How to Print Text Messages from iPhone: 4 Easy Methods

Do you ever find yourself needing a tangible record of your text conversations? Whether it’s to solidify important agreements, resolve misunderstandings, or simply archive crucial information, having a physical copy of text messages can be incredibly useful.

Perhaps you need documented proof for legal matters, or maybe you just prefer having a hard copy for your personal records. Printing text messages from your iPhone is a practical solution for creating a backup of your digital conversations.

However, unlike some other smartphones, iPhones don’t offer a direct “print” function within the Messages app. This might seem inconvenient, but don’t worry! There are still several effective ways to print your iPhone text messages. The best method for you will depend on the number of messages you need to print and whether you prefer a physical printout or a digital copy that you can later print.

If you are an Android user, we also have guides for you! Check out how to print text messages from Android phones for relevant instructions.

1. Printing Text Messages via Screenshots

The quickest and simplest method to print text messages from your iPhone is by taking screenshots of your conversation and then printing these images. This approach is ideal when you only need to print a few messages and are comfortable with them being in image format. Here’s how to do it:

Open the Messages app on your iPhone and navigate to the conversation you wish to print.
Capture a screenshot of your conversation. The method varies slightly depending on your iPhone model:
- On iPhones with Face ID: Press and hold the side button and the volume up button simultaneously.
- On iPhones with a Home button: Press and hold the side button and the Home button at the same time.

Screenshot method to print text messages from iPhone

Next, go to the Photos app.
Tap the Albums tab at the bottom, and then select the Screenshots album.
Tap Select in the top right corner, and then tap to select all the screenshots you want to print. Selected screenshots will have a checkmark in a blue circle.
In the bottom left corner, tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing upwards).

Share option for printing iPhone messages from screenshots

From the Share sheet, scroll down and select Print.
Ensure your wireless printer is turned on, within range, and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. Adjust printer settings as needed (e.g., paper size, orientation, number of copies).
Tap Print in the upper right corner to send the screenshots to your printer.

Print confirmation screen for printing text messages from iPhone

You have now successfully printed your iPhone text messages using screenshots! However, if you need to print a lengthy conversation, this method can become tedious as you’ll need to take numerous screenshots and print them individually. For extensive message history, consider the following methods.

2. Converting iPhone Text Messages to PDF on Mac for Printing

For saving entire text conversations, converting a chat to a PDF from your Mac is a useful technique. Keep in mind that for very long conversations, you may need to scroll back extensively within the Messages app on your Mac, and there’s a possibility the application might become unresponsive. This method is best suited for printing or saving recent or moderately sized text exchanges.

Open the Messages app on your Mac.
Choose the text conversation you want to save and print by clicking on it in the Messages sidebar.
Scroll up within the conversation window to load all the messages you need to include in your PDF. For very long conversations, consider saving in smaller chunks to avoid potential application issues.
Once the desired messages are loaded, click File in the top menu bar.
Select Print from the File menu.

Print option in Mac Messages app for saving iPhone texts as PDF

In the Print dialog box, you can preview how many pages your text messages will occupy under the “Pages” section.
Click the PDF dropdown menu located in the bottom left corner of the Print dialog.
Choose Save as PDF from the dropdown options.

Save as PDF option for iPhone text messages on Mac

A Save dialog box will appear. Here, you can customize:
- Save As: Enter a descriptive name for your PDF file.
- Where: Choose the location on your Mac where you want to save the PDF.
- Title, Author, Subject: Optionally, add document metadata.
Click Save to create the PDF file of your text conversation.

Save dialog box for PDF conversion of iPhone text messages

You now have a PDF document containing your text conversation, including any images shared within the chat. You can open this PDF and print it as you would any other document.

3. Forwarding Text Conversations to Another Phone for Printing

If you don’t have immediate access to a printer but still need to export your text thread from your iPhone, forwarding the conversation to another phone number is a viable workaround. This is particularly helpful if you only need to print specific portions of a conversation rather than your entire message history with someone. You can then access these messages on the recipient phone (perhaps a phone connected to a printer) and print from there, or use other methods available on that device.

Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
Locate and open the conversation you wish to save or print.
Touch and hold a message bubble within the conversation.
When the options menu appears, tap More….
Select the specific messages you want to forward by tapping the circle to the left of each message bubble. Selected messages will have a checkmark.
Tap the Share icon located in the bottom right corner of the screen (it looks like an arrow pointing upwards).
In the “To” field, enter the phone number to which you want to forward the messages. This could be your own number on a different device or another person’s phone.
Tap the Send button (the up arrow in the green circle) to send the selected messages.

Forwarding text messages from iPhone to another number

The forwarded messages will be sent as a new text message to the recipient number. From there, depending on the receiving device’s capabilities, you might be able to print directly or use other methods to save and print the conversation.

4. Utilizing Third-Party Apps to Print iPhone Text Messages

For users needing to print entire message threads or seeking more advanced options, third-party apps like iMazing offer a comprehensive solution. iMazing allows you to export your text messages as PDF files, among other formats, which you can then easily print from your computer or save as digital backups. This method is particularly efficient for managing and printing large volumes of text messages in a readable, text-based format.

First, download and install the iMazing app on your Mac or Windows computer.
Launch the iMazing application after installation.
Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

Unlock your iPhone. If prompted on your iPhone screen, tap Trust This Computer to allow your computer to access your device’s data.

In the iMazing sidebar on the left, select your device from the list. Then, click on Messages to access your text messages.

Choose the conversation you want to export and print by selecting it.
In the top right corner of the messages window, you’ll find date range filters. Use the “From” and “To” date selectors to specify the period of conversation you wish to print, if needed. This is helpful for managing very long conversations.

Click the Print button, which is usually located in the bottom right corner of the iMazing window.

A Print dialog box will appear, allowing you to adjust printer settings such as printer selection, page orientation, and more. Ensure your printer is connected to your computer and ready. Click Print again to start printing your text messages.

Alternatively, to save a digital copy as a PDF instead of directly printing:

Follow the steps above up to step 6.
Instead of clicking “Print,” click the “Export to PDF” button, often found near the “Print” option.
In the Export options, click Next, and choose the file name and save location for your PDF file.
Click Export to save your text messages as a PDF on your computer.

Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Printing text messages from an iPhone, while not a direct feature, is achievable through various methods. Whether for legal documentation, record-keeping, or personal archiving, creating a hard copy of your conversations can be valuable. While the Messages app lacks a print button, options like screenshots, Mac conversion, forwarding, and third-party apps like iMazing provide effective solutions.

Have you ever needed to print text messages from your iPhone? Which method did you find most useful, and what was the reason for printing them? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!