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Theirloom Knowledge Base

How to Extract Your Digital Legacy

Your family's digital correspondence — texts, emails, and chat logs — are as historically valuable as handwritten letters. Here's how to extract them for your Heritage Dossier.

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iPhone Text Messages

There are a few main ways to extract iPhone texts, ranging from native workarounds to third-party software.

1Extraction Methods

Method 1 — Free but Manual

Scroll through and take screenshots, or forward individual messages to an email address. Best for short, specific conversations.

Method 2 — Using a Mac

Sync your iPhone messages to iCloud and access them via the Messages app on a Mac, where you can print entire threads to PDF.

Method 3 — Third-Party Software

Use desktop software like iMazing, AnyTrans, or iMobie to connect your phone via USB and export conversations directly to PDF or CSV. These tools preserve timestamps and sender metadata.

2Video Walkthroughs

3 Ways to Export iMessages from iPhone to PDF

3 Ways to Export iMessages from iPhone to PDF

4 Ways to Print Out Your iPhone's Text Messages

4 Ways to Print Out Your iPhone's Text Messages

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▶ Videos are embedded from YouTube for educational purposes.

Ready to Upload?

Once you have your exported files, upload them into your Heritage Dossier project. Our archival engine handles the rest.

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The Theirloom Archival Fund

Unlock the Unvarnished Past

We partner with researchers and families to digitize and transcribe critical primary sources—from sensitive colonial archives like the Thistlewood collection to forgotten family letters. Every contribution directly funds the advanced AI processing and hosting required to keep these historical narratives open and accessible.