How to Download Text Messages from Android to Computer [2025]

The text messages record your conversations with families, friends, and loved ones, which means a lot to you. So you tend to back up your Android phone text messages to a computer, and then you can check and view them anytime you want. Or you may just get one new phone and want to back up old messages in case you need them in the future.

In this guide, you will learn 8 easy solutions for how to download text messages from Android. Keep reading to discover how to back up Android text messages to a computer selectively or entirely.

Benefits of Saving Text Messages Long Term

Keeping text messages long-term offers both emotional and practical value. For many users, text messages are more than simple conversations. They can be important memories, essential records, or even legally relevant evidence. Whether you store them for personal reasons or professional requirements, long-term message archiving ensures you always have access to critical information when needed. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Preserve meaningful memories: Messages from loved ones often hold emotional value. Saving them keeps those special conversations alive for years.
• Keep evidence for legal or court purposes: Text messages may be required for court, attorney review, or official documentation. Long-term storage ensures you have accurate records when needed.
• Retain messages from those who have passed away: Older messages can become priceless keepsakes. Saving them preserves the words and memories of loved ones forever.
• Document relationship or personal history: Texts often include important moments and conversations. Keeping them long-term helps protect your personal history.
• Support business and corporate needs: Companies may need to archive SMS for compliance, customer service, or internal records. Long-term storage keeps important business data accessible.
• Protect against device loss or damage: Phones can fail unexpectedly. Backing up text messages ensures your important conversations stay safe, no matter what happens.

After you understand why keeping text messages long term can be so valuable, it’s worth choosing a reliable way to save them. In the next section, we’ll walk you through 8 proven methods on how to download text messages from Android to your computer in easy steps.

How to Download Text Messages from Android [Safely & Selectively]

Selective text message export is possible, but many tools only back up all messages at once, which is unnecessary when you only need a few chats. For a quick and flexible way to download only the text messages you choose, iMobie DroidKit is a great option. It allows you to export all messages or select individual chats with ease.

As a one-stop Android Solution, DroidKit provides you with data management and transfer functions. Almost all your Android data, such as messages, photos, videos, contacts, calendars, and documents, can be transferred between your Android phone and your computer. It also supports recovering WhatsApp data from Google backups or your device, making it a versatile tool for everyday Android data needs.

How to Download Text Messages from Android to Computer via DroidKit:

Step 1. Connect Your Android Phone to the Computer

Free download iMobie DroidKit and launch it on your computer > Choose the Device Manager option under the Data Manager function and connect your Android phone to your computer.

Step 2. Choose the Messages

Tap on the Export Content option > Choose Messages.

Step 3. Transfer Text Messages from Android to the Computer

Now, DroidKit scans all messages on your phone, then you can preview and choose the messages that you want to transfer > Click on the To PC button.

Just wait for a moment, when the transferring process is completed, you will see the interface below.

That’s how to download text messages from Android with DroidKit. No matter how many chats you have on your phone, DroidKit can help transfer them in a few seconds.

How to Transfer Text Messages from Android to Computer [1 Click]

Another way to transfer messages from Android to a computer in one click is by using AnyDroid, a powerful Android data transfer tool like DroidKit. The difference is that AnyDroid is limited to data transferring. Below are its main features in transferring messages to a computer.

• Simplest steps: Transferring text messages from Android to the computer in just 1 click.
• Selectively transfer: You can preview and select text messages on your phone before transferring, which offers more flexibility to you.
• Readable formats: It exports Android text messages to computers in 2 readable formats: TXT and HTML.
• More files supported: Besides text messages, you can transfer up to 24 files to the computer as a local backup, like calendar, contacts, call history, messages, photos, music, videos, etc.

It works well with all Mac and Windows computers. Now, Free Download AnyDroid on your computer first, and then follow the steps below to backup Android text messages to your computer in minutes.

Step 1. Launch AnyDroid on your computer > Connect your phone to the computer with a USB cable > Click on Messages to continue.

Step 2. Select the messages you want to transfer (you can click the Select button to select all messages directly) > Click the To Mac/PC button to start transferring selected messages to your computer as a backup.

How to Download Text Messages from Android for Free

If you are searching for a free way to download text messages from Android, using the Email app will help. All you need to do is attach the messages to an email on your Android phone and send it to yourself. Then go to your computer or another device to access the email and download the files. However, this method is available for transferring a few messages rather than a large number. For more details, refer to the steps below:

Step 1. Enter the Messages app on your Android phone.

Step 2. Find the messages you want to transfer and select these text messages.

Step 3. Click the menu icon in the top right corner. Select More > Tap on Share.

Step 4. Then choose “Email” among these options. Enter your Email address as the email recipient > Tap Send.

Step 5. On your computer, log in to your email account. Download the text messages that have been sent.

How to Transfer Text Messages from Android to Computer Without App

Another method to download text messages from Android to computer is Google Drive. A Google account provides you with a free 15GB to save Android data. And it allows you to back up automatically with the internet. Once you have backed up Android data via Google, you can restore it to your computer, including text messages on your Android.

