How do I save text messages as a PDF?

On a Mac, open the conversation in Messages, scroll up until the first message you need has loaded, then choose File, Print, and Save as PDF. On an iPhone alone, take screenshots of the conversation, save them to the Files app, select them and choose Create PDF. For a long conversation with the date and time on every message, use an exporter.

Can I save a text conversation as a PDF on iPhone without a computer?

Yes, through screenshots: save them to the Files app, select them in order, and choose Create PDF. It works for short conversations; long ones mean many screenshots and dates only show between groups of messages.

Guides · Updated November 2026

How to save text messages as a PDF

Short answer. On a Mac, open the conversation in Messages, scroll up until your first message has loaded, then choose File, Print, and Save as PDF. On an iPhone alone, turn screenshots into a PDF in the Files app. For a long conversation with the date and time on every message, use an exporter.

On a Mac (free)

This works if your messages appear in Messages on your Mac, which they do when Messages in iCloud is on.

Open Messages and select the conversation.
Scroll up to the first message you want. Messages may print only what it has loaded.
Choose File, then Print.
Open the PDF menu at the bottom of the print dialog and choose Save as PDF.

Watch out for: older messages left out if you didn't scroll far enough, times shown only now and then, and bubbles split across pages.

On an iPhone only (free)

Open the conversation. Swipe left and hold to show the time of each message, and take a screenshot (side button and volume up, or side button and Home on an iPhone with a Home button) while holding.
Scroll and repeat until you have the whole part you need.
In Photos, select the screenshots, tap Share, then Save to Files, and pick a folder.
In the Files app, open that folder, tap the More button, choose Select, select the screenshots in order, tap More again and choose Create PDF. Menu names can vary between iOS versions.

Watch out for: a long conversation means many screenshots, and it's easy to skip one without noticing.

With an exporter (whole conversation)

An exporter reads the Messages database directly instead of what's on screen, so you get every message in the dates you choose. With Message Mammoth on a Mac, pick the conversation, set the dates, and export. Each message gets a number, its date and time with the time zone, and the sender. Photos are placed in the PDF, and you also get a CSV spreadsheet of the same messages.

It's free to preview every message and to try exports of up to 20 messages in total, calls and group events included. Unlimited exports are $29.99 once.

Download free for Mac

Which should you use?

A few messages: screenshots on the iPhone.
A short conversation, and you have a Mac: print from Messages.
A long conversation, or one someone may question: an export with every message dated and numbered. If it's for a dispute, see printing text messages for court.