How to Save/Transfer Text Messages from Android to Computer

There are so many users who ask how to transfer text messages from Android to computer, for example:

- "How to save text messages from Android to computer?"
- "How can I transfer text messages from my phone to my computer?"
- "How to download cell phone text messages to computer?"
- "How to export text messages from Android to computer?"
...

Android SMS transfer seems to be a problem needed to be solved, which is what this article is aimed at. So, is there a way to save text messages to computer? Of course, yes.

The amount of text messages that a cell phone can hold is limited, that's why you are frequently encountered with a message from the phone that asks you to delete some messages so as to receive new ones. Well, the SMS you stored on your phone must contain important business information. So it is recommended to download cell phone text messages to computer.

The following are several different methods to backup text messages from Android to PC or Mac. Just go through the content below and pick out your favorite way.

Part 1: Why We Need to Back up Text Messages from Android to PC/Mac?
Part 2: Export Text Messages from Android to Computer with Android Assistant
Part 3: How to Download Text Messages from Android to PC with 3rd-Party App
Part 4: How to Save Text Messages from Android to Computer via Samsung Kies
Part 5: Bonus - How to Read SMS.xml on Computer

Part 1: Why We Need to Back up Text Messages from Android to PC/Mac?

There are memorable text messages received from your lover, your friends or your families and you wish to keep them forever, however, you cannot predict what would happen to your phone: you drop down your phone, get your phone stolen or damaged, or have your SMS accidentally deleted by someone else. That is why you choose to save text messages on Android.

The other reason to transfer SMS from Android to PC or Mac is to free up your phone space. If the capacity of the text messages reaches a certain degree, you will be prompted that you cannot receive new messages unless you delete some old messages.

how to transfer text messages from android to computer

However, all saved messages mean a lot for you, so it is wise to make a copy of the text messages on your computer before you delete them from your phone. Have already deleted SMS from your phone? Check what you can do if text messages are lost on your phone. Now, we share two different methods to help you transfer text messages from Android to computer.

Tips: Want to know how to manage text messages on your phone? Here are Top 11 Android SMS Manager Apps for you to manage messages for Android easily.

Part 2: Save Text Messages from Android to Computer with Android Assistant

Transferring text messages from a cell phone to a personal computer is a simple task once you have Coolmuster Android Assistant (for all Windows versions) or Coolmuster Android Assistant for Mac, a one-stop management tool and also Android SMS transfer tool for Android users to transfer files, such as SMS, contacts, photos, videos, music, apps, call logs, books, etc., between Android cell phone and computer.

As a useful Android PC suite, Coolmuster Android Assistant empowers you with the full ability to manage your Android files on computer (Mac or Windows) directly. With its help, you can effortlessly download text messages from Android phone and save them on your computer with one click. What is more, you can directly send new messages, resend/forward messages, even group messages from computer to specific phone numbers. Also, deleting and importing text messages is supported, too.

Below is the detailed illustrated guide showing you how to save text messages to computer from Android.

Step 1. Connect Android phone to computer and run the program

To start with, please connect your phone to an empty USB port on your computer via the data cable. Install and launch the Android managing tool, you will see the program will automatically detect your phone and show its detailed information in the main interface. You may need to enable USB debugging on your phone firstly.

Note: Coolmuster Android Assistant is fully compatible with all popular Android phones, including HTC, Google, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Huawei and so on. (The latest Samsung Galaxy S10/S10e/S10+ are also supported.)

save text messages from android to computer

Step 2. Scan and preview text messages

All files in your phone's memory, SIM card, as well as your SD storage card will be scanned out and displayed in the left menu bar, including all income and outcome text messages. You can choose the "SMS" from the left and preview all the stored messages in details.

backup android sms to computer

Step 3. Choose output path and ready to export

Mark the text messages you want to copy to your computer and then press the "Export" button on the top menu to start the exporting. If you do not want to save the exported text messages in the default output location, you can customize a save location as you want.

Want to know how people are saying about this tool? Here is an evaluating from the person who has a background with using Coolmuster Android Assistant. Click here to read the review.

Video Tutorial

Tips: For iPhone users, you can easily copy text messages from iPhone to computer here, too.

Part 3: How to Download Text Messages from Android to PC with 3rd-Party App

In addition to the desktop software above, there are also many Android SMS backup applications that can help you backup your Android SMS on SD card and then you can transfer the backed up SMS from SD card to computer. One of the best Android SMS backup app we want to recommend here is the SMS Backup & Restore.

Here is how to transfer sms from Android to PC:

Step 1. Go to Google Play Store to find the SMS Backup & Restore app, download it on your phone.

Step 2. Launch the app and tap Backup to backup text messages to SD card of your Android phone.

Step 3. Link your Android phone to computer by using a USB cable.

Step 4. Find your Android phone on the computer and open the SD card folder.

Step 5. Find the backed up SMS, which is in .xml file and copy it to your computer.

download text messages from android

Part 4: How to Transfer Text Messages from Android to Computer via Samsung Kies

Some Android phones offer its own official apps to back up files on the phone. If you happen to be a Samsung users, Samsung Kies could be an option for you to save messages on Android. However, one of the drawbacks is that you cannot view or open the exported text messages on your computer for the message was backed up in a file, which contains other files like photos, music, contacts, and more.

Here is how to export text messages from Android:

Step 1. Download and install the Samsung Kies app on your computer, then run it.

Step 2. Connect your Android phone to your computer using the USB cable or Wi-Fi. Make sure you can see the "Connected device" prompt.

Step 3. Find the "Back up/Restore" > "Data backup" options in the program and select the type of data to transfer, i.e "Message".

Step 4. Click the "Backup" button to move the Android message to a local folder on your computer.

Once you need to recover the message, you can quickly recover Android messages from the backup file.

how to save text messages from android to computer with samsung kies

See also: You can easily save your iPhone text messages to a PDF file via these ways.

Part 5: Bonus - How to Read Exported SMS.xml on Computer?

Most Android and iOS SMS backup software save the exported text messages as .xml file, .txt file or HTML file. TXT and HTML files can be read on computer directly. To read SMS .xml file, you need to draw support from a third-party tool like Notepad++, which is a free source code editor, allowing you to read the SMS .xml file without any trouble. But you can not edit the .xml file by using this Notepad++, otherwise, the .xml file will be damaged.

read sms xml file