Surely I can download my text messages to my PC
November 25, 2022 9:19 PM Subscribe
I've been searching for some kind of (already created) Windows software to 1) download my contacts and text messages from my Android phone to my computer, 2) view them on my computer (CSV, md, or other user readable file), 3) and, ideally, put them on a new phone (probably Android). Searching has only turned up "recovery" and copy-to-new-phone items. Anybody know where I can get software for this (system is Windows 7)?
I
The current (failing) phone is a Samsung Galaxy Note8. I also have a Motorola Android phone, but I might get another Samsung eventually.
I found a Samsung app that wants to back up my data, but it also wants carte blanche to use anything on my phone for any purpose including marketing. Ugh. Plus I don't know if I'll be able to do everything I want with the data (i.e. viewing on the PC).
II
The above is ideal. FWIW, I do actually need to back up my phone in case it crashes irreparably, so if what I really want doesn't exist, then a reliable backup program for Android phones (not an app; something that runs on Windows) is also very useful.
III
I can get access to a Windows 10 machine if I absolutely must.
Thank you!
I
The current (failing) phone is a Samsung Galaxy Note8. I also have a Motorola Android phone, but I might get another Samsung eventually.
I found a Samsung app that wants to back up my data, but it also wants carte blanche to use anything on my phone for any purpose including marketing. Ugh. Plus I don't know if I'll be able to do everything I want with the data (i.e. viewing on the PC).
II
The above is ideal. FWIW, I do actually need to back up my phone in case it crashes irreparably, so if what I really want doesn't exist, then a reliable backup program for Android phones (not an app; something that runs on Windows) is also very useful.
III
I can get access to a Windows 10 machine if I absolutely must.
Thank you!
If this is a recent phone, you should already be able to access your contacts via contacts.google.com, and SMS via messages.google.com, messages for web, (which would need to pair with your phone).
If you need your messages in some OTHER format... Please name it.
posted by kschang at 12:54 AM on November 26, 2022
If you need your messages in some OTHER format... Please name it.
posted by kschang at 12:54 AM on November 26, 2022
Response by poster: OK, sorry, I wasn't clear enough.
I do not want to process all my communications through Google; I do not have a gmail account; I would like to be able to get my contacts data and my text messages directly from my phone through a USB connection to my laptop.
If the contacts and messages could then be viewable on my laptop either in a text file, CSV file, or some other format, that would be really good.
I have a preexisting contact database that I could integrate with the phone contacts, and then have the complete list of contacts available in one place.
In the near future, I'll have another phone of uncertain brand; then I'd love to be able to take the complete contacts list (integrated phone contacts and other database contacts) and copy those onto the new phone, so that I can use them as phone contacts (the laptop contact database and phone contacts will get out of sync with each other, but that's a solvable problem).
This is my ideal!
That said, if the ideal -- which really seems like a very low bar to me, but I haven't been living under a rock for the past 15 years -- is not achievable, then I'd love to just be able to back up my contacts onto my computer as a phone-failure safeguard.
I did find Smart Switch, but Samsung's ridiculous license agreement (part of Smart Switch) requires me to give permission for them to use MY CONTACTS AND TEXT MESSAGES for whatever purposes they wish, including marketing. Come on.
posted by amtho at 9:16 AM on November 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
I do not want to process all my communications through Google; I do not have a gmail account; I would like to be able to get my contacts data and my text messages directly from my phone through a USB connection to my laptop.
If the contacts and messages could then be viewable on my laptop either in a text file, CSV file, or some other format, that would be really good.
I have a preexisting contact database that I could integrate with the phone contacts, and then have the complete list of contacts available in one place.
In the near future, I'll have another phone of uncertain brand; then I'd love to be able to take the complete contacts list (integrated phone contacts and other database contacts) and copy those onto the new phone, so that I can use them as phone contacts (the laptop contact database and phone contacts will get out of sync with each other, but that's a solvable problem).
This is my ideal!
That said, if the ideal -- which really seems like a very low bar to me, but I haven't been living under a rock for the past 15 years -- is not achievable, then I'd love to just be able to back up my contacts onto my computer as a phone-failure safeguard.
I did find Smart Switch, but Samsung's ridiculous license agreement (part of Smart Switch) requires me to give permission for them to use MY CONTACTS AND TEXT MESSAGES for whatever purposes they wish, including marketing. Come on.
posted by amtho at 9:16 AM on November 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
You don't have a Google account? Are you installing apps off F-Droid? Or random internet sites? (The latter is a horrendous security risk to your data and privacy.)
Install the F-Droid app, then try out SMS Backup+ (which I've used) or SMS Import/Export or OpenContacts or Export Contacts.
Aside: it's a terrible risk to have that Windows 7 device online, given the years since it had any patches for security flaws, that's another security risk to consider.
posted by k3ninho at 3:34 PM on November 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Install the F-Droid app, then try out SMS Backup+ (which I've used) or SMS Import/Export or OpenContacts or Export Contacts.
Aside: it's a terrible risk to have that Windows 7 device online, given the years since it had any patches for security flaws, that's another security risk to consider.
posted by k3ninho at 3:34 PM on November 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I don't install Android apps from anywhere. That mindset has helped keep my systems secure -- although it's definitely not perfect.
(A while ago I needed to set up Square for something, so I bought a separate cheap phone for that. This is my level of caution. I use my phone for calls, messages, and photos.)
I have done a teeny bit of app coding; if there existed an open-source app for doing this kind of backup, I suppose I could compile it on my desktop and load it onto my phone, but it's been a while since I did that kind of thing and I'd have to re-create the whole ecosystem (compiler, IDE, etc.).
So I'm thinking that it would be pretty simple to make a windows app (program) that connected to a phone, accessed the text messages and contacts on the phone, created a CSV file of those, and then wrote that CSV file into the Windows system. Like, really easy. So naturally someone has done this before....
posted by amtho at 3:54 PM on November 26, 2022
(A while ago I needed to set up Square for something, so I bought a separate cheap phone for that. This is my level of caution. I use my phone for calls, messages, and photos.)
I have done a teeny bit of app coding; if there existed an open-source app for doing this kind of backup, I suppose I could compile it on my desktop and load it onto my phone, but it's been a while since I did that kind of thing and I'd have to re-create the whole ecosystem (compiler, IDE, etc.).
So I'm thinking that it would be pretty simple to make a windows app (program) that connected to a phone, accessed the text messages and contacts on the phone, created a CSV file of those, and then wrote that CSV file into the Windows system. Like, really easy. So naturally someone has done this before....
posted by amtho at 3:54 PM on November 26, 2022
Best answer: With the caveat that I know nothing about this software beyond it coming up in a Google search, this program seems to do what you want.
posted by Adifferentbear at 4:09 PM on November 26, 2022
posted by Adifferentbear at 4:09 PM on November 26, 2022
Google will backup your SMS into your Google Drive if you do Settings / Google / Backup / Back up Now, which should create (or update) 5 files in your Google Drive, one of which is your Contacts, and the other is your SMS messages. (The others are call history, app data, and device settings). You can then download whatever you wish. Not sure about restoring them or trying to read them on the PC though.
posted by kschang at 10:22 PM on November 26, 2022
posted by kschang at 10:22 PM on November 26, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by TimHare at 11:49 PM on November 25, 2022