What if I see “No results”?

Check the spelling, or try a new word. Type the start of the word. If filters are on, click Clear Filters.

What if I see “No messages match.”?

A chat has that name, but no message has the word. Click the chat under Chats, or try another word.

TextPort is still getting your chats ready to search. Wait a moment. The results show by themselves.

Some chats are not ready yet. Wait a moment. The list fills in by itself.

TextPort could not read every chat this time. Results may miss some chats. Quit TextPort and open it again. Then search again.

A result opens the whole chat, so your dates went back. Pick your dates again.

Search is still on. Click the x in Search. Every chat shows again.

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

Yes. It looks in every chat saved in Messages on this Mac. It also reads the transcripts that Messages made for voice messages.

It finds words that start with what you type. week finds weekend. It does not find words that only end with it.

No. They go back when you clear the Search box.

No. TextPort keeps its search list on this Mac and searches it there.

Yes. Open the chat and press Command-F. See how to search inside a chat .

Mac 5 steps · Updated Nov 12, 2026

In TextPort for Mac:

The chat opens at that message.

Click Search

It is at the top of the chat list on the left.
Type a word

Type two letters or more. Messages with the word show under Messages. The word is marked in yellow.

Type a name to find a chat. It shows under Chats.
Click When to pick dates

This step is optional. Pick a time, like Last 30 Days. Only those messages stay.

Chats picks the chats. More picks who sent it, or group chats only.
Click a message

Each result shows the chat name and the date. The chat opens on the right.
Read around it

The chat is at that message. It glows for a moment. The results stay on the left.

You found the message and can read the chat around it.

What you seeWhat to do

No results: Check the spelling, or try a new word. Type the start of the word. If filters are on, click Clear Filters.
No messages match.: A chat has that name, but no message has the word. Click the chat under Chats, or try another word.
No results yet: TextPort is still getting your chats ready to search. Wait a moment. The results show by themselves.
More results may appear: Some chats are not ready yet. Wait a moment. The list fills in by itself.
Some chats aren’t ready: TextPort could not read every chat this time. Results may miss some chats. Quit TextPort and open it again. Then search again.
Couldn’t search: Click Try Again.
The date range in the toolbar changed.: A result opens the whole chat, so your dates went back. Pick your dates again.
The chat list is gone.: Search is still on. Click the x in Search. Every chat shows again.
None of these match.: Email [email protected]. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

: Yes. It looks in every chat saved in Messages on this Mac. It also reads the transcripts that Messages made for voice messages.
: It finds words that start with what you type. week finds weekend. It does not find words that only end with it.
: No. They go back when you clear the Search box.
: No. TextPort keeps its search list on this Mac and searches it there.
: Yes. Open the chat and press Command-F. See how to search inside a chat.