If you’re changing your Android smartphone or simply backing up your data, you may need to export your SMS messages. With Android phone, exporting text messages is fairly straightforward and there a number of options available to you.
In this blog post, we will discuss the methods you can use to export SMS messages from your Android phone, including both built-in and third-party options. By following these methods, you can keep your important messages safe and make sure they are available in case you need them in the future.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Exporting SMS Messages from Android Phone
Unlike backing up other media from Android, exporting SMS messages is not quite straightforward. Android does have a built-in feature that allows you to back up and restore SMS messages through Google cloud, but it can be a bit confusing for individuals who are not familiar with it. Additionally, this method only works if you have an active Internet connection and it can take longer for the backup to complete if you have many messages that need to be backed up.
On the other hand, exporting messages through third-party apps can present some security concerns. Some third-party apps may hold onto your data or use your information in other ways that you may not be aware of. Moreover, many third-party apps may not be available on Google Play Store, which means manual installation and rooting your device are required, which can be risky.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before proceeding with the methods described below, there are a few things you should be aware of.
- First of all, make sure that you have enabled USB debugging on your device to ensure that you are able to access all of the necessary files.
- Secondly, check whether your device is compatible with the software we’re providing. Different software have different compatibility requirements.
- Finally, take note to always backup your SMS messages before starting any method described below. This way, in case something goes wrong, you can always be sure that you still have access to your original text messages.
Method 1: Using SMS Backup & Restore App
The first option we recommend is using the SMS Backup & Restore app, which can be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store. This application enables you to export all your SMS messages into an XML file format on your Android device, which you can then easily transfer to your PC or save on your device.
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Open the Google Play Store and download the SMS Backup & Restore app.
- Once the app has downloaded, give the app the necessary permissions.
- On the main menu, tap on “Backup” to initiate the backup process. The app will now start to copy your messages to an XML file format on your device.
- Once the backup process is complete, export the XML file using either email, cloud storage, or by copying the file directly to your computer via USB cable.
Pros:
- Easy to use and does not require technical knowledge
- Free of cost
- Allows you to restore your backed-up messages later on, which might come in handy in case of an emergency
Cons:
- Can only backup and restore messages that have been received or sent after the backup was initiated
- Basic features and lacks customization options
Method 2: Using Android File Transfer
If you’re more technically inclined, you can use the Android File Transfer method. This method uses a USB cable to transfer your SMS messages to your computer. This method is perfect for those who don’t trust third-party apps.
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Connect your Android phone to your PC using a USB cable
- Enable file transfer mode on your Android phone.
- Navigate to “Internal Storage” → “Msgstore.db” → “Msgstore.db.crypt” folder on your device, and then copy or cut and paste the folder to your computer where you want to save it.
Pros:
- The most secure method to export SMS messages
- It’s free as there is no need to pay for any app
Cons:
- You need to have technical knowledge to execute
- It takes longer time to manually find the SMS messages in the file explorer
- Not suitable for large quantity of SMS messages because USB transfer speed is slow compared to transfer rate via apps or cloud storage
Method 3: Using SMS Backup+ App
SMS Backup+ is another favorite among Android users. This app allows you to automatically backup your SMS messages to your Gmail account. Because Gmail is cloud-based email service, it means you can access your backed-up messages wherever you’re signed in with your Google account. However, the app requires permission to access your Gmail data.
Here are the step-by-step instructions to backup SMS messages using SMS Backup+:
- Download and install the SMS Backup+ app from Google Play.
- Tap on “Connect” to connect your Gmail account to the app.
- Once connected, you will be given several options to customize your backup settings. You can choose whether to include MMS messages as well as invite and call logs. You can also set a schedule to backup your messages automatically.
- Tap on “Backup” in the main menu to start the backup process.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- All your messages are backed up to Gmail, which means you can access them from any device you use
- You can schedule backups to occur automatically.
- Messages are stored with your other email messages
Cons:
- Some people may not like that their SMS messages are backed up to their email account, because of privacy concerns.
- You need a Gmail account for this method to work.
- It can take a while to backup all your messages if you have a large number of them, which could be a problem for those with poor Internet connectivity.
