Extracting text messages from iPhone?

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  • Reply 21 of 35


    Hello,


    You can use iTunes' backup function. All SMS texts are stored in a SQLite database and can easily be extracted. I described how to do it for importing the SMS into my new Android phone here: http://www.splitbrain.org/blog/2011-03/25-nexus_s


    Thanks :)

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  • Reply 22 of 35


    Hi All,


     


    I want to save my iPhone SMS to computer as a text format. I came across to various programs that allow me to copy iPhone SMS as a .txt format such as iPhone message transfer. They are working fine but they have some features limitations in trial mode, means I have to buy the full version to unlock all the features. So, I just want to ask is there any free way or free program to copy iPhone SMS to computer as a text file? 


     


    Any help would be appreciated!

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  • Reply 23 of 35


    I could use this too. Is there a userfriendly way to do this?


     


    Wow, this thread is crazy: 21 replies, 14'140 Views!!!


     


    I guess there are MANY more out there, that would love to have a solution for this.

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  • Reply 24 of 35


    I use the decipher text message software to save and archive my iphone texts. Mostly for work and some personal ones too.  It stores or archives your sms messages on your computer for you. Quite handy and simple. It's not free, however it works. http://www.deciphertools.com

     

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  • Reply 25 of 35


    You can use also use iTunes' backup function. All SMS texts are stored in a SQLite database and can easily be extracted.

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  • Reply 26 of 35


    You could use a iphone sms to xml converter.


    This site really helped me.


     


    http://insend.de/

     

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  • Reply 27 of 35


    Try iphone backup extractor or itools.

     

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  • Reply 28 of 35
    Hello,

    I was just reading online about how to extract iPhone text messages. I've followed the instructions and have found my messages. I used the instructions on this website: [website redacted] (It was fairly straightforward and simple. After locating the file, I uploaded the file for it to convert it so it would be readable instead of computer garbage. I then downloaded it as a .pdf.)

    The only problem is that the messages stop at the year 2011. They should go all the way up to 2013. There are A LOT of messages, more than 500 pages of text messages. Can anyone tell me if the iPhone after so many messages then starts to store them at another similar location instead of at: "3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28"? Where are the ones from 2011-2013?

    Thanks a lot,
    Greg

    Specs: iPhone 4 (32 GB)
    Macbook Pro Lion
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  • Reply 29 of 35

    1. Get /var/mobile/Library/SMS/sms.db


    2. It is now exported.


    What format do you want the export to be? The existing format is sqlite, so you can convert it to ASCII like so: sqlite3 sms.db .dump > sms.db.txt


     


    For step one, you can jailbreak and then scp, or you can just search your backup folder for the file, no jailbreak required.


     


    If your phone is not jailbroken, look on OS X in:


     


    ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/<long_hex_string>/


    And, in my case, and according to various web sources, although not in all cases, is named:


     


    3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28




    edited March 2017
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  • Reply 30 of 35
    vivekvivek Posts: 2member


    hi,

    i want to create a simple window based application (vs2005/vs2008/vs2010) to copy sms.db, addressbook.sqlitedb  database from iPhone/iPod to my computer for recover deleted sms and backup purpose but without jail breaking iPhone.



    sms.db                          ->     /private/var/mobile/Library/SMS/sms.db

    addressbook.sqlitedb    ->     /private/var/mobile/library/addressbook/addressbook.sqlitedb



    i had also tried iphonebrowser code but only able to copy file in jailbreak iPhone.

    please give you any type of demi projects or links....



    thanks in advance

    Vivek Chauhan

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  • Reply 31 of 35

    I want to get software with better user-friendly UI.

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  • Reply 32 of 35

    iTunes features with the ability to backup your iPhone data. By doing this, one day even though you get your iPhone stolen, damaged, lost, or you just accidentally deleted your iPhone files, there is still a chance for you to recover all lost things and sync them to your iDevice again. 

    But you should know that iTunes backup record is not a common file type that you can not view and mange it directly. A third-party iPhone backup extracting program is needed if you want for extracting text messages from iPhone from iTunes backup files.

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  • Reply 33 of 35
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tekriter View Post



    Is there a way to extract iPhone text messages into a text file? Someone in my family, one of my grandsons, in fact, is in hot water over text messages he sent and received, and a file showing who texted what wuld be very useful to his family right now.



    Thanks!

     

    Hi, there.

    You can have 3 ways to extract iPhone text message into a text file.

    Way 1 or 2:

    If you have backed-up in iTunes or iCloud, you can open backup folder and find the files containing your messages ,and then directly drag them from iTunes or iCloud backup to your computer.

    Remember sync iTunes with iPhone before these steps, so that you can also get your new-added text messages.

    If you accidentally deleted or missed messages before, and want them back , you may have a try on way 3.

    Way 3:

    1. Search a data recovery software from  Internet and install it.

    2.Launch this program and connect iPhone to PC.

    3. After iPhone is detected, scan and preview text messages files.

    4. Click "Recover" to save SMS files to computer.

    At this moment, your messages are on your computer.

    Finishes!;)

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  • Reply 34 of 35

    iTunes can backup your iPhone data, so you can find back your lost data when your iphone is stolen or damaged. But the backup files are not common files, and you can’t manage them directly. If you need to restore your lost messages from the backup files, you should employ a special iphone sms extractor.

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