# How to import a chat from screenshots

## Quick answer

In TextPort:

1. Tap **Add Chat**. Pick the chat's app at the top.
2. Tap **Import with Scroll Capture** (other apps: **On Your iPhone**).
3. Tap **Screenshots**, then **Import Screenshots**.
4. Tap your screenshots. Tap the checkmark.
5. Keep TextPort open until the chat opens.

The chat then shows in **Saved Chats**.

## What you need

- TextPort on your iPhone
- Screenshots of the chat in Photos

## Steps

1. Tap **Add Chat**

   Open TextPort. It is at the bottom of **Saved Chats**.

2. Tap the app name at the top

   It may say **Messages**. **Select Chat App** opens.

3. Tap the app the chat is in

   Type in **Search apps...** to find it fast. You are back on the cards.

   Tip: For WhatsApp, use [Export a WhatsApp chat to TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/export-a-whatsapp-chat-to-textport.md) instead.

4. Tap **Import with Scroll Capture**

   For other apps it says **On Your iPhone**. **Scroll Capture** opens.

5. Tap **Screenshots**

   It is at the top. The screen says **Open the chat you want to export**.

6. Tap **Import Screenshots**

   It is at the bottom. Your photos open.

   Tip: TextPort may ask you to unlock this.

7. Tap your screenshots, then the checkmark

   Tap each screenshot, top of the chat first. Tap the checkmark. TextPort starts reading.

   Tip: Before iOS 26, tap **Add** instead of the checkmark.

8. Keep TextPort open

   TextPort shows **Processing screenshots** and a progress bar. Then **Creating chat...**.

   Tip: To stop, tap **Cancel**.

9. Read your chat

   The chat opens by itself. It may show **Processing your Chat** for a few minutes first.

## Done

The chat is saved in TextPort as text. You can search it, fix it, and export it.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **Couldn't import this chat** | Check that your iPhone is online. Tap **Retry**. |
| **Processing failed.** | Tap **Retry**. Or press and hold the chat in **Saved Chats**. Tap **Retry**. |
| The chat name says **Processing...** for a long time. | It can take a few minutes. You can leave TextPort. Pull down on **Saved Chats** to check again. |
| There are no **Scroll Capture** and **Screenshots** tabs. | Older iOS versions show only **Screenshots**. Go on with step 6. |
| Words, times, or messages are wrong or missing. | See [Fix wrong text, times, or missing messages](https://textport.com/guides/fix-screenshot-problems.md). |
| Every message has the wrong year. | See [Change the year for many messages at once](https://textport.com/guides/change-the-year-for-many-messages-at-once.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

### How many screenshots can I import at once?

There is no set limit. More screenshots take longer.

### Do the screenshots stay on my phone?

Yes. Your screenshots stay in Photos. TextPort keeps its own copy so you can see the source later. You can delete that copy in **Settings** › **Your Data** › **Screenshots**.

### Is Scroll Capture better than screenshots?

For a long chat, yes. You record the screen while you scroll, so you take no screenshots. See the Scroll Capture guide.

## Next guides

- [How to take good screenshots for TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/how-to-take-good-screenshots-for-textport.md): You will have a set of screenshots that TextPort can read with few mistakes.
- [How to fix wrong text, times, or missing messages](https://textport.com/guides/fix-screenshot-problems.md): Every message TextPort read wrong from a screenshot or recording will say the right thing.
- [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.
- [How to export a chat to PDF](https://textport.com/guides/export-a-chat-to-pdf.md): You will get a PDF of one chat, with names, dates, and times, ready to share or print.

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/import-a-chat-from-screenshots