If you only need to save iPhone messages from a backup on Windows, you do not need iMazing’s full toolkit. Free, open-source viewers such as OpenExtract and AppleFileViewer read backups and export threads as PDF. BackupPaper is the paid option for one job: save one conversation from the backup as a PDF or CSV, read-only and offline, with a SHA-256 hash of the file you exported.
iMazing is a full iPhone manager: backups, transfers, apps, music, and message export. Many people searching for an alternative have a smaller job. They have a backup on the PC, they want one conversation out of it, and they do not want a subscription for that.
Save one conversation from the iPhone backup on your PC, without changing the backup.
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What does iMazing offer, and what does it cost?
iMazing runs on Mac and PC and exports messages to PDF, text, Excel, and CSV, with RSMF for e-discovery on an iMazing Business subscription. Its licensing policy says the current Personal license is a subscription by device slot, and the perpetual device license was deprecated in June 2025. The trial is not time-limited, but some features are restricted. If you also manage the phone itself, move data between devices, or need a forensic workflow, iMazing is the better fit.
What are the alternatives for saving messages from a backup?
Facts about other tools come from their own sites, checked on 17 October 2026.
| Tool | Price | Platform | Reads encrypted backups | Message export | Changes the backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenExtract | Free, MIT, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes, with the password | Threads as PDF; also photos, voicemails, and more | Not stated; processing is 100% local |
| AppleFileViewer | Free, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | PDF, HTML, CSV, TXT, JSON, vCard | No, read-only |
| BackupPaper | One-time purchase in the Microsoft Store, 15-day free trial | Windows 10 version 2004 or later, Windows 11 | Yes, with the password | One conversation as PDF (US Letter) or UTF-8 CSV | No, read-only; refuses to save into the backup folder |
| iMazing | Subscription by device slot | Mac and PC | Not compared here | PDF, text, Excel, CSV; RSMF with Business | Not compared here |
Sources: OpenExtract, OpenExtract vs iMazing, AppleFileViewer, iMazing licensing policy, iMazing message export guide.
OpenExtract (free)
OpenExtract is free, MIT-licensed, and needs no account or cloud. It pulls messages, photos, and voicemails out of an iPhone backup on your own computer, handles encrypted backups with the password, and prints a whole thread as a PDF. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its own comparison page is fair about where iMazing wins, such as live device management and transfers. If you want everything out of a backup for free, it is a strong first choice.
AppleFileViewer (free)
AppleFileViewer is free and open source for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It opens iTunes, Finder, and Apple Devices backups offline and read-only, unlocks encrypted backups, and exports conversations and other data as PDF, HTML, CSV, TXT, JSON, or vCard. It also reads WhatsApp chats in the backup, which BackupPaper does not.
Where BackupPaper fits
The free tools do more, for nothing. BackupPaper’s case is narrower:
- Installed and updated from the Microsoft Store, under the Microsoft Store license terms.
- Strictly read-only. It opens the backup read-only and refuses to save an export inside the backup folder.
- A hash for every export. It shows the SHA-256 of the file it wrote, which anyone can check later with certutil.
- A header that records the export. The PDF lists the device, participants, date range, and when the file was written, with page numbers on every page.
- No network connections at all, no account, no analytics, and no crash reporting.
If you need a single conversation as a tidy file you can check later, that is the job it is built for. If you want photos, voicemails, or WhatsApp out too, use one of the free tools.
Open your backup in the 15-day free trial and see what it holds.
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How do I save one conversation with BackupPaper?
- Find the backup. iTunes from Apple’s website stores backups in
%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup. Apple Devices and iTunes from the Microsoft Store use%USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup. - Open it in BackupPaper. Type the password if the backup is encrypted.
- Pick the conversation.
- Export PDF or Export CSV, and name the new file.
- Keep the SHA-256 BackupPaper shows.
See where iPhone backups are stored on Windows and our iPhone backup viewer for Windows page.
What are BackupPaper’s limits?
- Messages app only. iMessage and SMS, not WhatsApp or other chat apps.
- Attachments by name. Photos and videos are listed, not placed in the PDF or saved as files.
- One conversation per export.
- No deleted-message recovery.
- Messages in iCloud. Apple says a computer backup leaves out messages that already sync to iCloud, so the backup may hold few or none. See does an iPhone backup include text messages.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free iMazing alternative for saving iPhone messages on Windows?
Yes. OpenExtract and AppleFileViewer are free and open source, read iPhone backups on Windows, and export messages as PDF.
What is the simplest way to save one iPhone conversation on Windows?
Open the backup in BackupPaper, pick the conversation, and choose Export PDF. It is a one-time purchase with a 15-day free trial.
Do I need the iPhone connected?
No. BackupPaper reads the backup already on your PC.
Can I delete old iPhone backups after exporting?
Yes, once you have what you need. Our guide on deleting old iPhone backups while keeping messages explains how.
Does BackupPaper upload my messages?
No. It makes no network connections.
Try BackupPaper
BackupPaper is a one-time purchase in the Microsoft Store, and the Store runs a 15-day free trial with every feature, no watermark, and no message limit. If the conversation is for a dispute, read how to export iPhone text messages to PDF on Windows for court, or go to the BackupPaper product page.
Try it on your own backup during the 15-day free trial.
Get it from Microsoft
Apple, iPhone, iMessage, iTunes, and iCloud are trademarks of Apple Inc. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Other product names are trademarks of their owners. BackupPaper is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Last updated 17 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.