# how to export iMessage conversations

Messages has no built-in export. Your conversations live in a database on your Mac.

## what Notes Exporter exports

[Notes Exporter](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notesexporter/id6741618455?mt=12) turns every conversation into a Markdown file on your Mac:

- one file per conversation, with a heading per day
- reactions attached to the message they belong to, edited messages with their history, replies as real links
- the photos people sent you, converted so they display in the file
- contact cards cross-linked: a chat links to the person, a person lists their conversations
- you pick which conversations export — and it keeps syncing, so new messages land in the file automatically

Everything is local: your messages never leave your Mac. Plain files are also readable by AI tools — see [use in Claude](/apps/notes-exporter/notes/claude).

Your 10 most recent conversations export free and stay syncing free. Unlimited conversations are a one-time $4.99 (US price, [adjusted per country](/apps/notes-exporter/pricing)) — not a subscription.

[Download Notes Exporter for Mac](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notesexporter/id6741618455?mt=12)

More: [export your contacts](/apps/notes-exporter/contacts) · [faq](/apps/notes-exporter/faq)