How to save an entire iMessage conversation
iExport editorial team · 5 min · Updated 2026-07-17
Have a conversation that spans years and thousands of messages? Here's how to make a complete, archive-friendly export.
A full message history is often the most important thing to preserve — that's where the context lives. iExport creates a complete export without uploading your messages.
Pick the right plan for full history
iExport has two tiers: one contiguous period of up to 12 months, or the full available history. For complete conversations, pick the latter.
How to do it
- Open iExport and load your message file.
- Select the conversation you want to archive.
- Choose Full history.
- Use the preview to jump to the first and last message — verify nothing is missing.
- Export to PDF for archiving, or HTML for searchable access.
Tips for very large chats
- Use PDF if you plan to print or send it to a lawyer or accountant.
- Use HTML if you'll want to search the text later.
- Save both formats somewhere safe — an encrypted disk or password-protected cloud folder.
Frequently asked questions
- How big will the file be?
- It depends on the message count and attachments. Text-only chats are small; media-heavy ones can be hundreds of MB.
- Can I split the export into multiple files?
- Yes — run separate exports for different date ranges if size becomes an issue.
- What happens if my browser crashes mid-export?
- Nothing is lost — the source file is untouched. Just start over.