# How to fix “TextPort can’t read your Messages” on Mac

## Quick answer

Match the title TextPort shows:

- **Almost ready**: click **Allow Access** or **Choose Again**, then **Choose Folder**.
- **One last thing**: click **Open Messages** and turn on Messages in iCloud.
- **Your chats didn’t load**: click **Try Again**.

## What you need

- TextPort for Mac
- Messages signed in on the same Mac

## Steps

### Almost ready

1. Click **Allow Access**

   It is on the step **Allow access to your messages**. A folder picker opens.

   Tip: If the step says **Choose the folder called Messages**, click **Choose Again**.

2. Click **Choose Folder**

   The picker is already in the **Messages** folder. Do not open anything in it.

   Tip: If the picker shows your Library folder, click **Messages** once first.

### One last thing

1. Click **Open Messages**

   TextPort can read the folder, but it has no chats. **Messages** opens.

2. Turn on Messages in iCloud

   In Messages, open **Settings**, then **iMessage**. Check **Enable Messages in iCloud**.

3. Wait for your chats

   Keep Messages open until your chats show in it. Then go back to TextPort.

### Your chats didn’t load

1. Click **Try Again**

   TextPort reads your messages again. Your chats show.

   Tip: If you see the same screen, quit TextPort and open it again.

## Done

TextPort shows your chats in the list on the left, with photos and names.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| A chat shows **Show photos and attachments**. | Click **Choose Folder** on that card. In the picker, click **Choose Attachments**. Closed the card? See [how to show photos and names](https://textport.com/guides/give-access-to-attachments-and-contacts-on-mac#problem-no-card). |
| A chat shows **Show names instead of numbers**. | Click **Allow Access** on that card. If it says **Open System Settings…**, click it and turn on Contacts for TextPort. Closed the card? See [how to show photos and names](https://textport.com/guides/give-access-to-attachments-and-contacts-on-mac#problem-no-card). |
| **Your chats didn’t load** comes back after **Try Again**. | Restart your Mac. If it still shows, click **Email us** on that screen. It adds the details we need. |
| Chats from your iPhone are missing. | TextPort shows only chats saved on this Mac. Turn on **Messages in iCloud** on your iPhone and your Mac. Wait for the chats to sync. |
| **Almost ready** says TextPort **can no longer open the folder you chose before**. | Click **Allow Access**. In the picker, click **Choose Folder** without opening anything. Do not pick a folder inside Messages. |
| The picker opened in a different folder. | Press **Command-Shift-G**. Type **~/Library/Messages** and press Return. Then click **Choose Folder**. |
| 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 did access stop working?

macOS can drop the folder access TextPort saved. Picking the folder again fixes it.

### Do I need to turn on Full Disk Access?

No. TextPort does not use Full Disk Access. It only needs the folder you pick.

### Can TextPort for Mac read chats from an iPhone backup?

No. It reads Messages on this Mac. To get iPhone chats on the Mac, turn on Messages in iCloud on both.

## Next guides

- [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.
- [How to show photos and names in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/give-access-to-attachments-and-contacts-on-mac.md): You will see photos and files in your chats, and names instead of numbers.
- [How to export one chat to PDF, CSV, or TXT on 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.

## On other platforms

- On iPhone: [How to fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import.md)
- On Windows: [How to fix an iPhone not showing up on Windows](https://textport.com/guides/fix-iphone-not-showing-up-on-windows.md)

TextPort guide for Mac. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/fix-textport-cant-read-your-messages-on-mac