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How Can I Backup My Messages?
The easiest way to make backups of text messages is to use Android’s integration of Google Drive, which will let you automatically save any texts to the cloud. However, you can also use third-party services like IDrive to save your data to the cloud.
How Do I Transfer Text Messages From One Phone to Another?
To transfer your text messages on a new Android phone, move the backup file over to the new device, download the service you used to create the backup, connect your new device to your old account (if necessary) and find the “restore” setting in the app’s menu.
I used to have a really good backup application for Android and SMS messages but it was depreciated years ago and quit working within the last year.
I am looking for an application that allows me to backup my text messages and SMS messages. Some things though:
It should allow me too an option to back up a set of specific conversations or everything.
It should maintain the contact name, message date, and contact number for each message.
Messages that are backed up should be displayed in date (conversational) order. I don't want some bullshit where I need to put it together like a puzzle in order to read the conversation.
It should back up all attachments and maintain them in the conversation. If the backup is an HTML document then they can be displayed. If it's an excel document, then clickable links should be inserted into the attachments location within the conversation.
It should allow me to restore any previously saved conversations, including attachments, to my Android phone.
MyPhoneExplorer used to be one of my go tos for this but has since stopped working. I think it was due to a change on the Android OS side. https://www.fjsoft.at/en/
If yes then I am unable to backup, if not then any app that can backup text messages?
There are several apps supporting to Backup SMS/MMS (and of course also to restore them), running locally in "user-mode" (if you prefer cloud storage, which by the question you do not, there are also ways to Backup SMS into the Cloud).
As your devices have root support, you might consider using Titanium Backup – which allows you a.o. to export your SMS/MMS as XML files (and also to restore that, of course). This solution should definitely work with CyanogenMod (while above mentioned apps should as well).
A note on the "backups via ADB" RossC referred to in his comment on your question:
- Can adb be used to recover SMS messages while in permanent “Safe Mode”? deals with backing up the corresponding database file. When chosing that approach, you should make sure to only restore that on the very same device, ROM and Android version (e.g. after a factory-reset, but never after a ROM/Android upgrade or on a different device). Otherwise you might run into trouble (says one who had that issue in the past, so you can believe it ;))
- How do I backup data (SMS/contacts) from a device with a broken screen? has answers with the same approach (to which the same warning applies), but some answers also mention tools simply utilizing ADB to access the device. I've never used any of those (as most seem to be Windows-only – like Moborobo, Myphone Explorer (most famous solution for Windows-people, offering a lot more than just SMS), Mobogenie, DroidExplorer (the dev is active here!) – and I'm on Linux – my only windows are for light and fresh air), but I'd assume they do more than simply "copy the database file", so they might fit your requirements. Still, for above reasons, read their instructions carefully.
QKSMS (free software, available on F-Droid) does the job. It is a messaging app that has a Backup and Restore feature. Backup exports messages to a JSON file, and Restore inserts messages from that file into the Android SMS database. You can use the stock AOSP messaging app later on with the restored messages.
MMS are not supported by Backup and Restore.
Be sure that the messages you are importing aren't already into your database, because there is no detection of duplicates.
Android 5.0 or newer is required, which shouldn't be an issue now.
Can someone tell me the easiest way to save a text thread on my phone to a separate file or PDF? My mother passed away on May 31st and we have a lot of text messages I would like to save for both reference (we did a lot with genealogy) and sentimental purposes.
I have a Pixel 5.
Any help is appreciated! 🩷