   **Support** opens. Type your email. Say which step you were on and what you saw. Tap **Submit**.

## Done

The import is done. Or support has what it needs to help you.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| The count goes up slowly. | The import works. Big group chats are slow. Wait. |
| The count has not moved for three minutes. | Do steps 2 and 3. |
| Shortcuts keeps searching. Or it says Messages quit. | Restart your iPhone (step 4). Then start again with fewer days. |
| **Paused when you left** | On iOS 27 the import runs in TextPort. It pauses when you leave TextPort. Tap **Resume**. |
| **The import stopped** | On iOS 27, tap **Try again**. Your messages so far are saved. If it stops again, tap **Import not working?** |
| **The shortcut didn’t start** | On iOS 27, tap **Open Automations**. Turn on **When I get a notification from TextPort**. Go back to TextPort. Tap **Try again**. |
| **No messages found** | The chat has no messages in those dates. Tap **Change dates**. Pick more days. |
| The import stops when the iPhone locks. | In iOS **Settings**, set **Auto-Lock** to **Never** for the import. Set it back after. |
| Shortcuts says the TextPort shortcut is missing. | In TextPort, tap **Add Chat**, then **Import from Messages**. Tap **Add Shortcut** again. |
| The import is done, but some photos are missing. | Old photos may still be in iCloud. See [Recover missing photos and attachments](https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments.md). |
| Nothing works. | Use **Import with Scroll Capture**. It works for any chat. See [Import a chat with Scroll Capture](https://textport.com/guides/import-a-chat-with-scroll-capture.md). |
| 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

### Can I stop an import?

Yes. Tap **Stop import**. TextPort asks **Stop this import?** Tap **Stop and keep 120 messages** (120 is your count) to save the messages it has. Tap **Discard messages** to throw them away.

### Why must Shortcuts stay on the screen?

iOS pauses Shortcuts when it goes to the background. The import then stops until Shortcuts is in front again.

## 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 recover missing photos and attachments](https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments.md): You will get the photos, videos, and files that were missing after a Messages import.
- [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.

## On other platforms

- On Mac: [How to fix “TextPort can’t read your Messages” on Mac](https://textport.com/guides/fix-textport-cant-read-your-messages-on-mac.md)
- On Windows: [How to fix a stuck or stopped backup on Windows](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-stopped-backup-on-windows.md)

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import