How to Print Texts from Your iPhone: 4 Simple Methods

Have you ever needed a tangible copy of your text conversations from your iPhone? Whether it’s to solidify a point, resolve a disagreement, or simply keep important records, having a physical printout of your text messages can be incredibly useful. It provides concrete evidence of your digital exchanges, which can be valuable in various situations, from legal matters to personal accountability.

However, printing directly from your iPhone’s Messages app isn’t immediately obvious. Unlike some other mobile devices, iPhones lack a direct print function within the messaging interface. But don’t worry, there are still effective ways to print your text messages, regardless of whether you need to print just a few messages or entire conversations, and whether you prefer a physical document or a digital backup.

If you’re using an Android device, we also have helpful tips for you in our dedicated article.

Method 1: Leveraging Screenshots

The quickest and most straightforward method to print texts from your iPhone involves using screenshots. This approach is ideal for printing a small number of messages and is perfectly suitable if you’re comfortable with your messages being in image format. Here’s how to print your iPhone texts using screenshots:

First, open the Messages app on your iPhone and navigate to the specific conversation you intend to print.
To capture a screenshot of your conversation, simultaneously press the side button (lock button) and the volume up button on iPhones with Face ID. For older iPhones with a Home button, press the Home button and the side button (or top button) at the same time.

iPhone screenshot method using side button and volume up button.

Next, access the Photos app on your iPhone.
Tap on the Albums tab at the bottom, and then select the Screenshots album.
Tap Select in the top right corner, and then choose all the screenshots of the text messages you wish to print. Selected screenshots will be indicated with a checkmark in a blue circle.
Once you’ve selected all relevant screenshots, tap the share button located in the bottom left corner (it looks like a square with an upward arrow).

iPhone share button in the bottom left corner after selecting screenshots.

From the share sheet options, 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 such as paper size and orientation as needed.
Finally, tap Print in the upper right corner to send the screenshots to your printer. Wait for your text messages to be printed.

iPhone print option after selecting share and printer settings.

You have now successfully printed your iPhone text messages using screenshots. However, keep in mind that this method can become cumbersome and inefficient if you need to print extensive conversations, as it requires multiple screenshots and individual printing steps. For larger volumes of text messages, consider exploring the following methods.

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Method 2: Converting Text Messages to PDF on Mac

For saving entire text conversations, converting a chat to a PDF directly from your Mac is a viable option. However, it’s important to note that this method may present challenges when dealing with very long conversations. Scrolling back extensively in the Messages app on Mac might lead to performance issues or application instability. This approach is best suited for printing or saving recent or moderately sized text exchanges.

Begin by opening the Messages app on your Mac computer.
Select the text conversation you want to print by clicking on it in the Messages sidebar.
Scroll back within the conversation to load the portion of text messages you wish to save. Remember to scroll in manageable chunks to avoid potential freezing if the conversation history is very long.
Once the desired messages are loaded, navigate to the top menu bar, click on File, and then choose Print.

Mac Messages app File menu with Print option highlighted.

In the Print dialog box, you can see the estimated number of pages under the Pages section.
To save as a PDF instead of directly printing, locate the dropdown menu, typically labeled “PDF” in the bottom left corner of the Print dialog. Click on this dropdown menu and select Save as PDF.

Mac Print dialog box with dropdown menu to Save as PDF highlighted.

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.
Finally, click Save.
You will now have a PDF document containing your selected text message conversation, including any embedded images. You can then print this PDF file from your Mac as needed.

Mac Save dialog box for PDF export with file name and save location options.

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Method 3: Sending Conversations to Another Phone Number

If you don’t have immediate access to a printer but still need to export your text messages from your iPhone, sending the conversation to another phone number offers a practical workaround. This is particularly useful if you want to share specific parts of a conversation without exporting your entire message history with a contact.

Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
Find and open the conversation you wish to save.
Tap and hold on any message bubble within the conversation.
In the options menu that pops up, tap More….
Manually select all the individual messages you want to include by tapping the empty circles to the left of each message bubble. Selected messages will show a checkmark in the circle.
Tap the Share option, represented by an arrow pointing upwards in the bottom right corner of the screen.
In the “To” field, enter the phone number you want to send the selected messages to. This could be your own number on another device or a different phone number altogether.
Tap the up arrow in the green circle to send the selected messages as a new text message to the specified recipient.

Once sent to another phone, you can then utilize the printing capabilities of that device or save the messages for printing later.

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Method 4: Using a Third-Party App

For users who need to print entire message threads reliably and efficiently, especially long conversations, using a third-party application like iMazing is the most recommended solution. iMazing specializes in managing iOS device data and allows you to export your text messages as a PDF file, which preserves the text format and conversation structure. You can then print this PDF from your computer or keep it as a digital archive.

iMazing download button.

Here’s how to print your iPhone texts using iMazing:

First, download and install the iMazing app on your computer (Mac or Windows). Then, launch the application.
Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

Connect iPhone to computer prompt in iMazing.

Unlock your iPhone. When prompted on your iPhone screen, tap Trust to allow your computer to access your device data.

Trust this computer prompt on iPhone when connecting to iMazing.

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

Select the conversation you want to print by clicking on it.
In the top right corner of the message window, you can optionally specify a date range to filter the messages you want to print. Use the “From” and “To” date selectors to choose the desired period of conversation history.

Click the Print button, which is usually located in the bottom right corner or toolbar.

In the print dialog, adjust printer settings as needed and ensure your printer is connected and ready. Then, click Print again to start printing your selected iPhone text messages.

Alternatively, to save a digital copy of your messages as a PDF on your computer instead of printing immediately:

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

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Conclusion

Printing text messages from an iPhone, while not a direct feature, is achievable through several methods. Whether you need to print screenshots for a few messages, create a PDF on your Mac, send messages to another phone, or utilize a third-party app like iMazing for comprehensive conversation exports, there’s a solution for every need. Each method offers a different balance of simplicity, efficiency, and functionality. Choose the method that best suits the number of messages you need to print and your access to a computer and printer.

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