FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Important security information for macOS users

- What to do first?
Make a full backup of your iPhone with backup encryption disabled. On Windows 11 use iTunes; on Mac use the Finder.

- Are MMS and iMessages Supported?
Yes, but you'll be able to export only the text part of them. Images can't be exported.

- What is the "Use AddressBook" option?
"Use Address Book" enables/disables the decoding of numbers into names from the iPhone address book

- What is the "EXCEL Format"
"EXCEL" is the best format to export messages. Excel files can be read using Word, Excel and other applications (like Numbers on the Mac).

- What is the "HTML Format"
"HTML" is another good format to export messages. Html file can be read using Word, Excel and other applications.

- What is the "CSV Format"
"CSV" is the "Comma Separated Value" format useful to import messages in spreadsheets

- What is the "EML Format" (available in the Windows version only)
"EML" is a format useful to import messages in an email program like Mozilla Thunderbird

- What is the "XML Format" (available in the Windows version only)
"XML" format can be used to copy the messages to an Android phone using the SMS Backup & Restore App for Android

- SMS Export says "Can't find any SMS Database" or "Backup is Encrypted"
1) Make sure you are using the latest version of SMS Export. Download it from the download area.
2) Make sure backup encryption is OFF: the "Encrypt local backup" box must not be checked.
   Windows 11: open iTunes, connect your iPhone, click the iPhone icon and then "Back Up Now".
   Mac: open the Finder, select your iPhone in the sidebar and click "Back Up Now" in the General tab.
3) When the backup is finished, run SMS Export on your computer and click "Import".

- I can see only my old SMS in the preview window, or different SMS from what I expect
Check if you have more iPhone profiles: use the pull-down menu in SMS Export and try to select a different profile (if you have more): iPhone #1, iPhone #2....

- Filtering by phone number, I can only export the SMS I sent or I received
If you are using a filter by number, you should be careful because the phone number for received and sent messages sometime is different. For example: you send sms to 209-555-1234 and receive answers from +1-209-555-1234. It's the same number but written in different ways. So you'll have two different items in the filter menu.

- How does the trial mode of SMS Exporter work?
The trial mode allows you to preview the SMS, but the export button will be disabled.

- How to enable the export button?
To unlock the Export Button you should buy SMS Export (the iPhone APP) with your phone. Then launch the desktop version and click the "Activate" button

- Using the filter by Number it doesn't export all the SMS I expect
Sometimes sent and received SMS to the same person uses different numbers. Example: you send SMS to 209-555-1234 and you receive from +1-209-555-1234. The number is the same, but written in different ways. So in the filter you see two different items.

- Are emoji supported?
Emoji are not supported at the moment.