In this step-by-step tutorial, we show you how to back up your texts and transfer all your SMS and iMessage from your old iPhone to the new one.
If you have valuable SMS, MMS, and iMessage on your current iPhone, you might not want to leave them behind when you move to another iPhone. Instead, you’ll want to transfer them over to keep the memories and proofs safe.
Similarly, if you have to erase your iPhone to troubleshoot an issue, you’ll want to back up your messages and restore them later on that same iOS device.
Use iCloud Messages
iCloud can back up text messages and iMessages from your iPhone and keep them safe in the cloud. When you sign in with the same Apple Account on your other iPhone, those messages automatically download on the new iOS device.
1) Open the Settings app on your current/old iPhone.
2) Tap your name from the top and go to iCloud.
3) Tap Messages. Tap See All in step 2 if you don’t see the Messages option.
4) Enable the switch for Use on this iPhone or Sync this iPhone. On even older versions of iOS, you just have to enable the switch next to Messages. Additionally, tap the Sync Now button if you see it so that all new messages are uploaded to iCloud.
Note: It will take time to upload all your texts to iCloud. So, it’s best to leave your iPhone connected to Wi-Fi and a power source to let it back up your messages. If iCloud Messages was already on, that’s perfect, as your messages are stored in iCloud and ready to download on the new device. Please move to the next step.
5) Grab your new iPhone, where you have already logged in to your Apple Account while setting it up. If, in the rare case, you didn’t sign in, open the Settings app and tap Sign In from the top. Next, use your Apple Account that’s on your old iPhone and log in with that on this new iPhone.
With that done, tap your name from the top of the Settings app and go to iCloud > Messages. Now, make sure the switch for Use on this iPhone is enabled. If you see a blue Sync Now button, tap that so all new texts are synced immediately. Ensure the iPhone is connected to a fast Wi-Fi network or cellular data connection for messages to sync from iCloud to the local storage.
The Messages feature of iCloud is the most straightforward method to transfer text messages from iPhone to iPhone. This iCloud syncing ensures your texts and iMessage are synced, backed up, and available on all your devices.
In addition to the above method, there are other ways to guarantee you don’t lose your iPhone messages, and it’s best if you know about them as well.
Use backups to transfer messages from one iPhone to another
Let’s say you don’t have enough iCloud space to back up your Messages, or you’re hesitant to have your texts uploaded to iCloud. In this case, you can transfer them using device backups. You can back up your iPhone to a Mac or PC or to iCloud.
When you back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer, it will also back up your messages, among other things. When you restore that iCloud or local Finder or iTunes backup to another iPhone, you’ll get back all your previous message history from the earlier iPhone.
Important: It’s essential to know that if you’ve already enabled Messages in iCloud (the first method above), then neither your iCloud backup nor the computer backup will contain the messages as they are already in your iCloud. So, you can only use any one of the above methods.
Pro tip: In case you have not already enabled Messages in iCloud, I recommend first backing up your iPhone to a computer and/or iCloud. Now that you have a backup file with your messages, you can enable Messages in iCloud. This little hack will ensure your messages are saved in two places — the backup file and iCloud. After that, sign in to your new iPhone with your Apple Account and enable iCloud Messages or restore the backup to get all your texts back.
Take screenshots or screen recordings of your messages
The two methods offer a smooth experience. Additionally, you can take screenshots of your iPhone text messages or make screen recordings. These can serve to preserve memories or establish proof in the future. You can even take long scrolling screenshots of your conversations using a third-party iOS app.
Once you have the screenshots and screen recordings, don’t forget to back them up or export them to another smartphone. Additionally, you can even convert several screenshots into a PDF.
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