[4 Ways] How to Transfer iMessages to External Hard Drive?
"Hello, I want to save my iMessages between me and my mother along with all the voice notes she has sent me over the years. She recently passed away and I want to be sure that I never lose any of her messages. How can I transfer her iMessages to either external hard drive or my Mac computer? Thanks."
- From Apple Support Community
iMessages can hold a lot of important information, so it's a good idea to back them up to keep them safe and free up space on your iPhone. If you're wondering how to transfer iMessage to external hard drive, there are several easy ways to do it. In this guide, we'll walk you through three easy ways to copy and save your iMessages to an external drive. These solutions will help you protect your text message data and save storage space on your iPhone at the same time. Let's go through these options one by one!
Way 1: Transfer iMessages to External Hard Drive with Assistant for iOS
MobiKin Assistant for iOS is a great tool to transfer iMessages to external hard drive. It is an efficient and reliable iPhone backup and data transfer software that allows you to manage iOS data easily. With Assistant for iOS, you can backup iMessages and other data to external hard drive or computer smoothly and efficiently. Let's take a look at some of its features and benefits:
Main Highlights of Assistant for iOS:
- Preview and select the messages you want to transfer before saving.
- Transfer various data types such as SMS, photos, music, videos, and contacts between iPhone, computer, and external hard drive.
- One-click transfer to move data quickly.
- Preserve the original quality of all files during the transfer process.
- Compatible with all iOS devices, such as iPhone 4 to iPhone 16, iPad, iPod touch.
To transfer text messages from your iPhone to an external hard drive, follow these simple steps. It's an easy process that just takes a few clicks.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer
Connect your iPhone and external hard drive to the computer using a compatible USB cable. Open MobiKin Assistant for iOS on the computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to ensure proper recognition of your iPhone. The main interface will display your iPhone's details.
Step 2. Select text messages on your iPhone
On the left side of the interface, your iPhone's contents are visible. Click on "Messages" to preview your conversations, and selectively tick the SMS you wish to back up.
Step 3. Backup iMessages to the external hard drive
After making your selections, click "Export" at the top of the interface. You'll then be prompted to choose the external hard drive as the destination to save the text conversation.
Video Guide:
Way 2: Export iMessage to External Hard Drive with iCloud
To download your iMessage history using iCloud, you can access your conversations from any device with internet, without having to connect directly to your iPhone. Keep in mind that you'll need enough iCloud storage, and it may download all of your iMessages, not just the ones you selected.
- On your iPhone, open "Settings" > tap your name > Go to "iCloud". Make sure "Messages" is turned on under "Apps using iCloud."
- On your computer, go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click "Account Settings", then find and select "Recover Files" under the Advanced section. Look for files labeled "iMessage."
- Select the iMessage files you want, then click "Recover Files" to download them to your external hard drive.
Way 3: Transfer iMessages to External Hard Drive using Email
To save iMessages to an external hard drive, you can also transfer them using email. This method is quick and does not require any additional apps. Here are the specific steps:
- Open iMessages on your iPhone and select the conversation you want to save.
- Press and hold the conversation to copy it, then create a new email and paste the copied message in the body of the email.
- Send the email to yourself and open it on your computer.
- On your computer, open the email and save the message to your external hard drive, either in PDF format or any other format you prefer.
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Way 4: Save iMessages to External Hard Drive via Screenshot
If you want to keep a copy of an iMessages conversation on your iPhone, you can take a screenshot of the chat. This will save it as an image, which you can then transfer directly to an external hard drive without using a computer.
- Take a screenshot of the conversation you want to save on your iPhone.
- Plug your external hard drive into your iPhone using the Lightning to USB adapter. You can check that it's connected by opening the Files app.
- Open the Photos app, find the screenshot of the conversation, and tap the Share button (the square with an upward arrow).
- Select Save to Files, choose your external hard drive as the location, and tap Save.
Wrapping Up
Above are four easy ways to transfer iMessage to an external hard drive. One of the easiest ways is to use a backup tool like Assistant for iOS to save your messages in one click. Alternatively, you can take a screenshot of your iMessage or email it to yourself and then save it to an external hard drive. If you find this guide useful, feel free to share it with others.
FAQs on Transferring iMessages to External Hard Drive
Q1. Can I export just one iMessage conversation?
Yes, you can! Most methods let you choose specific conversations to save. For example, if you email messages to yourself, you can select just the messages in the conversation you want. With tools like MobiKin Assistant for iOS, you can choose individual chats to export. However, if you use iCloud, it usually backs up all of your messages, not just one.
Q2. Will exporting my iMessages delete them from my phone?
No, exporting your iMessages does not delete them from your iPhone. When you export or save your iMessages, you're just making a copy of the conversation. The original message remains on your phone. It's like taking a photo—you keep both the original and the copy. Therefore, you can safely export your messages without worrying about losing anything.
Q3. Do I need a computer to export my iMessage conversations?
You don't always need a computer, although it can make the process easier. For some methods, like emailing messages to yourself, you can do it right from your iPhone. But for a more complete export or to back up your iMessages somewhere else, it helps to have a computer. If you don't have a computer, don't worry - you can still save your important messages using just your iPhone!
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