Show HN: imessage-exporter, a CLI app and library

[gumby]

This is quite nice.

iMessage doesn't keep your whole message history on-device. You can scroll back and it will fetch a bit more each time, but that's it.

Is there anyway to pull back to the beginning of time into the local database? I'd like to retrieve some specific old messages from a friend who has passed away. If I could get them out I could search (I know what I am looking for) but it would involve an unfeasible amount of "pull to fetch more"

[cincorrect]

> iMessage doesn't keep your whole message history on-device. You can scroll back and it will fetch a bit more each time, but that's it.

This is confidently incorrect.

The entire database is stored on device in a SQLite database. It absolutely has a terrible UI for fetching messages, but they’re all there.

[amarshall]

> iMessage doesn't keep your whole message history on-device

Unless you’ve changed the “message history” setting, yes, it does keep all history on-device. It’s just incredibly frustrating to access any of it because Messages.app is awful at history.

[dewey]

Wouldn't the tool we are commenting on solve your problem nicely or what are you missing? Have you checked out the sqlite database where they are all stored? Does the iMessage search not work for this use case?

https://arctype.com/blog/search-imessage/

[GrabbinD33ze69]

If you don't sync imessage to iCloud, I thought it quite literally only stored on device in that case, besides when it in transit to be delivered. Referencing this official apple article, messages that are waiting to be delivered to devices can sit in the message queue for up to 30 days. https://support.apple.com/guide/security/how-imessage-sends-...

[tikkun]

The image on the readme that talks about what the product does is a really nice way to do that - and in fact it's better than talking about what the product does because it's an example of an actual export - thanks for making this and for having a great readme

[css]

Thanks! I figured it was a concise way to show what the output looks like while also explaining some of the features.

[mike503]

I've been using TouchCopy for years, it supports encrypted backups as well. Not as nice as an open source tool, but it does work and it seems to get all the messages, attachments, everything. It does cost a little money, but it's been the only reliable thing that continues to work.

[tamimio]

For anyone wondering, you can search your iMessages on iPhone by going to the message app, pull down and type what you want in the search bar on top.

[egonschiele]

This doesn't return all messages unfortunately, and the way the algorithm works, it will return a few results at a time, forcing you to re-pull for more results. I wanted all the messages I had received from my dad, and it was impossible to do this way.

[amatecha]

Oddly this doesn't always give results for me, for things I KNOW are in my messages. All my iMessage history is on-device (I don't use and will never use iCloud backup). Pretty disappointing :\

[kennywinker]

It's downright criminal that apple doesn't provide tools to backup and archive imessages. I have like 40gb of messages on my phone that I do not want to delete, but I don't need them on my phone.

[m463]

many friends have lost a good chunk of their life by losing their phones.

one friend lost many of his baby pictures

another lost all text messages from his (deceased) parent

many family members just break a phone and move on.

it is heart-crushingly bad that apple doesn't allow easy access and export from their proprietary message database.

and no, I don't mean running sqlite3

[koolba]

Enable automatic deletion after 30 days and free yourself from the mental shackles of historical message hoarding.

[Given_47]

Oh this looks great! I’ve crudely been querying the iMessage’s chat.db to export convos to txt files so this is a much more elegant option

[0cf8612b2e1e]

Do you have any pointers on how that is done? I assume/hope it is just a sqlite database so the only trick is yanking the file from the phone?

[howmayiannoyyou]

iMessage... why they refuse to permit users to file, tag, archive, print & share messages is a mystery to me. More and more of my clients want to communicate via text message.

[zer0x4d]

Dealing with iMessage threads during Discovery was a nightmare. I wish I knew about this tool when I needed it

[demondemidi]

Hey can this merge two iMessage databases? I have one from an old machine and TimeMachine biffed something, so now I have two copies I'd like to combine.

[smcleod]

I've used this several times - it's really very good.

[Thoeu388]

Nice, but it needs continuous integration!

Something that runs in docker container on my home server. If my phone gets stolen, I have 1 hour old backup....

[dewey]

But iMessages are already stored in iCloud and will be available on your computer or any new phone when you log into iCloud again if enabled. Wouldn't that already solve that use case?