Frequently Asked Questions

No. Your file is processed entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Nothing is uploaded to any server during extraction. Messages exist only in your browser session and are gone when you close the tab.

Only when you explicitly use the AI analysis feature, and even then your data is automatically anonymized first. Names, phone numbers, emails, and addresses are replaced with generic placeholders (like [PERSON_1], [PHONE_1]) before anything is sent to OpenAI. The real values are restored only in the results you see on your screen.

The easiest way is to select your entire iPhone backup folder. The app automatically finds your messages, resolves contact names, and loads attached images in one step. You can also upload a single .db file or re-import a previously exported CSV or JSON file.

Apple stores iPhone backups in a hidden folder on your computer. On Mac it’s at ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ and on Windows it’s at %APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\.

The exported CSV files contain timestamped, organized message data that attorneys regularly use in custody and divorce proceedings. The AI analysis reports provide additional context and pattern detection. Always consult your attorney about admissibility requirements in your specific jurisdiction.

The anonymization system uses pattern matching to detect and replace contact names with [PERSON_N], phone numbers with [PHONE_N], email addresses with [EMAIL_N], and street addresses with [ADDRESS_N]. The system is conservative — it may occasionally miss an unusual format. You can check the “View anonymization details” section after analysis to see exactly what was replaced.

TextEvidence Pro reads the SQLite database that iPhones use to store messages. Your backup must be unencrypted. If you enabled “Encrypt local backup” in Finder or iTunes, the message database will be unreadable. Create a new backup with encryption turned off.

According to OpenAI’s current API data usage policy, data sent through the API is not used to train their models. This app uses the OpenAI API (not the ChatGPT consumer product), which has stricter data handling policies. Additionally, with anonymization enabled, even the data that reaches OpenAI contains no real personal identifiers.

Absolutely. The AI analysis is entirely optional. You can select your backup folder, use the search and filter tools to find specific messages, and export the filtered results as CSV or JSON. No data is sent anywhere when you only extract, filter, and export.

Yes. If you previously exported messages as CSV or JSON, you can drag that file onto the upload area to reload them instantly. This skips the large backup processing step entirely and gives you full access to search, filter, export, and AI analysis.

For large message sets, the AI splits your messages into manageable chunks, analyzes each chunk in parallel, then synthesizes the results into a single comprehensive report. This handles conversations of any size while keeping analysis fast.

Yes. After loading your iPhone backup, click 'Add Messages' to import exports from WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Messages, Telegram, or Signal. Messages from all platforms are merged into one chronological timeline. AI analysis automatically detects cross-platform patterns like switching apps to avoid records or changes in tone between platforms.

Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you want to export. Tap the contact or group name at the top to open Chat Info. Scroll down and tap "Export Chat" (on Android: tap the three-dot menu, then More, then Export chat). Choose "Without Media" to keep the file small. Save or share the .txt file to your computer via AirDrop, email, or cloud storage. Each chat must be exported separately — the file will be named like "WhatsApp Chat with John.txt". Upload it in the "Add More Messages" section after loading your iPhone backup.

Go to facebook.com/dyi (Facebook's "Download Your Information" page) while logged in. Click "Request a download" or "Download Your Information". Change the format from HTML to JSON — this is important. Deselect everything, then select only "Messages" to keep the download small. Click "Create File" and wait for Facebook to prepare it (this can take a few minutes to several hours). Download the ZIP file, extract it, and find your conversation folder inside messages/inbox/. Upload the message_1.json file from the conversation you want to analyze.

Go to takeout.google.com (Google Takeout) while logged into your Google account. Click "Deselect all" to start fresh, then scroll down and check only "Messages". Click "Next step", choose your export settings, then click "Create export". Wait for the email notification that your export is ready — this usually takes a few minutes. Download the ZIP file, extract it, and upload the JSON file from inside the extracted folder.

You need Telegram Desktop (download from desktop.telegram.org) — export is not available in the mobile or web app. Open the chat you want to export, click the three-dot menu at the top right, and select "Export chat history". Uncheck all media types to keep the file small. Set the format to "Machine-readable JSON". Click "Export" and wait for it to finish. Upload the result.json file from the export folder.

Signal does not have a built-in export feature due to its focus on privacy. You can use a third-party tool like signal-export (available at github.com/carderne/signal-export) to extract your messages as CSV. Follow the tool's installation instructions, run it to export your conversations, and upload the resulting CSV file. The CSV should have columns like timestamp, sender/from, and body/message — the app will auto-detect common column formats.