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We receive a lot of important information via text. Whether it’s a date you need to set or important work-related info, you might find yourself wanting to save a text message. Modern smartphones all offer a way to back up your core data and transfer it to another device. However, transfers sometimes don’t include your text messages unless you save them ahead of time or are transferring across the same mobile operating system.
Here’s how to save your text messages in Android and iOS.
There are multiple ways to backup your iPhone text messages. Here are the easiest.
The most universal method of saving your iPhone text messages is via the iExplorer program.
Step 1: Download and install iExplorer.
Step 2: Launch the program and it should open on the Device Overview screen.
Step 3: Connect your iPhone or iPad. In the left-hand column, click your device’s name.
Step 4: On the Device Overview screen on the right, click Data > Messages. Keep in mind that if you’ve never made a backup on your computer, you’ll only see an option to Load Backup Data. You need to make a backup within iExplorer first before it can access your messages, so click it to begin the process.
Step 5: Once done, continue to the next step.
iExplorer will load all of the messages currently on your iOS device. The left-hand column will have a conversation list, and clicking any of the conversations will bring them into view in the right-hand column.
Step 6: You can sort conversations by name, date, or number of messages, as well as filter conversations to show only images, videos, or attachments.
Step 7: You can export entire conversations, including attached media and documents, using the export options below the open conversation. They can be exported as a PDF, TXT, or CSV file.
If you have access to iTunes, you can also backup your text messages with this program on your MacBook.
Step 1: Begin by launching iTunes.
Step 2: Connect your iOS device to your computer.
Step 3: In iTunes, select your iOS device by clicking the corresponding icon in the top-left corner of the window.
Step 4: Go to the Summary tab — you should see a section labeled Backups on the right-hand side.
Step 5: Under Manually Back Up and Restore, choose Back Up Now.
Step 6: Once the backup process is done, the Latest Backups sections should be updated to show your most recent backup.
Step 7: Alternatively, you can go to Preferences > Devices (Mac) or Edit > Preferences > Devices (Windows) to confirm that the backup was successful.
We showed you how to back up your Android smartphone, but SMS Backup & Restore is a free app that does just what the name implies. It can back up your text messages and save them locally on your Android device, export them to a computer, or upload them to an online storage service such as Google Drive. It’s made to fulfill the needs of people who want to save their messages to multiple places quickly. Your Android device needs to be running Android 4.0.3 or higher.
Step 1: Start by downloading to your Android device.
Step 2: Launch it, and it takes you to the main menu.
Step 3: Tap Set up a backup to begin creating a new backup.
Step 4: From here, you can choose what information you want to save, which text conversations, and where to store the backups. There are currently options for saving your texts directly to your phone, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
Step 5: If you’re not as concerned with manually sorting through text conversations, you also have the option to automate the process. In the app, go to Settings by selecting the hamburger menu in the top left corner.
Step 6: You can also save the emojis attached to the texts and name the backup files so they’re easy to identify.
Step 7: Follow the prompts.
Step 1: To find your saved messages, open your main menu and select View Backups.
This option will show your messages in XML format. The View Backups feature will also allow you to reorganize messages within your local folders.
Step 2: You can relocate your old texts to a new phone in one graceful movement with the SMS Backup and Restore.
The most common time people use this feature is when setting up a new phone. Before you start, though, always remember to back up all your texts. Without a backup, you could lose some of your most recent messaging histories, which is no fun for anyone.
If you’ve purchased a new cell phone in the past decade or so, you’re probably already familiar with the SIM—the little thumbnail-sized card that’s used to connect to your your carrier’s cellular network —but in recent years smartphone manufacturers and carriers have started replacing them with something called an eSIM.
The “e” in eSIM stands for “embedded,” which makes sense as this is a SIM card that stays inside your phone and can’t be removed. It performs the same function as a traditional SIM card but has the potential to make things a lot simpler for most smartphone users. Almost any new phone you buy nowadays features eSIM technology, including the new iPhone 15. In fact, the iPhone 15 doesn’t even have a physical SIM card slot available, and all iPhone 15 users need to transfer to eSIM — giving a hint at where the technology is going. Pretty soon eSIMs could become the standard, with physical SIM cards gradually fading out of use.
But if you’re confused by the concept of an eSIM, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Read on as we get more specific about what eSIM technology truly is, and how it differs from its predecessor, the physical SIM card. 
Having a second phone number can be handy for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you want to separate your business and personal calls, or you want a junk second number that you can use to sign up for services so you can avoid giving out your personal number to so many places. That’s particularly importance with the frequency of annoying spam calls and messages that can pile up when your phone number is made public. You might also want a second number to use in situations where you want to be able to contact people occasionally but you don’t necessarily want them to be able to reach your personal device directly, like when internet dating or using an app like AirBnB. Whatever the reason, there are many situations where having a number that you can give out which you can make use of but isn’t directly tied to your personal life like your main phone number is can be important for safety and security.
While you could get a second SIM card (or even an eSIM), an easier option for casual use is to use an app that lets you set up a second phone line. Whether you’re after an Android app or an iPhone app, you’ll find plenty of options to get a second phone line, including some which are free to use. We’ve hunted down some of the best options for apps that will give you a second phone number for whatever reason you need it, and we’re sharing them with you below.
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Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
If you have an iPhone, you’ll want to check it right now for a big update. The iOS 17.4 update is officially rolling out right now and it includes some fairly significant new features.
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