You can also access the backed-up text messages in Google Drive on other devices, rather than just the computer. Always make sure you have a stable network connection to upload and download the messages in Google Drive. Check what to do below:

Step 1. Back Up Text Messages to Google

• Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
• Find Google and click Backup.
• Check the text messages that should be backed up, and tap on Back up now to confirm.
• Follow the onscreen instructions.

Step 2. Restore Text Messages to Computer

• Go to the Google Drive webpage on your omputer.
• Under My Drive, locate the backup file and right-click it, choose Download.
• Once finished, you can check the files in your computer folder.

Backup Android Text Messages to Computer via SMS Backup & Restore

SMS Backup & Restore is a simple app for backing up SMS and MMS on Android. It lets you create an XML backup file on your phone, which you can later copy to your computer. However, it only supports SMS/MMS, not RCS messages or chats from other apps. Here is how to transfer text messages from Android to computer with the SMS Backup & Restore app:

Step 1. Create an SMS Backup on Your Phone

• Install SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play.
• Open the app → Get Started → allow permissions.
• Tap Set up a backup and choose Messages.
• Select Your phone as the storage location → Next.
• Tap BACK UP NOW to create the XML backup file.

Step 2. Copy the Backup File to Your Computer

• Connect your Android phone to the computer via USB.
• Open your device storage and find the .xml backup file.
• Copy and paste the file onto your PC.

Download Text Messages from Android to Computer via SMS Backup+

Similar to SMS Backup & Restore, SMS Backup+ is a lightweight Android app that backs up your SMS messages to your Gmail or Google Workspace account. Once the messages are synced to Gmail, you can easily view and download them from your computer. This method is simple and free, but keep in mind that SMS Backup+ only supports SMS, not MMS or RCS messages. Follow the steps below to download Android text messages to a computer using SMS Backup+:

Step 1. Set up SMS Backup+

• Install SMS Backup+ from Google Play.
• Open the app and sign in with your Gmail account.
• Make sure IMAP is enabled in your Gmail settings.

Step 2. Back Up Your Messages

• Tap Backup to start syncing your SMS messages to Gmail.
• Wait for the backup to finish.

Step 3. Access Messages on Your Computer

• Open Gmail on your computer.
• Find the SMS label created by SMS Backup+.
• View or download your text messages directly from Gmail.

How to Export Text Messages from Samsung Phone to Computer

Samsung Smart Switch is Samsung’s official tool for backing up and transferring data, including text messages. It’s more reliable than the older Samsung Kies and offers an easy way to save SMS to your computer. However, Smart Switch works only for Samsung devices and backs up all messages rather than selected conversations. Here is how to download text messages from Android to computer with Smart Switch:

Step 1. Download and install Samsung Smart Switch on your computer.

Step 2. Connect your Samsung phone to the PC using a USB cable.

Step 3. Open Smart Switch on your computer.

Step 4. Click Backup in the main interface.

Step 5. Ensure Messages is selected, then click Backup again to save your text messages to your computer.

How to Export Android Text Messages to PDF

Messages for Web is Google Messages’ built-in web feature that lets you view and manage your Android text messages directly from your computer browser. Although it doesn’t export SMS files in formats like XML or CSV, you can still save conversations by using your browser’s Print → Save as PDF option. Here are the steps to download text messages from Android to PDF:

Step 1. Open Google Message for Web website on your computer.

Step 2. On your Android phone, open Google Messages → tap Device pairing.

Step 3. Scan the QR code shown on your computer to sync your messages.

Step 4. After syncing, open the conversation you want to save.

Step 5. In your browser, press Ctrl+P (or Command+P on Mac) → choose Save as PDF to export the text messages.

Also Read: How to Fix Messages for Web Not Working >

FAQs About How to Download Text Messages from Android

Q1. How to download entire text conversation on Android?

You can download an entire text conversation by using a backup tool like iMobie DroidKit, SMS Backup & Restore, or Smart Switch (Samsung only). These tools let you back up all your SMS messages at once and save the file to your computer.

Q2. How to download text messages from Android for court?

To save text messages for court, you can try Messages for Web. It allows you to export or save conversations to PDF clearly.

Q3. Where are the text messages stored on Android?

Usually, text messages are stored on Android internal memory, not the installed SIM card. You can choose to save contacts to your SIM card.

Q4. Are text messages stored on the phone or SIM card?

Text messages are stored on your phone, not on your SIM. Therefore, if someone puts your SIM card into their phone, they will not see any text messages that you have received on your phone unless you have manually moved your SMS to your SIM.

The Bottom Line

The above 8 methods are easy to use for downloading text messages from Android to computer, you can choose your preferred one to try. Among all the methods, iMobie DroidKit is highly recommended for its convenience and quick steps. It can help transfer hundreds of messages from Android in just seconds. Download DroidKit now and enjoy a wonderful Android data transfer.