Guide · Searchable PDF
Save selected on-screen messages as a searchable PDF.
This method works from English content visible in screenshots or a screen recording. Visual OCR is English-only at launch. It does not access the Messages database or recover deleted content.
Available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
See the app
A clear path from chat to file.
- Bring it in
- Check the details
- Export the result
Capture clearly
- Keep the sender, date, and message order visible when possible.
- Avoid overlapping controls, notifications, and motion blur.
- For images, add up to 40 in reading order. For longer content, use a steady scrolling recording.
Import, review, export
- Select Photos or Screen Recording in TextTrace.
- Review the on-device text preview.
- If you choose cloud refinement, read the consent prompt and send only selected evidence regions.
- Correct your workflow by comparing important text with the retained source.
- Export a searchable PDF and keep its checksum sidecar.
Questions, answered precisely
Frequently asked questions
Can a PDF prove that a conversation is authentic?
No. A PDF is a useful readable output, but authenticity and evidentiary questions require source review and appropriate professional processes.
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.