How to Print Out Text Messages on Your iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever needed a physical copy of your text message conversations from your iPhone? Whether it’s for legal reasons, to keep important records, or simply to have a tangible backup of sentimental exchanges, printing your text messages can be incredibly useful. While iPhones don’t offer a direct “print” button within the Messages app, there are several effective methods to achieve this.

This guide will walk you through various ways to print out text message conversations on your iPhone, ensuring you can preserve your digital dialogues in a paper format. We’ll cover everything from quick and simple methods to more comprehensive solutions for larger conversations.

Method 1: Printing Text Messages Using Screenshots

One of the most straightforward ways to print out text messages on your iPhone is by taking screenshots of your conversation. This method is ideal for short conversations or specific sections you need to print quickly.

Here’s how to print text messages using screenshots:

1. Open the Messages App: Navigate to the Messages app on your iPhone and select the conversation you want to print.

2. Capture Screenshots: Scroll through the text message conversation. For each screen of messages you want to capture:

   • For iPhones with Face ID: Simultaneously press the Side Button (lock button) and the Volume Up Button.
   • For iPhones with a Home Button: Simultaneously press the Home Button and the Side Button (lock button).
     The screen will flash briefly, and a screenshot will be saved to your Photos app.

3. Access Screenshots in Photos: Open the Photos app and tap on the Albums tab at the bottom. Select the Screenshots album to find the images you just captured.

   iPhone screenshot process to print text messages

4. Select Screenshots for Printing: In the Screenshots album, tap Select in the top right corner. Tap on each screenshot you want to print. A blue checkmark will appear on selected images.

5. Share and Print: Tap the Share button (the square icon with an upward arrow) in the bottom left corner. Scroll down the share sheet and tap Print.

   Share options to print text messages from iPhone

6. Printer Settings and Print: Ensure your iPhone is connected to a wireless printer. Select your printer from the options, adjust print settings like paper size and number of copies if needed, and then tap Print in the top right corner.

   Print preview and settings for iPhone text messages

Pros of using screenshots:

• Simple and Quick: This is the fastest method for printing a small number of messages.
• No extra software needed: You only use built-in iPhone features.

Cons of using screenshots:

• Time-consuming for long conversations: Taking multiple screenshots and printing them individually can be tedious for extensive message histories.
• Image format: Screenshots are images, not text documents, which might not be ideal for all purposes, especially if you need to edit or search the text later.
• Quality can be reduced: Depending on print settings, image quality might be lower compared to text-based printing methods.

When to use screenshots:

This method is best when you need to print out a few key text messages quickly and don’t require a text-searchable document. It’s perfect for capturing evidence of a specific exchange or a short, important conversation.

Method 2: Convert Text Messages to PDF and Print from Mac

If you own a Mac, you can leverage the Messages app on your computer to print iPhone text messages more efficiently, especially for longer conversations. This method involves converting your messages to a PDF file and then printing it.

Here’s how to convert text messages to PDF on Mac and print:

1. Open Messages on Mac: Launch the Messages app on your Mac. Ensure you are signed in to the same Apple ID as your iPhone and that Messages in iCloud is enabled for syncing messages across devices (on both iPhone and Mac).

2. Select Conversation: Choose the text message conversation you want to print from the left sidebar.

3. Scroll to Load Messages: Scroll up within the conversation window to load all the messages you wish to include in your printed copy. For very long conversations, load messages in chunks to avoid potential app freezes.

   Print option in File menu on Mac Messages app

4. Go to File > Print: Once the desired messages are loaded, click on File in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select Print.

5. Save as PDF: In the Print dialog box, look for a dropdown menu typically labeled “PDF” (it might be in the bottom left corner or a dropdown near printer selection). Click on this dropdown and choose Save as PDF.

   Save as PDF option in Mac print dialog

6. Choose Save Location and Save: A save dialog box will appear. Choose a name for your PDF file, select where you want to save it on your Mac, and click Save. You can also add details like Title, Author, and Subject if you wish.

   Save dialog box for PDF conversion on Mac

7. Open and Print PDF: Locate the saved PDF file on your Mac, open it with Preview or Adobe Acrobat Reader, and then print it as you would any other PDF document.

Pros of using Mac to convert to PDF:

• Preserves Conversation Flow: This method prints the conversation in a continuous, readable format, better than individual screenshots.
• PDF format: Creates a text-searchable and easily shareable PDF document.
• Suitable for longer conversations: More efficient than screenshots for printing longer message histories.

Cons of using Mac to convert to PDF:

• Requires a Mac: This method is only applicable if you have access to a Mac computer.
• Potential loading issues: Loading very long conversations in the Messages app can sometimes be slow or cause the app to become unresponsive.
• Manual scrolling: You still need to manually scroll to load all messages, which can be cumbersome for extremely long conversations.

When to use Mac PDF conversion:

This method is ideal when you need to print longer text message conversations and want a clear, text-based PDF document. It’s a good option for archiving important conversations or when you need a more professional-looking printed copy.

