How to Print Text Messages from iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide

Have you ever needed a tangible record of your text conversations? Whether it’s to solidify proof, resolve disagreements, or simply archive important exchanges, having a physical copy of your text messages can be incredibly useful.

While iPhones are sophisticated devices, they don’t offer a direct “print” option within the Messages app itself. This might seem like a hurdle, but don’t worry, there are several effective methods to print your iPhone text messages. The best approach depends on the volume of messages you need to print and whether you prefer a physical document or a digital backup.

If you are an Android user looking for similar guidance, we have dedicated Android printing tips available in another article.

1. Printing Text Messages via Screenshots

The quickest and simplest method for printing a few text messages is by taking screenshots and printing those images. This is ideal for short conversations or when visual representation is sufficient. Here’s how to print text messages from your iPhone using screenshots:

Open the Messages app on your iPhone and navigate to the conversation you wish to print.
Capture a screenshot of your conversation. For iPhones with Face ID, simultaneously press the side button and the volume up button. On older iPhones with a Home button, press the Home button and the side button at the same time.

Screenshot of iPhone message conversation

Alt text: iPhone screen displaying a text message conversation ready to be screenshotted, demonstrating how to print text messages from iphone using screenshots.

Go to the Photos app on your iPhone.
Tap the Albums tab located at the bottom, and then select the Screenshots album.
Tap Select in the top right corner and then choose all the screenshots you want to print. Selected images will have a checkmark in a blue circle.
Tap the Share button in the bottom left corner (it looks like a square with an upward arrow).

iPhone share sheet with the print option highlighted

Alt text: iPhone screen showing the share sheet options after selecting screenshots, pointing to the print option to proceed with printing text messages from iphone.

Scroll down the share sheet options and select Print.
Ensure your wireless printer is powered on, connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone, and within range. Adjust printer settings like paper size and orientation as needed.
Tap Print in the upper right corner to send the screenshots to your printer.

iPhone print options screen showing print button

Alt text: iPhone print preview screen displaying screenshot images ready for printing, with the print button highlighted for printing text messages from iphone.

While screenshots are a fast solution, they become less practical for lengthy conversations. Managing numerous screenshots and printing them individually can be time-consuming. For extensive message threads, consider the next method.

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2. Converting iPhone Text Messages to PDF on a Mac

For saving and printing entire text message exchanges, converting your chat to a PDF using your Mac is a viable option. However, be aware that this method can be less reliable for very long conversations, potentially causing the application to become unresponsive due to extensive scrolling. It’s best suited for printing or saving segments of conversations rather than years-long histories.

Launch the Messages app on your Mac computer.
Choose the text conversation you want to save by clicking on it in the Messages sidebar.
Scroll back within the message thread to load the portion of the conversation you wish to print. For very long conversations, it’s advisable to scroll in smaller sections to avoid performance issues.
Click File in the top menu bar of your Mac screen.
Select Print from the File dropdown menu.

Mac Messages app showing the File menu with Print option

Alt text: Mac Messages application interface, menu bar highlighted with the File dropdown open and the Print option selected for printing text messages from iphone as PDF.

In the Print dialog box, you can see the estimated number of pages under “Pages.”
Click the dropdown menu typically labeled “PDF” in the bottom left corner of the Print dialog box.
Select Save as PDF from the dropdown options.

Mac Print dialog box with Save as PDF option selected

Alt text: Mac print dialog box interface, with the PDF dropdown menu expanded and “Save as PDF” selected, demonstrating how to print text messages from iphone to PDF format.

A save dialog box will appear. Choose a file name for your PDF, select where you want to save it on your Mac, and optionally add information in the Title, Author, and Subject fields.
Click Save to create the PDF document of your text conversation.

Mac Save dialog box for saving the PDF file

Alt text: Mac save dialog box interface, fields for file name, location, title, author, and subject are visible, with the Save button highlighted for saving the PDF of text messages from iphone.

You now have a PDF file containing your text message conversation, including any embedded images, which you can easily print or archive digitally.