Method 4: Using PhoneRescue for Android
To make it easier to backup and export SMS messages, iMobie PhoneRescue for Android has this explicit feature to back up messages to a computer, Android or iPhone. Similar to the first method, this is an app that you can download from the Google Play Store. It can backup over 20 types of data, including SMS messages, videos, photos, contacts and more.
Here’s how to export SMS messages using PhoneRescue for Android:
- Download and install PhoneRescue for Android
- Launch PhoneRescue and connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.
- Click on the ‘Messages’ tab, and select the messages you want to backup or export.
- Click the ‘To Computer’ or ‘To Android/iPhone’ button to backup messages to your computer or another device.
Pros:
- Easy to use and intuitive
- Can backup data selectively
- Faster than USB transfer method
Cons:
- Need to pay for the app after successful trial – $49.99/year for up to 5 devices
- Slower than cloud storage data transfer speed. It also requires a stable internet connection
Method 5: Using Samsung Smart Switch
The Samsung Smart Switch app is a built-in feature on Samsung devices and allows you to transfer not only your SMS messages, but also files, photos, contacts, and much more between two Samsung devices directly without using cloud storage or an app. This method is exclusive to Samsung users only.
Here are the steps you need to follow to export SMS messages with Samsung Smart Switch:
- Download and install the Samsung Smart Switch app on your device. It should come pre-installed on newer Samsung devices
- Once installed, launch the app and select the “Backup” option
- Select the SMS messages you want to export or backup
- Click the “Backup” button to start the backup process.
Pros:
- Free and quick
- You can transfer data from Samsung to Samsung directly without a PC or Mac
- All data is secure as it is not shared with any cloud service
Cons:
- Not available for non-Samsung users
- This app needs quite a lot of time to backup all data and SMS messages
Why Can’t I Export my SMS Messages from Android Phone?
Several reasons could prevent you from exporting your SMS messages. Firstly, if you’ve never backed up your SMS messages before, then there is nothing for you to export as there are no records. Another reason could be lack of permission to access your phone’s files, failure to enable USB debugging, or using an incompatible app.
Fixes:
- Ensure that you have given SMS Backup & Restore necessary permissions
- Ensure that you have enabled USB debugging on your device, depending on which method you choose.
- Ensure that you’re using a compatible app such as SMS Backup+ or iMobie PhoneRescue
- You can also clear your cache and data, or even try to restart your device and then try again.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips you might find useful when exporting SMS messages:
- Before proceeding with any method, make sure your device has enough storage space to accommodate the backup or exported files.
- Always choose the backup method that you find most convenient and suitable for you.
- Consider backing up your messages regularly to ensure that you don’t lose any important information that you may need in the future.
5 FAQs about Exporting SMS Messages from Android Phone
Q1: How can I check whether my SMS messages have been exported successfully?
A: You can check if your SMS messages have exported successfully by navigating to the location where the exported message backup file was saved, and opening the folder. Depending on the format, you can usually view the messages in a text editor or any compatible messaging app.
Q2: Will I be able to restore my SMS messages using these methods?
A: Yes, most methods do have an option that can enable you to restore your text messages later.
Q3: Can I use the exported messages file to transfer messages to a new device?
A: Yes, but it depends on the method you have used to export and backup your messages. For instance, Samsung Smart Switch for Samsung devices or PhoneRescue for Android can transfer messages between phones.
Q4: Can I export messages from one app and import them into another app?
A: Yes, but it can be a bit tricky. With some applications, you may need to use a third-party app such as SMS Backup & Restore to create a message backup, before restoring the message backup into your desired application.
Q5: Will third-party apps share my data without my knowledge?
A: It’s not that common but it is always good to make sure the app is trustworthy and reliable. Check the app’s reviews and comments before downloading.
In Conclusion
SMS messages are important records that document ongoing communications between individuals or groups. With SMS messages, people can find old communications and perhaps retrieve essential information that’s critical to their business or decision-making process.
Exporting SMS messages can be easily done through a number of built-in or third-party options. We hope this article has been useful to you and that you have found the right method to backup and export your SMS messages.