How to Export Your iMessage Chats
Use our free, open-source desktop app for Mac and Windows to export iMessage chats directly from your computer.
System Requirements
- macOS 12.0+ or Windows 10+
- iMessage enabled with synced message history
Installation
Download the app
Download the latest ChatToMap.dmg file from our GitHub releases page.
Install the app
Open the DMG file and drag ChatToMap to your Applications folder.
Grant Full Disk Access
When you first open the app, it will ask for Full Disk Access permission. This is required to read your iMessage database.
How to enable: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access → Enable ChatToMap
Export Your Chats
Open ChatToMap Desktop
Launch the app from your Applications folder. It will automatically scan for available iMessage conversations.
Select the chats to export
Browse your conversations and select the ones you want to analyze for activity suggestions.
Click Export
The app will process your selected chats and automatically upload them to ChatToMap for analysis.
View your results
Your browser will automatically open to show your results once processing is complete.
Your Privacy is Protected
- Your messages stay on your computer until you explicitly export
- Uploaded data is encrypted in transit and at rest
- Chat content is deleted immediately after processing, and always within 1 hour
- The app is open source - you can inspect the code
Troubleshooting
"App can't be opened" warning
Right-click the app and select "Open" the first time. This bypasses Gatekeeper for unsigned apps. The app is open source and safe to use.
No conversations found
Make sure iMessage is enabled and has synced your message history. On Mac, check Settings → Messages → Enable Messages in iCloud.
Full Disk Access not working
Quit ChatToMap completely, grant Full Disk Access in System Settings, then relaunch the app. A restart may be required on some macOS versions.
Using WhatsApp instead?
WhatsApp has a built-in export feature that works on iPhone and Android.
View WhatsApp export guide →