How do I print text messages for court?
Last reviewed 1 November 2026
Print them with the date, time and sender showing on every message. A few messages can be screenshots. A long thread is easier to read if you export it to a file and print from that.
Keep the phone and the original thread. Courts set their own format rules, so check yours first.
Screenshots or an export?
| Screenshots | Export (file) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A few messages | A long thread |
| Date and time | Only if you reveal them first | On every message |
| Easy to number | No | Yes |
| Shows layout and photos | Yes | No |
A screenshot with no time on it is a nice picture of some words. See screenshot or export.
How do I do it on an iPhone (iMessage and SMS)?
- Swipe left on the messages to show the time of each one, then take your screenshots.
- In Photos, tap Share, then Print. You need an AirPrint printer on the same Wi-Fi.
- For a long thread, we know of no export button in the iPhone Messages app. The iMazing app on a computer can export a conversation as Excel or CSV. Its free trial limits Messages to 25 items.
- Open the CSV in Make a pack. Details: iMessage to PDF.
How do I do it on Android (SMS)?
- Screenshot the thread with the time showing on each message.
- For a long thread, use the SMS Backup & Restore app to save your messages as an XML file.
- Open it in Make a pack. It asks which conversation you want and leaves the others out.
What about WhatsApp?
WhatsApp exports a text file, not a PDF. Export without media, then follow export a WhatsApp chat to PDF with dates.
What do I bring?
Paper copies, and the phone. California's court self-help page for restraining-order hearings says to print texts and make three copies of each piece of evidence: for you, the judge and the other side. Ask your court.
Next step
Make a pack from your export. Not sure the file is complete? Run it through the free export checker; it reads the file on your device.
Questions people ask
Do I have to print them?
Not always. Some courts take files. Ask the court office.
Is a screenshot enough?
Sometimes, for a short exchange nobody disputes. Admissibility is separate: are text messages admissible in court?
Can I do it from my phone alone?
Screenshots, yes. An iMessage file export needs a computer.
General information only, not legal advice. VaultXT is not a law firm and can't promise any court will accept a document.