Gavin News

How to Backup iPhone SMS Messages on Windows

October 30, 2011 – 11:10 am

1. Locate the file 3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28 on your hard drive.

It is located at:

C:\Users\[your username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\[some id]\3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28.mddata (Windows 7)
- or -
C:\Documents and Settings\[Username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\[some ID]\3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28 (Windows XP)

Copy it to a safe location for your use.

2. Download SQLite Database Browser

This is open-source software. Download from Sourceforge.

3. Open the file in SQLite Database Browser, and export table as CSV

First open the file. Then go to File > Export > Table as CSV. Save it as a CSV file, and now you can open this is Excel as a permanent backup.

4. Read your text messages!

Note that the date column is in UNIX POSIX time. You can do one-off coversions by copying the date number into UNIX Online Conversion or you can insert a column and put in a formula to convert the UNIX time into normal dates:

=CELL/(60*60*24)+"1/1/1970"

Be sure to “format cells” as “date” or “time.”

Andy

Gavin, I wonder if you have tried opening an IOS5 version of the 31bb7ba8914766d4ba40d6dfb6113c8b614be442 file. I can open any IOS4 versions of the file with SQLite Database Browser v1.3 and v2.0B1 but any files created after upgrade to IOS5 do not open. The “Database Structure” tab of the browser windor remains empty when you click to open database. I am on IOS 5.0(9A334) and running SQLite under Windows XP SP3. Thanks
Susan

My Dates are all coming out at 1980! And I think like a day off. Did they recently change it again?
http://gavinr.com Gavin

Perhaps they changed it. You can just add the appropriate amount in your Excel equation.
CC

how do you backup on a Mac?
Ourturn

Gavin, I downloaded the SQLite Database Browser using your link, but I can’t figure out how to open my backed up file in that browser. It downloaded it as a zip file. I’m a rookie on this stuff, so you’ll need to walk me through it. Thanks so much!
http://gavinr.com Gavin

Unzip the file, and then run (double-click) the unizpped file. You can then move to step #3.