Hudson Intelligence

Text messages from an Android phone — including SMS, MMS, and Google Chat — can be exported using third-party software applications from the Google Play store.

Below are instructions for using one of the most popular apps, SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Open the SMS Backup & Restore app, and enable any permissions it requests

2. From the main page in the app, click on Set Up A Backup

3. On the following screen, toggle Messages to ‘on’ and Call Logs to ‘off’ then click on Advanced Options

4. Toggle on the options for Attachments and Media, and Selected Conversations Only, then select the relevant conversation

5. Select your backup location

   (a) You may need to click See More Backup Options to view all available backup locations
   (b) You may also need to log in to your backup location, if you chose someplace like Google Drive

6. Click on Back Up along the bottom of the screen, and select Yes within the popup confirmation window

7. From within the app, tap on the three bar icon (usually located in the top left corner), and select View Backups

8. Choose the storage location where you have saved the backup (the options will be displayed across the top of the screen), then choose the backup from the list in the bottom portion of the screen

9. Tap on the three dots next to the relevant text conversation, and select Print Conversation

10. Tap on Select Printer and choose Save as PDF

11. Tap on the PDF icon and select your storage location, then click Save

Separately, to create a backup copy of your messages on Google Drive, follow these steps on your Android device: Google Settings > System > Backup > Backup to Google Drive.

In order to export texts from the Messages app on an iPhone, you will need access to an Apple computer (MacBook, iMac or Mac mini) that you can use to log in to iCloud and Messages with your Apple ID.

Instructions to sync your messages with the Mac computer and export your texts to PDF are provided below: 

1. Sync your iPhone Messages app with iCloud:

• On your iPhone, go to Settings > Your Name/Apple ID > iCloud

• Click Show All under Apps Using iCloud, and make sure Messages in iCloud is set to ‘On’

2. Sync your Messages app with iCloud on your computer:

• On your computer, make sure you are logged in to both iCloud and Messages app with the same Apple ID you use on your phone

• Go to the Apple Icon > System Settings > iCloud Drive

• Click on Apps Syncing to iCloud Drive and make sure Messages is toggled on (it will be in color rather than grayed out)

• Open Messages app; if your text messages from your phone do not show up within this app after a few minutes, go to File > Settings > iMessage and make sure the correct Apple ID is showing and the box for Enable Messages in iCloud is checked, then click Sync Now

• Syncing may take several minutes, and may require you to restart the Messages app in order for your texts to show up

3. Once your text messages are showing in the Messages app on your computer, select the text thread you wish to export, scroll to the earliest (oldest) text message, click on it to highlight the message, then go to File > Print > PDF > Save as PDF

Note: If you used a Mac that is not your personal computer, please be sure to log out of all apps and accounts once you are finished.

Alternatively, if you do not have access to a Mac computer, you can take screenshots of your texts. To take screenshots on an iPhone, push the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time. Saved screenshots will be accessible in the Photos app on your iPhone.

WhatsApp chat transcripts can be exported from within the app on your smartphone.

1. Open the WhatsApp chat you wish to export.

2. Click on the chat name or contact name along the top of the screen

3. Scroll down and click on Export Chat

4. Select Attach Media

Choose the save destination (we recommend emailing it to yourself or saving it to some sort of cloud storage like Google Drive).

This will create an archive (.zip) file of your WhatsApp chat, which can then be forwarded via text message or email through the WhatsApp app.

To download Telegram chat history, you should use the most recent Telegram Desktop application installed on a computer. (The most recent, updated version for iOS, Windows and Linux-based systems can be downloaded here: https://desktop.telegram.org). Telegram provides instructions on its website for how to export a chat transcript, briefly summarized below:

1. Open and sign in to Telegram Desktop

2. Select the chat you would like to export

3. Click on the three dots […] usually located along the top right of the chat, and select Export Chat History

4. Check all boxes, except those for stickers and GIFs (boxes for Photos, Videos, Voice Messages, Video Messages and Files should be checked)

5. The Format should be set to HTML and From Oldest Message To Present

6. Click on the highlighted text following the word Path, and select where to save the exported chat

7. Click Export

8. Open the downloaded HTML file, which should open a browser window containing the chat. From here, you can print to PDF: File > Print > PDF > Save As PDF

There are multiple versions of the Telegram Desktop application, and the export feature does not exist in all versions.

