How to Export an iMessage Conversation on iPhone

Exporting an iMessage conversation on your iPhone lets you save a permanent copy of a chat as a PDF or text file, which is useful for record-keeping, legal documentation, or simply backing up meaningful messages. This guide covers the built-in methods that work on current iOS versions, plus what to do if you need a more complete export.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone running iOS 16 or later (for the built-in export feature).
The Messages app with the conversation you want to export.
Enough free storage on your iPhone to save the exported file.
Optional: a Mac or PC if you want to export via a third-party tool.

Step-by-Step

Open the Messages app on your iPhone. Locate the conversation you want to export from your message list.
Tap the conversation to open it. Make sure you are viewing the full chat history you want to save.
Tap the contact or group name at the top of the screen. This is usually the person’s name or the group title, located above the message bubbles.
Scroll down in the info panel that appears. You will see options like “Share Contact,” “Send Message,” and “FaceTime.” Keep scrolling until you find the “Export” section.
Tap “Export Conversation.” This option is available in iOS 16 and later. A menu will pop up asking how you want to save the export.
Choose a format: You can select “PDF” or “Text” (plain text). PDF preserves the look of the chat bubbles and photos, while Text is a simple, universally readable file.
Select a destination: After choosing the format, iOS will present the share sheet. You can save the file to the Files app, send it via Mail, AirDrop it to your Mac, or save it to a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive.
Tap “Save” or “Send” depending on the destination. For example, if you choose “Save to Files,” pick a folder and tap “Save.” If you choose Mail, compose the email and send it.
Verify the export: Open the saved file to make sure it contains the messages you expected. If you saved to Files, navigate to the folder you chose and tap the file to preview it.

If you need to export a conversation that is not on your iPhone (e.g., it was deleted), you may need to restore from an iCloud backup first, or use a third-party tool on your computer. See the Troubleshooting section below for more details.

Common Mistakes

Not updating iOS: The built-in export feature is only available in iOS 16 or later. If you don’t see “Export Conversation,” check your software version in Settings > General > Software Update.
Exporting the wrong conversation: Make sure you are in the correct chat before tapping the contact name. Double-check the name at the top of the screen.
Choosing the wrong format: If you need to edit the text or import it into another app, choose Text. If you need a visual copy with photos, choose PDF. Text files do not include images or attachments.
Forgetting to save to Files: If you use AirDrop or Mail, the file is not automatically saved to your iPhone. If you want a copy on the device, choose “Save to Files” instead.
Assuming attachments are always included: The PDF export includes photos and videos that are still in the conversation, but if the original media has been deleted from the thread, it won’t appear in the export.

Tips

Use PDF for legal or official purposes: A PDF preserves the layout and is harder to edit accidentally, making it a better choice for documentation.
Name the file clearly: When saving to Files, you can rename the file before saving to make it easier to find later.
Export important conversations regularly: If you have a chat that you know you’ll need later, export it right after it ends while all media is still present.
Check the file size: Conversations with many photos can produce a large PDF. If you need a smaller file, consider exporting as Text (which excludes attachments) or trimming the conversation by deleting some media before exporting.
Use AirDrop to get the file on your Mac: If you want to edit the export in a word processor, AirDrop the Text file to your Mac and open it in Pages or Word.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see “Export Conversation” in the info panel.
This means your iPhone is running iOS 15 or earlier. Update your iPhone to iOS 16 or later via Settings > General > Software Update. If you cannot update (older device), you will need to use a third-party tool on a computer to export the conversation.

The export fails or the app crashes.
This can happen with very long conversations or those with many attachments. Try exporting a shorter portion of the chat (if possible) or delete some old media from the conversation before exporting. Also, make sure your iPhone has enough free storage space.

The exported PDF is missing photos or videos.
If the media was deleted from the conversation before exporting, it won’t be in the PDF. Also, some attachments may not be included if they are too large or if the export times out. Try exporting again after closing other apps to free up memory.

I need to export a conversation that was deleted.
If you have an iCloud backup that contains the conversation, you can restore your iPhone from that backup, then export the conversation before you lose it again. If you don’t have a backup, the messages are likely gone permanently unless you have a third-party recovery tool that can read the iPhone’s database directly (requires a computer).

The Text export doesn’t show the sender names.
The Text format is a plain text file that lists messages in chronological order, but it may not include sender names for group chats. For a more readable format, use PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export an entire iMessage conversation as a PDF on my iPhone?
Yes, iOS 16 and later includes a built-in “Export Conversation” option that lets you save a chat as a PDF or text file directly from the Messages app.

Does the export include photos and videos?
The PDF export includes photos and videos that are still in the conversation. The Text export does not include any attachments.

Can I export a conversation from a group chat?
Yes, the same steps work for group chats. The export will include all messages from all participants, and the PDF will show sender names.

Will the export work if I have an iPhone with iOS 15?
No, the built-in export feature is only available in iOS 16 or later. On iOS 15, you would need to use a third-party tool on a computer to export the conversation.

Can I export a conversation to my computer without using third-party software?
Yes, you can use AirDrop to send the exported PDF or text file to your Mac. For a Windows PC, you can email the file to yourself or save it to a cloud service and then download it on your computer.

Is there a way to export all my messages at once?
The built-in export works per conversation. To export all conversations, you would need to repeat the steps for each chat. Third-party tools may offer bulk export, but they require a computer and may have limitations.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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