For journalists and researchers
Find the quote, date, file, or voice note. Keep the source.
Available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
A record you can check
Important wording stays connected to the source you selected.
Search the record, open the relevant message in context, and review the retained-source status before you share an export. Text extraction is a starting point for review, not a substitute for checking the source.
- Searchable message text
- Dates, people, attachments, and transcripts
- Retained-source and integrity status
Useful for working archives
- Find names, dates, terms, attachments, and supported voice transcripts.
- Keep the imported TXT/ZIP associated with the record.
- Export PDF, CSV, HTML, or TXT for the next approved analysis or review step.
Source protection requires more than an app
Follow your newsroom’s source-protection process or your institution’s research ethics and consent requirements. Device security, transfer channel, access control, minimization, and retention remain your responsibility.
Processing boundary
WhatsApp transcript text is parsed directly and not sent to Google Vision for OCR. Voice transcription uses Apple Speech on device. Selected visual media is minimized first, then necessary unique frames are sent through the TextTrace backend to Google Vision.
Questions, answered precisely
Frequently asked questions
Is every TextTrace workflow fully offline?
No. Direct WhatsApp parsing and supported voice transcription have local paths. Necessary unique visual frames are processed by the TextTrace backend and Google Vision.
Does TextTrace bypass encrypted iPhone backups?
No. The Mac importer reads only unencrypted Finder or iTunes backups. TextTrace does not bypass backup encryption.
Does a checksum make an export legally admissible?
No. A SHA-256 checksum can help you check whether a file changed. It does not establish authenticity, completeness, admissibility, or legal sufficiency.
TextTrace
Turn the conversation into something you can use.
Import it. Check it. Search it. Export the format your next step needs.