What if I closed the card or there is no card?

Choose TextPort › Settings…. Click Choose Folder… next to Attachments Access, or Allow Access… next to Contacts Access. No button means access is already on.

What if the card says Open System Settings?

Contacts access was turned down before. Click the button and turn on Contacts for TextPort. Then go back to TextPort.

What if the picker says that isn’t the Attachments folder?

The picker opens again in Attachments. Do not click a folder. Click Choose Attachments.

What if the picker says I chose a folder inside Attachments?

The picker opens again. Click Attachments once. Then click Choose Attachments.

What if Choose Attachments is gray?

Click the back arrow in the picker. Click Attachments once. Then click Choose Attachments.

What if a photo says Didn’t sync to this Mac?

The file is still in iCloud. See what to do when a file did not sync.

What if none of these problems match mine?

Email support@textportapp.com. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Do I have to give access?

No. TextPort still shows and exports your messages. Without Contacts, chats show numbers and emails. Without attachments, a chat shows a **Show Attachments Again** card instead of photos, and PDFs show placeholders.

Do my photos or contacts leave my Mac?

No. Your attachments and contacts never leave your device.

Why do I see one card at a time?

TextPort shows the photos card first, and only in a chat with attachments. The names card comes after it.

How to show photos and names in TextPort for Mac

Mac 2 steps · Updated Nov 5, 2026

Quick answer

Open a chat in TextPort for Mac. Then use the card at the bottom:

Show photos and attachments: click Choose Folder, then Choose Attachments.
Show names instead of numbers: click Allow Access. Allow it when macOS asks.

Closed the card? Use TextPort › Settings….

What you need

✓TextPort for Mac, set up with Messages access

Steps

Photos and files

Click Choose Folder

It is on the Show photos and attachments card at the bottom of the chat. A folder picker opens.
Click Choose Attachments

The picker opens in the Attachments folder. Do not open a folder in it.

Names

Click Allow Access

It is on the Show names instead of numbers card at the bottom of the chat. macOS asks about your Contacts.
Allow it

Click the button in the macOS window that allows access. Names and photos of people show in your chats.

Done

Your chats show photos and files, and names instead of numbers.

Problems

What you seeWhat to do

You closed the card, or there is no card.: Choose TextPort › Settings…. Click Choose Folder… next to Attachments Access, or Allow Access… next to Contacts Access. No button means access is already on.
The card says Open System Settings….: Contacts access was turned down before. Click the button and turn on Contacts for TextPort. Then go back to TextPort.
The picker says a folder isn’t the Attachments folder.: The picker opens again in Attachments. Do not click a folder. Click Choose Attachments.
The picker says you chose a folder inside Attachments.: The picker opens again. Click Attachments once. Then click Choose Attachments.
Choose Attachments is gray.: Click the back arrow in the picker. Click Attachments once. Then click Choose Attachments.
A photo says Didn’t sync to this Mac.: The file is still in iCloud. See what to do when a file did not sync.
None of these match.: Email [email protected]. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Questions

: No. TextPort still shows and exports your messages. Without Contacts, chats show numbers and emails. Without attachments, a chat shows a **Show Attachments Again** card instead of photos, and PDFs show placeholders.
: No. Your attachments and contacts never leave your device.
: TextPort shows the photos card first, and only in a chat with attachments. The names card comes after it.