If you are using the Facebook App on a mobile device or tablet, follow the steps below: 

1. Log in to your account

2. Click on the Menu icon (three short, stacked lines) and select Settings

3. Select the Accounts Center

4. Select Your Information and Permissions

5. Select Download Your Information

6. Click on the button that says Download or Transfer Information

7. Select the Facebook and Instagram Accounts you would like to download chat history for

8. Select Specific Types of Information

9. Select Messages, then hit Next (if you are downloading for more than one account with Facebook and/or Instagram, continue to select Messages on each screen for each separate account)

10. Confirm the Date Range covers the relevant time period

11. Confirm the email address for notification is an address you have current access to

12. Confirm the Format is HTML

13. Click Submit Request

If you are using a web browser on a computer, follow these steps: 

1. Log in to your account

2. Click on the small arrow within your profile photo in the circle at the top right of the screen

3. Select Settings & Privacy

4. Select Settings

5. Select Accounts Center (from here, the process is largely the same as requesting a download from within the mobile application)

6. Select Your Information and Permissions

7. Select Download Your Information

8. Click on the button that says Download or Transfer Information

9. Select the Facebook and Instagram Accounts you would like to download chat history for

10. Select Specific Types of Information

11. Select Messages, then hit Next (if you are downloading for more than one account with Facebook and/or Instagram, continue to select Messages on each screen for each separate account)

12. Select Download to Device

13. Confirm the Date Range covers the relevant time period

14. Confirm the email address for notification is an address you have current access to

15. Confirm the Format is HTML

16. Click Submit Request

You will receive an email notification when the download is ready. Use a computer to view your email, and click the Download Your Information link. You may be required to enter your password(s) for Facebook and/or Instagram in order to complete the download process.

If you are downloading messages from both Facebook and Instagram, you will be prompted to select each download one at a time. This will download a folder for each app. 

Once the folder(s) are downloaded, open the folders one at a time, then open the file named “Start Here.” This will open a webpage that contains your chats.

Instructions for Instagram Chat:

1. Click on Chats to see a list of your available chats.

2. Click on the relevant chat. This will open the chat in the window.

3. Print this window to PDF by going to File > Print > PDF > Save As PDF

 Instructions for Facebook Chat: 

1. Click on Your Messages

2. Click on the relevant chat. This will open the chat in the window.

3. Print this window to PDF by going to File > Print > PDF > Save As PDF

If your Instagram account is linked to your Facebook account, follow the instructions above for downloading chats using Facebook.

If your Instagram account is not linked to Facebook, follow the instructions provided below.

The process to download your Instagram chat history is largely the same whether you are using the mobile application from a cell phone or a web browser on the computer. Here are the steps:

1. Log in to your account

2. Click on the Profile Icon (looks like the outline of a person in a circle, often found along the bottom of the screen)

3. Click on the Menu Icon (three stacked lines, often found along the top right of the screen)

4. Select Your Activity

5. Select Download Your Information

6. Click on the button that says Download or Transfer Information

7. Select the relevant profiles to download chat history from, and click Next

8. Select Some of Your Information

9. Select Messages and click Next

10. Select Download to Device and click Next

11. Confirm the Date Range covers the relevant time period

12. Confirm the email address for notification is an address you have current access to

13. Confirm the Format is HTML

14. Click Create Files

You will receive an email notification when the download is ready. Use a computer to view your email, and click the Download Your Information link. You may be required to enter your password in order to complete the download process. Follow any on-screen prompts to download the requested folder. 

Once the folder is downloaded, view the contents of the folder and open the file named “Start Here.” This will open a webpage that contains your chats. Then follow the instructions below to find and save the relevant chat:

1. Click on Chats to see a list of your available chats.

2. Click on the relevant chat. This will open the chat in the window.

3. Print this window to PDF by going to File > Print > PDF > Save As PDF

These steps can completed from a web browser on your computer, tablet or mobile device:

1. Log in to your account

2. Click on the small arrow over the Me icon (usually found along the top of the screen)

3. Select Settings & Privacy

4. Click Data Privacy

5. Select Get a Copy of Your Data

6. Check the box for Messages

7. Click Request Archive

You will receive an email notification when your download is ready. Open and view that email message from a computer. Click the Download Your Data Archive link. You may be required to enter your password in order to complete the download process. Follow any on-screen prompts to download the requested archive. This will download a .csv file with your chat history.