How to print text messages from Android: 2 Simple ways

Gone are the days of letters! Now, our text messages hold precious conversations and important information. So, you may wonder how to preserve these conversations in a tangible form. Printing text messages from your Android is a great way to keep a physical record of those special moments or showcase vital evidence.

However, printing text messages from my Android was tricky the first time. Here’s how I went about it.

How to print text messages from Android via screenshots

The native Messages app does not allow you to export texts directly from the app. In these cases, I find taking screenshots of text messages and printing them handy.

First, ensure your printer and device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then, check if the printer has sufficient ink and paper and turn it on. Now, you need to connect your Android to the printer if not already done previously.

To find if the printer is paired before, go to Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → Select Printing → Tap Default Print Service → Toggle on Use print service. Here, the desired printer must show up.

If your phone can’t discover the printer, follow the steps below.

Connect the printer to your Android phone

1. On the Default Print Services page, tap the three dots icon in the top right corner.
2. Tap Add printer.
   
3. Toggle on Wi-Fi Direct printing if it’s disabled.
4. Select Find Wi-Fi Direct printers.
5. Finally, choose the printer you want to use.
   

Once you have connected the printer to your device, you are all set to print the SMS messages from your Android phone.

How to print a screenshot of text messages

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Go to the conversation you want to print.
3. Press the Volume up and Power buttons simultaneously to capture a screen.
4. If you wish to capture a longer conversation, tap Capture more and drag the bounds of the capture box. This will create a scrolling screenshot.
   
5. Tap the screenshot preview shown.
6. Now, tap the Share icon in the top right corner.
7. Locate and tap Print.
8. Choose the Printer and tap the Print icon.
   

That’s all! Now wait as your printer gives you the hard copy of your texts.

If you want to print an entire conversation’s text messages, taking so many screenshots and printing them is tedious. In that case, you may print conversation transcripts that only show the texts and exclude media and attachments. Let’s get to the steps.

How to print text message transcripts from Android

1. Download and open the SMS Backup & Restore app.
2. Tap Set Up a Backup.
3. Go to Advanced Options.
4. Tap Change to select the conversations you want to back up.
   
5. Checkmark the chat → Tap Next.
6. Choose where you’d like to store the backup and tap Next.
7. Toggle off Schedule recurring backups → Tap Back Up Now.
   
8. Once the backup is complete, tap the hamburger menu (three-line icon).
9. Select View Backups.
10. Now, open the backup you just created.
    
11. Tap the three dots icon for the conversation you’d want to print.
12. Hit Print Conversation.
    
13. Choose the Printer and tap the Print icon.

Get your Android text messages handy!

Now, you can easily savor your cherished conversations in a tangible form by printing text messages from your Android. However, when using these prints as evidence, check if they are accurately dated. Also, if you want to retrieve and print deleted texts, recover deleted text messages on Android first and follow the same steps to print.

I hope you find these steps helpful. Mention in the comments if you have any further questions.

Read more

• How to transfer text messages from Android to Android
• Best screen recording apps for Android

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