I want to download my messages to an external drive (flash drive)

QuantumSpaceTime wrote:

iPad (9th gen) OS 17.5.1

I want to remove ALL messages from icloud onto external ssd.

Can this be done?

The easiest way to do this, if you have a computer, is to purchase an application such as TouchCopy or iMazing. Both will let you archive your messages as either text or pdf files. Once you have the text or pdf files, you can move them wherever you want. The applications aren't free but, if your messages are important to you (as mine are to me) the cost is well worth it.

Transfer iMessages to external hard drive using email

Apart from the third-party tool, you can save iMessages to external hard drive with the help of emails. Just send all wanted messages to your computer with email and save them to the external hard drive as a PDF file. Here are how to transfer iMessages to USB/external hard drive.

Step 1. On your iPhone, open the iMessages app > Tap the conversation you’d like to copy.

Step 2. Long press the conversation to Copy the message > Create a new email and paste the message in the content box.

Step 3. Send the email to yourself and check the email from a computer.

Step 4. Open the email on your computer > Copy and save it in your external hard drive as per your need.

AlWeir wrote:

Step 1. On your iPhone, open the iMessages app > Tap the conversation you’d like to copy.

Step 2. Long press the conversation to Copy the message > Create a new email and paste the message in the content box.

Step 3. Send the email to yourself and check the email from a computer.

Step 4. Open the email on your computer > Copy and save it in your external hard drive as per your need.

That copies one message at a time.