# How to show photos and names in TextPort for Mac

## 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

1. Click **Choose Folder**

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

2. Click **Choose Attachments**

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

### Names

1. Click **Allow Access**

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

2. 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 see | What 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](https://textport.com/guides/see-photos-and-files-in-a-chat-on-mac#problem-in-icloud). |
| 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

### 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.

## Next guides

- [How to fix “TextPort can’t read your Messages” on Mac](https://textport.com/guides/fix-textport-cant-read-your-messages-on-mac.md): You will get TextPort for Mac to show your chats again, with photos and names.
- [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 save all photos and files from a chat on Mac](https://textport.com/guides/save-all-attachments-as-a-zip-on-mac.md): You will get one ZIP file with every photo, video, and file from a chat.

TextPort guide for Mac. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/give-access-to-attachments-and-contacts-on-mac