Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets led her to develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite categories include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, social media, and web apps. Learn about our Tech Review Board
Updated July 19, 2024 Reviewed & Updated by Paurush Chaudhary Expertise: Technology, Content Writing, YouTube, Cinema, Desserts Education: PDGM in English JournalismPaurush dabbles around iOS and Mac while his close encounters are with Android and Windows. Before becoming a writer, he produced videos for brands like Mr. Phone and Digit. On weekends, he is a full-time cinephile trying to reduce his never-ending watchlist, often making it longer. Learn about our Tech Review Board
This is one of the best apps for taking and restoring the backup of text messages on Android phones. You can also use it to export text messages in PDF format.
We must first create a backup of text messages and convert the same backup into PDF, as shown below. I have divided the steps into two sections for better understanding:
Step 1: Install and open the SMS Backup & Restore app on your phone.
Step 2: Tap on the three-bar icon and select Back up now.
Step 3: Enable the toggle for Messages and turn off the toggle for Call logs.
Step 4: Tap on Advanced Options to include attachments and media and select individual conversations or a date range for SMS.
Note: If you want to export any particular conversation as PDF, enable the toggle next to Selected Conversations only and choose the conversation to save as PDF.
Step 5: Under the Backup location option, choose the storage location where you want to save the backup. We will go with the phone. So, enable the toggle for Your Phone.
Step 6: Tap on Back Up. A confirmation pop-up will show up. Tap on Yes.
Step 1: In the same app, tap on the three-bar icon and select View backups.
Step 2: Now, choose the storage location where you have saved the message backup. Then, choose the backup from the list.
Step 3: Next, select the conversation in the backup you want to export as PDF.
Step 4: Tap on the three-dot icon and select Print Conversation.
Step 5: Tap on Select printer and choose Save as PDF. Finally, tap on the PDF icon.
Step 6: The File Explorer app will open. Sele ct the storage location where you want to save your PDF and tap on Save.
The Textra app also lets you convert text messages (SMS) to PDF on your Android phone. In this app, you must email the conversation to yourself in the TXT format and convert the TXT file to PDF. Don’t worry. All the steps are given below:
Step 1: Install the app and make it your default messaging app when asked after opening it for the first time.
Step 2: Press and hold the conversation thread that you want to export as PDF and tap on the three-dot icon at the top, followed by Share as Email.
Note: If you don’t see the option, open the message thread first. Tap on the down arrow, press the three-dot icon, and select Share as Email.
Step 3: Select any app to share the txt file. You can send it as a WhatsApp message or email to yourself.
The purpose is to save the exported TXT file somewhere to convert it to PDF in the next step. For this tutorial, let us assume I emailed the file to myself.
Step 4: Open the email with the TXT file. Tap on the TXT file to open it in a web browser.
Step 5: Tap on the three-dot icon in the browser and select Share.
Step 6: Tap on Print > choose Save as PDF from the Choose a printer box at the top and tap on the PDF icon.
Step 7: Select the storage location on your Android phone to save the PDF file with the exported messages.
Another method to save text messages to PDF on Android phones is by taking a long or scrolling screenshot of messages. Typically, a normal screenshot can fit only 2-3 messages. This is where scrolling screenshot comes into the picture. After taking a scrolling screenshot, convert the picture into a PDF using online tools.
This method has the advantage that you don’t have to give access to your messages to any third-party app. However, it will be tedious if you have many messages in a conversation. Let’s check the step-by-step instructions in detail:
Step 1: Open the Messages app, go to your chat, and take a long screenshot.
The long screenshot will be saved in your phone’s gallery.
Step 2: Open the Gallery app. We are using Google Photos as an example. Tap the three dots > select Print > choose Save as PDF.
