How to save old iMessages and SMS
Have chats from years back? An export gives you a permanent file you can keep independently of the phone.
Why export old messages?
Old iPhones die, iCloud can change, family members can lose access. An independent file secures the memories.
How to do it
- Take a full backup of the source phone.
- Extract the message file (chat.db, WhatsApp .txt/.zip, or Android .xml).
- Open iExport in the browser and pick the source.
- Pick the conversation and Full history for a complete archive.
- Download PDF for reading/printing and HTML for search.
Store the file safely
- Copy on an encrypted external drive.
- Copy in password-protected cloud storage.
- Consider printing the PDF for your most important archive.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I recover messages I deleted?
- No. iExport exports what's still in the source file. Deleted messages are usually gone.
- Should I take a full backup first?
- Yes — a full iPhone backup (or WhatsApp/Android export) is the source iExport reads from.
- How long does an export file last?
- PDF and HTML are stable formats that last decades. Save copies in multiple places for safety.