# How to import iMessage and SMS with the TextPort Shortcut

## Quick answer

In TextPort:

1. Tap **Add Chat**, then **Import from Messages**.
2. First time only, add the shortcut: tap **Show me how**, then **Add Shortcut**.
3. Tap **Find chats**. Pick the chat and the dates.
4. Tap **Start import**.
5. Keep TextPort open on iOS 27, or Shortcuts open on iOS 26, until it is done.
6. Tap your name, then **Finish import**.

The chat then opens. It is also in **Saved Chats**.

## What you need

- TextPort on your iPhone
- Apple's Shortcuts app (it comes with iOS)

## Steps

1. Tap **Add Chat**

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

2. Tap **Import from Messages**

   Check that **Messages** is picked at the top.

### iOS 27

3. Tap **Show me how**

   You see this only the first time. The card says **First, a quick setup**.

   Tip: If you set it up before, tap **I’ve already set it up**.

4. Tap **Add Shortcut**

   The card says **Add the TextPort Importer**. **Shortcuts** opens.

5. Tap **Add Shortcut** in Shortcuts

   Then tap **◀ TextPort** in the top left. You are back in **TextPort**.

6. Tap **Continue**

   Shortcuts opens once to check the shortcut. Then you are back in **TextPort**.

   Tip: If Shortcuts asks for permission, tap **Always Allow** or **Allow**.

7. Tap **Open Automations**

   The card says **Turn on the automation**. **Shortcuts** opens on **Automation**.

8. Turn on the automation

   Find **When I get a notification from TextPort**. Turn it on. Then go back to **TextPort**.

9. Tap **I’ve turned it on**

   TextPort may ask for notifications next. The card says **Allow notifications**.

10. Tap **Allow notifications**

    When iOS asks, tap **Allow**. The card says **Next, find your chats**.

    Tip: If you see **Turn on notifications**, tap **Open Settings**. Turn on **Allow Notifications**.

11. Tap **Find chats**

    TextPort shows **Finding your chats…**. Then your chats show.

12. Tap the chat, then **Continue**

    Tap the chat. You can search by name. Tap **Continue**. **Which dates do you need?** opens.

13. Tap the dates, then **Continue**

    Tap **1 Month**, **3 Months**, **1 Year**, or **Choose dates**. Tap **Continue**. **What happens next** opens.

14. Tap **Start import**

    TextPort shows **Importing your messages** and a progress bar.

15. Keep TextPort open

    Stay in TextPort until it is done. If you leave, the import pauses.

    Tip: If you see **Paused when you left**, tap **Resume**.

### iOS 26 and earlier

3. Tap **Show me how**

   You see this only the first time. The card says **First, a quick setup**.

   Tip: If you added it before, tap **I’ve already added the shortcut**.

4. Tap **Add Shortcut**

   The card says **Add the TextPort shortcut**. **Shortcuts** opens.

5. Tap **Add Shortcut** in Shortcuts

   Scroll down to find it. Then go back to **TextPort**.

   Tip: If it says you already have one, tap **Cancel**.

6. Tap **Find chats**

   Shortcuts opens for a moment. Then your chats show in **TextPort**.

   Tip: If Shortcuts asks for permission, tap **Always Allow** or **Allow**.

7. Tap the chat, then **Continue**

   Tap the chat. You can search by name. Tap **Continue**. **Which dates do you need?** opens.

8. Tap the dates, then **Continue**

   Tap **1 Week**, **1 Month**, or **Choose dates**. Tap **Continue**. **What happens next** opens.

   Tip: If you see **Follow the import as it runs**, tap **Continue**, then **Allow**. See [Turn on notifications](https://textport.com/guides/turn-on-notifications-for-import.md).

9. Tap **Start import**

   **Shortcuts** opens and collects your messages.

10. Keep Shortcuts open

    Do not close Shortcuts. Do not lock your iPhone. TextPort shows **Importing messages...** and a count.

    Tip: If the count stops, tap **Open Shortcuts**.

### After that, on every path

Numbers continue from iOS 27.

16. Tap your name, then **Finish import**

    When the import is done, TextPort asks **Which one is you?** Tap your name. Tap **Finish import**.

17. Read the chat

    The chat opens by itself with every message. It is also in **Saved Chats**.

## Done

The chat is saved in TextPort. Every message has its date and time.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Your iPhone has iOS 27, but the card says **Add the TextPort shortcut**. | TextPort shows the older flow on your iPhone. Follow the [iOS 26 and earlier](https://textport.com/guides/import-imessage-and-sms-with-the-textport-shortcut#ios-26) steps. |
| **Add the TextPort shortcut first** | See [Fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import#problem-shortcut-missing). |
| **The shortcut hasn’t started** | See [Fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import#problem-shortcut-hasnt-started). |
| **We didn’t hear from the shortcut** | See [Install the TextPort Shortcut](https://textport.com/guides/install-the-textport-shortcut#problem-no-answer). |
| The count stops going up. | See [Fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import.md). |
| **No messages found** | The chat has no messages in those dates. Tap **Change dates**. Pick more days. |
| Some photos are missing. | Tap the gray box where the photo should be. See [Recover missing photos and attachments](https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments.md). |
| There is no **Import from Messages** card. | Update iOS and TextPort. It needs iOS 26 or newer. Or use **Import with Scroll Capture**. |
| 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 does TextPort use a shortcut?

Apps cannot read Messages by themselves. Apple's Shortcuts app can, if you allow it. The shortcut reads the chat and gives it to TextPort.

### What does the shortcut read?

First it reads your list of chats, so you can pick one. Then it reads only the chat and the dates you pick. You can see every step of it in the Shortcuts app.

### Can I import more than one chat at a time?

No. Import one chat. Then start again for the next one.

### How long does it take?

It depends on how many messages there are. A big chat can take several minutes. Fewer days is faster.

## Next guides

- [How to install the TextPort Shortcut](https://textport.com/guides/install-the-textport-shortcut.md): You will have the TextPort shortcut on your iPhone, ready to find your chats.
- [How to choose a chat and dates for a Messages import](https://textport.com/guides/choose-a-chat-and-dates-for-a-messages-import.md): You will have the right chat and the right dates picked, ready to start the import.
- [How to tell TextPort which person is you](https://textport.com/guides/tell-textport-which-person-is-you.md): Your own messages will show on the right side of the chat, marked as yours.
- [How to fix a stuck or failed Shortcut import](https://textport.com/guides/fix-a-stuck-or-failed-shortcut-import.md): You will get a Messages import that finishes, or know exactly what to tell support.
- [How to recover missing photos and attachments](https://textport.com/guides/recover-missing-photos-and-attachments.md): You will get the photos, videos, and files that were missing after a Messages import.
- [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.

## On other platforms

- On Mac: [How to install TextPort for Mac and give it Messages access](https://textport.com/guides/install-textport-for-mac-and-give-messages-access.md)
- On Windows: [How to back up your iPhone to your PC with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/back-up-your-iphone-to-your-pc.md)

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/import-imessage-and-sms-with-the-textport-shortcut