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Back up Android text messages to your computer

Android's built-in Google backup can restore your SMS to a new phone, but you can't open or search it on a computer. For a backup you can read, export, print or keep for years, use an app that writes a file.

Updated 2026-10-26 · 5 min read

SMS Backup & Restore (SyncTech)

  1. Install SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play.
  2. Back up › choose Messages (include MMS for photos) and Call logs.
  3. Choose a location: phone storage, Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive.
  4. Copy the resulting sms-YYYYMMDDhhmmss.xml (and calls-….xml) to your computer.

The XML can be several gigabytes when MMS photos are included – that's normal.

Read and export the backup

Open the XML in Threadlode: conversations look like a chat app, with photos, group messages and emoji. Load several backups at once – duplicates are merged. Export PDF, Excel/CSV or an HTML archive with attachments; call logs export to CSV.

Tips

  • Schedule automatic backups in the app so you always have a recent file.
  • RCS chat messages (Google Messages chat features) may not be included in SMS backup apps – check the app's current notes.
  • Keep a copy of the XML off the phone.

Read your backup now. Threadlode opens Android SMS Backup & Restore XML files, unencrypted iPhone backups (sms.db) and the Mac Messages folder (chat.db) in your browser, with photos and search, and exports PDF, Excel, CSV or an HTML archive. Nothing is uploaded. Reading and search are free; a $15 one-time license removes the export limit.

Open Threadlode – free

Questions and answers

Can I read the Google One backup of my texts?

No – Google's backup is only for restoring to a phone.

Can I restore the XML to a new phone?

Yes, with SMS Backup & Restore on the new phone. Threadlode only reads the file.

Sources and product names: SMS Backup & Restore (SyncTech) documentation; Google Android backup help. iPhone, iMessage, iTunes and Finder are trademarks of Apple Inc.; Android of Google LLC; SMS Backup & Restore is an app by SyncTech. Threadlode is independent and not affiliated with them.