What if Attachments is gray?

The chat has no photos or files in those dates. Click the menu next to Dates. Pick All Messages.

What if Attachments is gray for the whole chat?

TextPort found no photos or files on this Mac for that chat. Some may still be in iCloud. Open the chat in Messages. Click the name at the top. Scroll down and click Download Attachments in iCloud. Then try again.

What if TextPort couldn’t read any of the chat’s attachments?

Click Choose Attachments Folder… in the sheet. In the picker, click Choose Attachments. Then export again.

What if some attachments couldn’t be read and were left out?

Click Choose Attachments Folder… in the sheet. In the picker, click Choose Attachments. Then export again.

What if the chat shows Show photos and attachments?

TextPort cannot read the Attachments folder yet. See missing photos.

What if TextPort can’t save in that folder?

Pick another folder next to Where, like Downloads. Then click Export again.

What if none of these problems match mine?

Email support@textportapp.com. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

What is the ZIP file called?

Attachments, the chat name, and today's date, like Attachments_Grace Liu_2026-11-12.zip.

How are the files sorted in the ZIP?

There is one folder for each day. Each file name starts with the time and who sent it.

Can I get the PDF and the ZIP together?

Yes. Keep PDF picked and pick Attachments too. TextPort makes a new folder inside the one you pick. It puts both files there.

Can I save the photos from many chats at once?

Yes. Hold Command and click several chats. Click Export. Drop PDF and pick Attachments. Click Export, pick a folder, and click Export again. You get one ZIP for each chat that has photos or files.

Are the photos smaller or changed?

No. TextPort copies the original files from Messages.

How to save all photos and files from a chat in TextPort for Mac

Mac 5 steps · Updated Nov 12, 2026

Quick answer

In TextPort for Mac:

Click the chat in the list on the left.
Click Export in the top right, or press Command-E.
Click PDF to drop it. Click Attachments to pick it.
Click Export.
Pick a folder and click Export again.

TextPort then says Attachments exported.

On Windows: How to save photos and attachments as a ZIP in TextPort for Windows

What you need

✓TextPort for Mac, set up with Messages access
✓Access to the Attachments folder, so TextPort can read the photos

Steps

Click the chat

It is in the list on the left. Its messages show on the right.
Click Export

It is the blue button in the top right. Export Chat opens.

Or press Command-E.
Pick only Attachments, then click Export

Click PDF to drop it (1). Click Attachments to pick it (2). Then click Export (3). A save window opens.

The Attachments row says how many files the ZIP will have.
Click Export

Pick a folder next to Where first. TextPort collects the files into one ZIP.
Click Show in Finder

The sheet says Attachments exported. Finder opens with the ZIP file selected.

Done

You have one ZIP file with the photos, videos, and files from the chat. Double-click it to open it.

Problems

What you seeWhat to do

Attachments is gray and says No attachments in these messages.: The chat has no photos or files in those dates. Click the menu next to Dates. Pick All Messages.
Attachments is still gray with All Messages picked.: TextPort found no photos or files on this Mac for that chat. Some may still be in iCloud. Open the chat in Messages. Click the name at the top. Scroll down and click Download Attachments in iCloud. Then try again.
TextPort couldn’t read any of this chat’s attachments.: Click Choose Attachments Folder… in the sheet. In the picker, click Choose Attachments. Then export again.
It says some attachments couldn’t be read and were left out.: Click Choose Attachments Folder… in the sheet. In the picker, click Choose Attachments. Then export again.
The chat shows Show photos and attachments.: TextPort cannot read the Attachments folder yet. See missing photos.
The save window says TextPort can’t save in that folder or That drive is read-only.: Pick another folder next to Where, like Downloads. Then click Export again.
None of these match.: Email [email protected]. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Tips

Only need some dates? In Export Chat, click the menu next to Dates. The ZIP then has only those days, and its name has the dates.

Questions

: Attachments, the chat name, and today's date, like Attachments_Grace Liu_2026-11-12.zip.
: There is one folder for each day. Each file name starts with the time and who sent it.
: Yes. Keep PDF picked and pick Attachments too. TextPort makes a new folder inside the one you pick. It puts both files there.
: Yes. Hold Command and click several chats. Click Export. Drop PDF and pick Attachments. Click Export, pick a folder, and click Export again. You get one ZIP for each chat that has photos or files.
: No. TextPort copies the original files from Messages.