Get text messages off my Android phone, to Internet repository
July 31, 2018 5:39 PM
My computer is low on storage, so what is an online option? I want to get abusive texts off my phone, but keep them as potential evidence "just in case" I ever need to bring charges in the future. Is there a cloud-based option?
Background: I have a former roommate who was abusive, and a large number of text messages from that time, up until I finally blocked her number. FWIW, all other known accounts across internet platforms have also been blocked but messages archived. I've saved these texts on my phone, on the off-chance that I ever need to bring that American default of a lawsuit, or (god forbid) a restraining order. I've since moved to another state, but being as she is volatile and obsessive, it seems prudent to keep these in some capacity. Help me get this filth off my phone. For reference, it is a few years'-old Samsung Galaxy.
Background: I have a former roommate who was abusive, and a large number of text messages from that time, up until I finally blocked her number. FWIW, all other known accounts across internet platforms have also been blocked but messages archived. I've saved these texts on my phone, on the off-chance that I ever need to bring that American default of a lawsuit, or (god forbid) a restraining order. I've since moved to another state, but being as she is volatile and obsessive, it seems prudent to keep these in some capacity. Help me get this filth off my phone. For reference, it is a few years'-old Samsung Galaxy.
I used SMS Backup + to send years worth of texts to my Gmail account. I'm happy with it, and kept it so now all my texts are backed up to Gmail and I can delete them from my phone at any time.
posted by stripesandplaid at 6:13 PM on July 31, 2018
posted by stripesandplaid at 6:13 PM on July 31, 2018
"SMS Backup and Restore" can put them into your Google Drive.
posted by panhopticon at 8:31 PM on July 31, 2018
posted by panhopticon at 8:31 PM on July 31, 2018
Any chance you can move them to a storage medium such as a micro SD card, and then simply take that card out and keep it somewhere safe?
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:00 AM on August 1, 2018
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:00 AM on August 1, 2018
Then there's possibly this:
android - backup full sms/mms contents via adb - Stack Overflow. Which would probably be much harder than the SMS Backup apps.
posted by zengargoyle at 3:21 AM on August 1, 2018
android - backup full sms/mms contents via adb - Stack Overflow. Which would probably be much harder than the SMS Backup apps.
posted by zengargoyle at 3:21 AM on August 1, 2018
if you're on the googles (gvoice/fi/hangouts/gmail/inbox), Takeout is your friend. Should be something similar for FB, etc if you're considering archival of other apps' communications. The takeout format is a raw JSON dump, so you'd need another program to convert it into a .pdf if you're thinking of a court situation.
low-tech solution would be to screenshot things and paste them into a word doc. that was sufficient for a majority of my needs. things get weird in a legal setting if the other party denies sending the messages (even though you've got the records), you can always use discovery to subpoena the other party's records and devices.
posted by rye bread at 7:54 AM on August 1, 2018
low-tech solution would be to screenshot things and paste them into a word doc. that was sufficient for a majority of my needs. things get weird in a legal setting if the other party denies sending the messages (even though you've got the records), you can always use discovery to subpoena the other party's records and devices.
posted by rye bread at 7:54 AM on August 1, 2018
If you use or switch to Google's Messages app, you should be able to see all of your messages at http://messages.android.com/ after you authorize the website, which is run by Google. All of your texts should be available to any SMS app you use on your phone, including Messages. Be alert because there are several SMS or messaging apps called "Messages."
After seeing your messages there, you can screenshot and copy the text of the ones you want. Make sure to get the sender's info.
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:45 AM on August 1, 2018
After seeing your messages there, you can screenshot and copy the text of the ones you want. Make sure to get the sender's info.
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:45 AM on August 1, 2018
I use SMS Backup+ and send all my text messages to an email address I created specifically for the purposes of backing up all my texts.
I agree however that text messages don't take up much space. I'd look for photos, videos and apps you don't need. Or, just get a micro SD card, insert it and then move some apps onto it.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:35 AM on August 1, 2018
I agree however that text messages don't take up much space. I'd look for photos, videos and apps you don't need. Or, just get a micro SD card, insert it and then move some apps onto it.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:35 AM on August 1, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
I will say that it's unlikely that these are what is taking up most of your space - text messages take up a fraction of the amount of space of, say, a single video.
posted by sagc at 5:44 PM on July 31, 2018