Method 3: Sending Conversations to Another Phone Number for Printing

While not a direct print method, sending your text conversation to another phone number can be a workaround if you need to export the text and print it from a different device or system.

Here’s how to send text conversations to another phone number:

1. Open Messages and Select Conversation: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone and open the conversation you want to export.

2. Select Messages to Forward: Tap and hold on any message bubble within the conversation. In the menu that pops up, tap More….

   More options for a text message bubble on iPhone

3. Choose Messages to Export: Tap the circle to the left of each message bubble you want to include in your exported conversation. Selected messages will have a checkmark. You can select individual messages or the entire conversation segment visible on the screen.

4. Tap Share Icon: Tap the Share icon in the bottom right corner of the screen (it looks like an upward arrow in a square).

5. Enter Recipient Number: In the “To” field at the top, enter the phone number you want to send the messages to. This could be your own number on a different phone or another device capable of receiving text messages.

6. Send Messages: Tap the Send button (upward arrow in a green circle) to send the selected messages as a new text message to the recipient number.

Once you’ve sent the messages to another phone or device, you can then explore printing options from that device. For example, if you send it to an Android phone, you might have more direct printing options available or easier ways to export the text for printing from a computer.

Pros of sending to another number:

• Device Flexibility: Allows you to export messages from your iPhone and handle printing from a different device that might offer more options.
• Sharing specific threads: Useful if you only need to share and print specific parts of a conversation, not the entire history.

Cons of sending to another number:

• Not direct printing: This is a workaround, not a direct printing method. It adds an extra step of sending and then printing from another device.
• Formatting may change: When forwarded as text messages, the original formatting of the conversation might be altered.
• Limited by SMS/MMS: Depending on the length and content, very long conversations might be split or have limitations when sent via SMS/MMS.

When to use sending to another number:

This method is helpful when you need to export text messages from your iPhone and prefer to handle the printing process from a different device, perhaps one that’s not an iPhone or Mac, or if you need to share only snippets of conversations for printing elsewhere.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Apps like iMazing

For a more comprehensive and efficient solution to print out text messages from your iPhone, consider using third-party applications like iMazing. These apps are designed to manage and backup iPhone data, including messages, and often provide robust export and printing features.

Here’s how to print text messages using iMazing:

1. Download and Install iMazing: Go to the iMazing website and download the application for your computer (Windows or Mac). Install iMazing on your computer and launch it.

   Download iMazing for iPhone text message printing

2. Connect iPhone to Computer: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

   Connect iPhone to computer for iMazing

3. Trust Computer on iPhone: Unlock your iPhone. You might see a prompt asking “Trust This Computer?”. Tap Trust on your iPhone to allow your computer to access its data.

   Trust device prompt on iPhone for iMazing

4. Access Messages in iMazing: In the iMazing application, find your connected device in the sidebar. Click on your device, and then click on Messages to access your iPhone’s text messages.

   Access Messages option in iMazing

5. Select Conversation and Date Range: Choose the conversation you want to print from the list. You can also specify a date range for the messages you want to export and print using the “from” and “to” date selectors in the top right corner.

   Date range selection in iMazing for message export

6. Click Print: Click the Print button located in the top toolbar of iMazing.

   Print button in iMazing interface

7. Adjust Print Settings and Print: A print dialog box will appear. Adjust settings as needed, such as printer selection, page orientation, and content options. Then, click Print again to start printing your text messages.

   Print settings dialog in iMazing

Alternatively, instead of printing directly, you can choose to Export to PDF within iMazing (next to the Print button). This option allows you to save the conversation as a PDF file on your computer, which you can then print or archive digitally.

Pros of using third-party apps like iMazing:

• Efficient for large conversations: Best method for printing very long text message conversations.
• Text-based output: Generates text-based documents (like PDF), which are searchable and easier to manage.
• Backup and management features: Apps like iMazing often offer additional features like iPhone backup, data management, and more.
• Date range selection: Allows you to specify a date range for export, useful for focusing on specific periods within a conversation.

Cons of using third-party apps like iMazing:

• Requires third-party software: You need to download and install software on your computer. Some apps might be paid or offer premium features at a cost.
• Initial setup: Setting up the app and connecting your iPhone might take a bit more time initially compared to simpler methods.

When to use third-party apps:

This method is highly recommended when you need to print out extensive text message conversations, require a professional, text-based output, and want efficient management and export options. It’s particularly useful for legal documentation, comprehensive archiving, or when screenshots and manual methods are too cumbersome.

Conclusion

While iPhones don’t have a built-in feature to directly print out text message conversations, there are several effective workarounds available. For quick, short prints, screenshots are a simple solution. For longer conversations and better formatting, converting to PDF via a Mac or using third-party apps like iMazing are more efficient and feature-rich options. Choosing the best method depends on your specific needs, the length of the conversation, and whether you need a simple image or a text-based document. Each method provides a way to get your iPhone text messages onto paper, ensuring you have a tangible record of your important digital conversations.