# How to move iPhone messages to a Mac or PC

## Quick answer

- **On a Mac:** turn on Messages in iCloud on your iPhone and your Mac. Then install TextPort for Mac.
- **On a PC:** install TextPort for Windows. Plug in your iPhone. Click **Back up now**.
- **One chat as a file:** in TextPort on your iPhone, export the chat. Tap **Share**, then **AirDrop** or **Mail**.

## What you need

- Your iPhone
- A Mac or a Windows PC

## Steps

### Mac

1. Turn on Messages in iCloud on your iPhone

   Open the Settings app. Tap your name, then **iCloud**. Tap **See All**, then **Messages in iCloud**. Turn on **Use on this iPhone**.

2. Turn on Messages in iCloud on your Mac

   Open Messages. Click **Messages**, then **Settings**, then **iMessage**. Check **Enable Messages in iCloud**.

   Tip: Wait for the sync to finish. It can take a while for a big history.

3. Install TextPort for Mac

   Follow [Install TextPort for Mac and give Messages access](https://textport.com/guides/install-textport-for-mac-and-give-messages-access.md).

4. Click the chat

   It opens. To save it, see [Export one chat to PDF, CSV, or TXT](https://textport.com/guides/export-one-chat-to-pdf-csv-or-txt-on-mac.md).

### Windows PC

1. Install TextPort for Windows

   Follow [Install TextPort for Windows](https://textport.com/guides/install-textport-for-windows.md).

2. Plug in your iPhone

   Use a USB cable. Unlock your iPhone. Tap **Trust**.

3. Click **Back up now**

   Keep your iPhone plugged in. See [Back up your iPhone to your PC](https://textport.com/guides/back-up-your-iphone-to-your-pc.md).

4. Click **Read messages**

   Your conversations open. To save one, see [Export a conversation to PDF, CSV, or TXT](https://textport.com/guides/export-a-conversation-to-pdf-csv-or-txt-on-windows.md).

### One chat as a file

1. Export the chat on your iPhone

   In TextPort, open the chat. Tap **Export**, then **PDF**. See [Export a chat to PDF](https://textport.com/guides/export-a-chat-to-pdf.md).

2. Tap the share button, then **Share**

   The iPhone share sheet opens.

3. Send it to your computer

   Tap **AirDrop** for a Mac. For a PC, tap **Mail** and email it to yourself. See [Share an export by email, Gmail, or AirDrop](https://textport.com/guides/share-an-export-by-email-gmail-or-airdrop.md).

## Done

You can read your iPhone messages on your computer and export them there.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Your iPhone chats are not on the Mac. | Messages in iCloud may still be syncing. Wait, then reopen TextPort. See [Fix TextPort can't read your Messages](https://textport.com/guides/fix-textport-cant-read-your-messages-on-mac.md). |
| The PC does not see your iPhone. | See [Fix an iPhone not showing up](https://textport.com/guides/fix-iphone-not-showing-up-on-windows.md). |
| The backup asks for a password. | See [Turn off iPhone backup encryption](https://textport.com/guides/turn-off-iphone-backup-encryption-on-windows.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

### Will the messages show in the Messages app on my PC?

No. Windows has no Messages app for iPhone. You read them in TextPort for Windows.

### Do my chats saved in TextPort on iPhone move too?

No. TextPort for Mac reads Messages on the Mac. TextPort for Windows reads your iPhone backup. Each one has its own list.

### Which way should I pick?

Use the Mac or Windows path for many chats and their photos. Use the file path for one chat.

## Next guides

- [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 back up your iPhone to your PC with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/back-up-your-iphone-to-your-pc.md): You will have a backup of your iPhone on your PC, and your messages open in TextPort.
- [How to share an export by email, Gmail, or AirDrop](https://textport.com/guides/share-an-export-by-email-gmail-or-airdrop.md): The person you pick will get your exported file or a link to it.
- [How to continue on Mac or Windows](https://textport.com/guides/continue-on-mac-or-windows.md): You will know how to get TextPort on your computer, from your iPhone.
- [How to back up a chat before you delete it or switch phones](https://textport.com/guides/back-up-a-chat-before-deleting-or-switching-phones.md): You will have a PDF copy of the chat saved in iCloud Drive or another safe place.

## 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, Mac, and Windows. Updated 2026-11-05. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/move-iphone-messages-to-a-mac-or-pc