How to Print Text Messages from an iPhone

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: October 10, 2024 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to print screenshots of text messages from your iPhone. The need to print text messages can arise due to anything from sentiment to legally mandated evidence. You can take screenshots of the text messages—timestamps included, if necessary—and then either print those screenshots from a connected AirPrint printer or send them to a computer from which you can print photos.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Saving Screenshots

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1
Open your iPhone's
Messages. Tap the Messages app icon, which resembles a white speech bubble on a green background.
- If your text messages are already saved as screenshots, you can skip this step.
Find the conversation that contains the text messages you want to print, then tap the conversation to open it.

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Scroll up until you find the part you want to screenshot.
If you need to display the timestamps next to each message (e.g., if you're saving the conversations as legal evidence), tap and drag from right to left across the screen. Keep in mind that you'll have to hold the screen there while screenshotting.
5
Take a screenshot. Depending on your iPhone model, do one of the following:
- iPhone 8 and down — Press the Home and Power buttons at the same time.
- iPhone X — Press the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time.
Once you've taken a screenshot of every part of the conversation you need, you can proceed with printing your screenshots.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Printing via AirPrint

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1
Make sure you're on the correct Wi-Fi network. If you're using an AirPrint printer with your iPhone, your iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer.^{[1]
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- You can connect to the correct Wi-Fi network if necessary before proceeding.
Tap the Photos app icon, which resembles a multicolored pinwheel on a white background.
3
Tap the Albums tab. It's at the bottom of the screen.
- If Photos loads to a photo, tap the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen before proceeding.
You'll find this about halfway down the Albums page.
It's under the "Media Types" heading. Doing so brings up a list of all of your screenshots.
This is in the top-right corner of the screen.
Tap each screenshot you want to print to do so.
It's in the bottom-left corner of the screen. A pop-up menu will appear at the bottom of the screen.
This printer-shaped icon is in the pop-up menu. Doing so brings up the "Print" menu.
10
Set up your printer preferences. You can select your printer and the number of copies you want to print from here:
- Printer — Tap the Printer text field, then select your AirPrint printer if it isn't already selected.
- Number of copies — Tap + to increase the number of copies you want to print, or tap - to decrease the number of copies.
It's in the top-right corner of the screen. Your iPhone's screenshots will begin printing.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Printing from a Computer

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Download the screenshots onto your computer. You can use your iPhone's USB cable and your computer's Photos app to import the screenshots you just took.
Connect your computer to a printer. If your computer isn't already connected to the printer you want to use, connect it before proceeding.
3
Open the photos' folder. Depending on your computer, you'll do one of the following:
- Windows — Open File Explorer
  , click Pictures on the left side of the window, and double-click the folder that was created when you downloaded the photos from your iPhone.
- Mac — Open the Photos app and scroll to the screenshots.
4
Select the photos you want to print. On Windows, you can click one photo in the folder and then press Ctrl+A to select all of the photos in the folder.
- On a Mac, hold down ⌘ Command while clicking each file you want to print.
5
Open the "Print" menu. This step varies depending on your computer:
- Windows — Right-click a selected file, then click Print in the resulting drop-down menu.
- Mac — Click the File menu item at the top of the screen, then click Print in the resulting drop-down menu.
6
Confirm your printer preferences. Printer menus will vary depending on your computer and your printer, but you'll usually have the option to do the following:
- Select a printer from the "Printer" drop-down box at the top of the menu.
- Select a format for your images in the middle of the menu.
- Select a number of copies.
- Select a color preference if present.
It's usually at the bottom of the Print menu. Doing so prompts your screenshots to begin printing.

Community Q&A

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Question

I have messages for a year's time, so it's hard to copy and send to an email. What else can I do?

Community Answer

Take a screen shot! It can be done by simultaneously clicking the home and the lock button.

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Tips

If you're unable to take a screenshot while prompting the timestamps to display, try having a friend take the screenshot while you drag left the screen.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

You can AirPrint by connecting your printer to the wi-fi and then printing from your phone directly. I've done this a lot with my Brother printer but my friend uses a Canon and she loves it, so I'd recommend either one of these printers.
Just know that if you're trying to use texts as evidence in a court case, it's not admissible evidence.

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