How to fix “TextPort can’t read your Messages” on Mac
You will get TextPort for Mac to show your chats again.
What you need
- ✓TextPort for Mac
- ✓Messages signed in on the same Mac
Almost every problem here is a folder permission. TextPort tells you which one. Match the message on your screen to the step below.
Steps
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1
Read the message on screen
TextPort tells you what is wrong. It says Choose Messages Folder, Messages Database Not Found, No Messages Found, or Could Not Load Messages. Find yours below.
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2
Choose Messages Folder
TextPort lost access to the folder. Click Choose Messages Folder. A picker opens in the right place. Click the Messages folder once (1) so it is highlighted. Then click Choose Folder (2).
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3
Messages Database Not Found
TextPort looked in the folder you picked and found no chat database. Click Choose Different Folder. Press Command-Shift-G, type
~/Library/Messages, press Return. Click the Messages folder once, then click Choose Folder.
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4
No Messages Found
The database opened but has no chats. Open the Messages app on this Mac. Make sure you are signed in and can see chats. Then go back to TextPort and click Retry.
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5
Could Not Load Messages
Something else went wrong. Quit TextPort. Open it again. Click Retry. If it still fails, restart your Mac.
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6
Chats show, but photos do not
TextPort needs the Attachments folder too. Open TextPort › Settings › General. Under Attachments Access click Choose Folder… (1). Stay in the folder the picker opens. Click the Attachments folder once, then click Choose Attachments.
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7
Names show as phone numbers
Open TextPort › Settings › General. Under Contacts Access click Allow Access… (2). If it says access was denied, click Open System Settings… and turn on Contacts for TextPort.
Done
TextPort shows your chats, with photos and names.
Tips
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The Messages folder is hidden. Its path is
~/Library/Messages. Command-Shift-G in any file picker takes you there. -
If your iPhone chats are missing on the Mac, turn on Messages in iCloud on both devices and wait for sync.
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Still stuck? Open TextPort › Settings › About and click Send Feedback…. Tell us which message you saw.
Questions
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macOS updates and moving your home folder can reset folder permissions. Picking the folder again fixes it.
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No. TextPort does not use Full Disk Access. It only needs the folder you pick.
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The Mac app reads Messages on this Mac. For iPhone chats, sync them with Messages in iCloud, or use the TextPort iPhone app.
Start exporting your messages
Available for iPhone, Mac, and Windows. No computer required.
