Have you ever needed to know how to print text messages? Sometimes you get an important text that you need to save or document, for legal reasons or to keep a paper trail of important communications, and saving and printing your texts from a Mac is not an option. In this article, we'll cover how to print text messages from iPhone using screenshots, your Mail app, and third-party apps.
You'll need an AirPrint-enabled printer to print out your text messages. Check out Apple's list of available printers to see if your printer is AirPrint compatible, or if you need to choose a printer to purchase.
Discover your iPhone's hidden featuresGet a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.
To make sure your images are in order, I recommend either numbering the screenshots via markup by editing each one before printing, or after printing going back through the text message on your iPhone and laying out your printed pages to match the thread of the text. Then, you can number your pages with a pen so that your pages stay in order. Now you can staple, file, and share the document as needed.
Another free option for printing text messages from your iPhone is to use email. This method is best used when you have only a few messages you'd like to print, since you have to copy and paste each individual message into an email, rather than taking a screenshot of your iPhone's display and capturing multiple texts at once. To do this:
And that's it! If you're interested, you can also learn how to print photos from your iPhone.
If you have a long text message thread that you'd like to print out and would rather have your screenshots smoothly combined into one file, there's an app for that! There's more than one option, of course, but I'm going to feature just one. Feel free to browse the App Store if you'd like to try an alternative app. The app I've chosen, Messages & SMS Export to PDF, is free but does have in-app purchases. If you want to use the process below, you'll need to purchase Messages Export Pro for $2.99.
Now that you know how to print text messages, you may be interested in learning how to print emails from your iPhone or how to print without ads from Safari!
Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox.
Tamlin Day is a feature web writer for iPhone Life and a regular contributor to iPhone Life magazine. A prolific writer of tips, reviews, and in-depth guides, Tamlin has written hundreds of articles for iPhone Life. From iPhone settings to recommendations for the best iPhone-compatible gear to the latest Apple news, Tamlin's expertise covers a broad spectrum.
Before joining iPhone Life, Tamlin received his BFA in Media & Communications as well as a BA in Graphic Design from Maharishi International University (MIU), where he edited MIU's literary journal, Meta-fore. With a passion for teaching, Tamlin has instructed young adults, college students, and adult learners on topics ranging from spoken word poetry to taking the perfect group selfie. Tamlin's first computer, a Radioshack Color Computer III, was given to him by his father. At 13, Tamlin built his first PC from spare parts. He is proud to put his passion for teaching and tech into practice as a writer and educator at iPhone Life.