5 Ways to Back Up Text Messages/iMessage on iPhone without iCloud

It's only natural to want to safeguard iPhone SMS and ensure they are protected from accidental loss, device malfunctions, factory reset on iPhone, etc. While iCloud offers a convenient backup option for iDevice users, it may not always be the ideal choice for various underlying reasons. Then how to back up text messages on iPhone without iCloud in minutes? Well, we shall explore five distinct techniques, each with its own advantages and unique approaches. But before getting to the point, let's see what makes the action so urgent.

Part 1: Why Back Up Text Messages on iPhone without iCloud?

Generally, there are several reasons why someone might want to back up text messages on an iPhone without using iCloud. Here are a few possible scenarios:

• Not enough iCloud storage.
• Concerns regarding privacy.
• The backup procedure is time-consuming.
• Limited options for customization.
• Accessing data online.
• Only a few cloud providers offer storage based on agreements.

Related Resources:

• How to Recover iMessages from iCloud Backup Flexibly? 4 Ways Available
• 4 Hot Tips to Upload Photos to iCloud from iPhone/PC/Mac/iCloud.com

Part 2: How to Back Up iPhone Messages without iCloud by Taking Screenshots

It seems easy to back up your messages on your iPhone in this way, but you should repeat the steps for each conversation or set of messages you want to back up. The screenshots will be saved as individual images in your Photos app, allowing you to access them whenever needed.

How to back up text messages on iPhone without iCloud by capturing screenshots?

• Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
• Navigate to the conversation or specific messages that you want to back up.
• Capture a screenshot on your iPhone by pressing the "Side" button (or the "Home" button on older iPhone models) and the "Volume Up" key simultaneously. On iPhones without a Home button, press the "Side" button and the "Volume Up" button together.



• A thumbnail of the screenshot will appear in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Tap on it to access the screenshot editing options.
• If necessary, make any edits or annotations to the screenshot using the tools available.
• Tap the "Done" or "Save" button to save the screenshot to your Photos app.

Part 3: How to Back Up Text Messages on iPhone without iCloud Easily & Flexibly

Are you looking for a program that lets you copy SMS from an iPhone to a computer without relying on iCloud, allowing you to conveniently view them anytime? If so, take a quick look at MobiKin Assistant for iOS (Win and Mac), a professional data transfer and backup manager specifically designed for Apple users. In the case of backups, while providing personalized and selective backups, it also lets you back up your whole iPhone without the aid of other tools.

Remarkable features of MobiKin Assistant for iOS:

• Swiftly Back up text messages on your iPhone without iCloud.
• Restore your iPhone from backup files without causing any interference with the existing data.
• Save SMS in a variety of suitable formats on your computer.
• Copy and manage a diverse range of file types from your iDevices, including Photos, Videos, Music, Contacts, eBooks, Text Messages, Notes, Safari Bookmarks, Voice Memos, and more.
• Your data is protected and kept intact during the backup or management.
• Apply to virtually all iOS devices, containing iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro (Max), iPhone 13/13 Pro (Max)/13 mini/12/12 Pro (Max)/12 mini, iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max, iPhone X/XR/Xs/Xs Max, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6/6S/6 Plus, iPod touch, iPad, etc.
• It never tracks your privacy.

How to back up iPhone messages without iCloud using Assistant for iOS?

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch the Assistant for iOS program once you install it. Then this tool will detect your device successfully after you adhere to the simple instruction on the screen.

Step 2. The product will display all iPhone files in categories on the left panel. Please pick the "Messages" tab and preview all the SMS conversations on the right. Concurrently, you can pick up the ones you want to back up.

Step 3. Click the "Export" button to select an output location as you like. Meanwhile, you can save the files in an appropriate format before putting them onto this computer.

A video tutorial on how to back up iPhone text messages on computer by using Assistant for iOS.

See More:

• 4 Ways to Back Up WhatsApp on iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8 [Step-by-Step-Guide]
• 4 Marvelous Ways to Delete Messages from iCloud Storage [Quick Guide]

Part 4: How to Back Up Text Messages/SMS on iPhone without iCloud via iTunes

Before proceeding, please review some important information about this method:

• It is impossible to view messages through iTunes due to the format in which messages are saved.
• The only option available is to back up all data on your device to a computer to back up messages separately.
• Once the backup process is finished, you can locate your backup under the "Latest Backup" section.
• Exercise caution when performing a restore because the existing data on your iPhone will be replaced with the content from the backup.

How to back up text messages on your iPhone without iCloud via iTunes?

• Start by downloading the latest version of iTunes onto your computer.
• Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
• Navigate to the "Summary" section by clicking the "device" sign.
• Click on "Back Up Now" to initiate an immediate backup. (Please note that the backup may take a significant amount of time since it involves backing up the entire device.)

Part 5: How to Back Up iMessages/Texts without iCloud Using Finder

iTunes discontinued for Mac running macOS Catalina or newer. Instead, Finder provides an additional option for performing an iPhone backup. Next, let's see how to back up iMessages without iCloud via Finder:

• Pick a reliable USB cable to connect your iPhone to the Mac.
• Open the Finder app on your Mac and locate your connected iPhone in the sidebar.
• From the top menu, select "General" and choose "Back up all the data on your iPhone to this Mac" among the displayed options.
• Enable the "Encrypt local backup" option to enhance security during the backup.
• Lastly, click the "Back Up Now" button to initiate the backup procedure.

Part 6: How to Back Up Text Messages on iPhone without iCloud via Google Drive

The iOS platform has expanded its capabilities beyond its previous limitations. It is now possible for iPhones to store their data in Google Drive, despite the platform differences. After the bulk backup starts, ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection and patiently wait for a few minutes until the backup process successfully concludes.

Learn how to back up text messages on iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8/7 without iCloud via Google Drive:

• Begin by downloading and installing the Google Drive app on your iPhone.
• Launch the app and tap the menu icon (resembling three horizontal lines) at the top-left corner.
• In that menu, locate and select the gear icon to access "Settings".
• Within that menu, tap on "Backup" to proceed.
• Lastly, press "START BACKUP" to back up your iPhone to Google Drive.

FAQs on iPhone Text Message Backup:

Q1: Can I back up text messages on my new iPhone?

Yes, by utilizing iTunes or a trusted 3rd-party program, you can easily back up your iPhone messages and transfer them to your new iPhone, ensuring that your conversations and texts are preserved.

Q2: Can I restore my iPhone messages only?

Regarding restoring iPhone messages from a backup with official Apple tools, the process typically involves restoring the entire backup, including all data and settings, rather than selectively restoring just the messages. This means that you cannot directly restore only the messages from a backup without restoring the other content as well.

Q3: Does Apple save text messages for good?

No, Apple does not save text messages indefinitely. By default, text messages are stored on your iPhone for a limited period of time, and they are not permanently saved or stored on Apple's servers. The exact duration for which messages are stored on your device can vary depending on your settings and storage capacity.

Last Words

Thanks for joining us on this journey to explore how to back up text messages on iPhone without iCloud. Hopefully, you have found your desired methods to regularly back up your iPhone to ensure your messages are safe in case of device loss, damage, or software issues.

Finally, an important note - If you utilize iCloud for Messages, your iPhone text messages are not included in the backup files. Instead, they are stored independently on iCloud to ensure synchronization across multiple devices linked to the same Apple ID. Consequently, assuming you have deleted messages in this scenario, they are permanently removed from all your devices, and it may not be possible to recover them.

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