How to install TextPort for Mac and give it Messages access
Quick answer
On your Mac:
- Get TextPort from textport.com/desktop/mac.
- Open it and click Continue.
- Click Choose Messages Folder, then Choose Folder.
- If asked, click Choose Attachments Folder, then Choose Attachments.
- Click Continue to show names, or Maybe Later.
Your chats then show in the list on the left.
- On iPhone: How to import iMessage and SMS with the TextPort Shortcut
- On Windows: How to install TextPort for Windows
What you need
- ✓A Mac with macOS 14.6 or newer
- ✓Messages signed in on that Mac, with chats in it
Steps
-
Click Download on the Mac App Store
It is on textport.com/desktop/mac. The App Store opens.
-
Click Get
The App Store installs TextPort. Then click Open.
TextPort is also in your Applications folder.
-
Click Continue
It is at the bottom of the welcome window. Read Messages From This Mac shows.
-
Click Choose Messages Folder
A folder picker opens, already in the Messages folder.
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Click Choose Folder
Do not open anything in the folder. Click the blue button at the bottom right.
If the picker shows your Library folder, click Messages once, then Choose Folder.
-
Click Choose Attachments Folder
You see this only on some Macs. It lets TextPort show photos and files.
To do it later, click Skip for Now.
-
Click Choose Attachments
The picker opens in the Attachments folder. Do not open a folder in it.
-
Click Continue
macOS asks if TextPort may use your Contacts. Allow it.
To skip names for now, click Maybe Later.
-
Click a chat
Your chats are in the list on the left. The chat opens on the right.
Done
TextPort for Mac is set up. Every chat saved in Messages on this Mac is ready to read and export.
Problems
The picker opened in a different folder.
Press Command-Shift-G. Type ~/Library/Messages and press Return. Then click Choose Folder.
The picker says the folder doesn’t contain your messages.
You picked a different folder. The picker opens again for you. Click Messages once, then Choose Folder.
The picker says you chose a folder inside the Messages folder.
The picker opens again for you. Click Choose Folder without opening anything.
The picker says This Messages folder has no messages yet.
Open Messages on this Mac and sign in. Then go back and choose the folder again.
TextPort shows Almost ready or One last thing.
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.
None of these match.
Email [email protected]. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.
Questions
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macOS lets an app read one folder you pick. You pick the Messages folder once, and TextPort remembers it. It never changes your messages.
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No. TextPort reads Messages on this Mac. Your messages never leave your device.
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Only when TextPort loses access to it. Then TextPort shows Almost ready with Allow Access or Choose Again. See the fix guide.
Start exporting your messages
Available for iPhone, Mac, and Windows. No computer required.