DISCOVER MORE: HOW TO MASTER THE NEW AUDIO MESSAGES FEATURES IN IOS 17

3. Forwarding Text Conversations to Print

If you lack immediate printer access but need to export your text messages from your iPhone for printing later, forwarding the conversation to another phone number is a useful workaround. This is particularly helpful for sharing specific message threads without exporting your entire communication history with someone.

Open the Messages app on your iPhone and locate the conversation you want to save.
Tap and hold on any message bubble within the conversation thread.
When the options menu appears, tap More….
Select all the messages you wish to include by tapping the circle to the left of each message bubble. Selected messages will show a checkmark.
Tap the Share icon located in the bottom right corner of the screen (it’s an arrow pointing upwards).
In the “To” field, enter the phone number you want to forward the messages to. This could be your own number on another device or a trusted contact.
Tap the up arrow in the green circle to send the selected messages as a new text message to the specified number.

iPhone message forwarding screen showing selected messages and share options

Alt text: iPhone screen displaying a text message conversation with multiple messages selected for forwarding, the share icon is highlighted, showing the process to print text messages from iphone by forwarding.

Once forwarded, you can access these messages on the recipient phone. From there, depending on the phone and its capabilities, you may be able to print directly or explore options to export and print.

EXPLORE FURTHER: GUIDE TO CREATING AND MANAGING GROUP TEXTS ON YOUR IPHONE

4. Utilizing a Third-Party Application (iMazing)

For users needing to print entire message threads comprehensively, a third-party application like iMazing provides a robust solution. iMazing excels at exporting your messages as a PDF file, which can then be printed from your computer or saved digitally for archiving. This method is particularly efficient when dealing with a large volume of messages and when preserving the text format is important.

Alt text: iMazing application download page displayed on a computer screen, promoting the software as a solution for how to print text messages from iphone.

After downloading iMazing, install the application on your computer and then launch it.
Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

Alt text: iMazing application interface prompting user to connect an Apple device via USB to manage iPhone data and print text messages from iphone.

Unlock your iPhone. When prompted with a “Trust This Computer?” alert, tap Trust.

Alt text: iPhone screen displaying the “Trust This Computer?” prompt, a necessary step to allow iMazing software to access and print text messages from iphone.

In the iMazing sidebar, locate and select your device, and then click on Messages.

Alt text: iMazing application interface showing the sidebar navigation with “Messages” option highlighted, guiding users to access messages for printing text messages from iphone.

Choose the specific conversation you wish to export by clicking on it.
In the top right corner, specify the date range of messages you want to include by adjusting the “from” and “to” dates. This allows you to filter the conversation to a specific period.

Alt text: iMazing application interface showing a selected message conversation with date range selection highlighted, enabling users to filter messages when printing text messages from iphone.

Click the Print button located in the iMazing interface.

Alt text: iMazing application interface with the “Print” button prominently displayed, initiating the process to print text messages from iphone directly from the software.

Adjust print settings as needed in the print dialog box. Ensure your printer is connected to your computer and properly configured. Click Print again to start the printing process.

Alt text: iMazing print dialog box interface, showing print settings and the final “Print” button highlighted to confirm and print text messages from iphone.

Alternatively, to save a digital copy instead of printing immediately:

Follow the same steps as above until step 6.
Instead of clicking “Print,” click Export to PDF.
Click Next, then choose your desired file name and save location for the PDF file on your computer.
Click Export and wait for iMazing to export your messages to a PDF file.

READ MORE: TEXT MESSAGE PRIVACY CONCERNS: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF NEW IPHONE FEATURES

Key Takeaways for Printing iPhone Text Messages

Printing text messages from an iPhone, while not a direct feature, can be accomplished through several methods. Whether you need a hard copy for evidence, record-keeping, or personal archiving, options like screenshots, Mac PDF conversion, message forwarding, and third-party apps like iMazing offer solutions for various needs. The best method hinges on the length of the conversation and your desired output format.

Have you ever needed to print your text messages from your iPhone? What was the reason, and which method did you find most effective? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below.