Backup SMS: How to save text messages

If you frequently use SMS text messages you can learn how to back up text messages on your phone so that you can easily find them later. These backups come in handy if you accidentally deleted important text and want to get it back, and can also prove your worth in the event of a dispute.

It’s always a good idea to back up your text messages before doing a major upgrade that includes your phone. Luckily, there are numerous ways to backup SMS depending on the type of your phone, be it telephone Android or iPhone . Here’s how to backup text messages on both devices.

Backup SMS on Android

If you are wondering how to back up text messages on your phone Android you are concerned that this is probably more difficult than you have time to worry about. There is an easy way to get the job done with the free mobile application entitled SMS Backup & Restore . This is a universal app that allows you to back up text directly to your Android device, computer, online storage, or email. Here’s how to use it to back up your texts.

You must have Android 4.0.3 or higher to use this app.

Backup Text Messages with SMS Backup and Restore

1. Download SMS Backup and Restore from the Google Play Store and launch the app. In the main menu, click » Create backup» to start creating a backup.

2. Select the types of records you want to back up, whether they are text messages, phone calls, or call logs. You have the option to backup all messages or only selected conversations.

   If you like, you can make sure that emoji or MMS messages (multimedia messages with photos, video or audio) are also included in the backup.

3. Create a name for your backup so that you can easily find it later.

4. Specify where you want to save the backup. You can save it directly to your Android device, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or email.

   If you only save your backup directly on the Android device and something happens to the device, you lose the backup. It’s a good idea to keep a separate copy somewhere else.

5. Optionally, set a regular schedule for backing up your messages. You can do this in the app’s settings, located via the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines in the top left corner).

6. Click back up in the bottom right corner of the screen when you’re ready to start backing up.

While the above process is the easiest way to back up your text messages, you can take advantage of advanced text backup options if you wish. For example, you can use the SMS Backup & Restore app to save SMS backups to SD card or transfer new or existing SMS backups directly to another Android phone using Wi-Fi Direct.

There are other popular text message backup apps, including FonePaw Android Data Recovery , MobiKin Doctor for Android and Dr. Fone for Android .

Backup SMS on iPhone

If you are an iPhone user, you have some simple options to back up your text messages. The most obvious choice is iCloud which you can use to backup text messages as well as other data on your phone. The only caveat is that once you delete a message from your device using iCloud, it will probably be gone forever. This includes your iPhone as well as any other device using Messages in iCloud.

Backup text messages with iCloud

Here’s how to enable Messages in iCloud.

1. Go to settings on the iPhone.

2. Click your name.

3. Click iCloud .

4. Turn on Messages by moving the slider next to it to the On position. / Green.

   

You did it! Your SMS messages are now starting to be backed up to iCloud.

Backup Text Messages in iTunes

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using the cable that came with your phone. iTunes should automatically open on your Mac. If it is not, open it manually.

2. Unlock your iPhone when it prompts you to do so.

3. You should see the iPhone Summary screen. If iTunes opens on the iTunes Store screen instead, look for tiny iPhone icon just below and to the right of the Play button. Select it to open the iPhone Summary screen.

   

4. If you previously turned on automatic backups, your iPhone will automatically start syncing to your computer or iCloud via iTunes, depending on the option you selected in the Backups section of the iPhone Summary screen.

   If you haven’t turned on automatic backup in iTunes and would like to turn it on, see » Automatic backup» in the «Backups» section, select iCloud or » This computer» . Then check the box » Automatic sync when this iPhone is connected» in the Options section of the Summary screen.

   

5. If iTunes is not set to automatically back up when you connect your iPhone, select » Create backup now», to start a backup by specifying the backup location iCloud or This Compute r. You can also go to menu » File» > » Devices» > » Backup», to initiate a one-time manual backup.