How to Copy SMS Messages From a Phone

The average cell-phone user sends or receives an average of 12 messages per day, according to Nielsen. With this number of texts coming in, it's easy to see how your inbox can quickly become full. If you would like to save some of these texts rather than deleting them, a simple solution is to copy them from your phone to an online storage service. This way, they're backed up and you won't lose them.

• 1

  Purchase a SIM (subscriber identity module) data management kit. This lets you connect your SIM card to your computer and gives you a software program that can read it. As of 2010, you can purchase one of these kits for $60 to $150 (see Resources).

• 2

  Turn your PC on and place the software CD into your drive. Click "Yes" when it asks you to confirm you wish to install it, and agree to the "Terms and Conditions." Click "Next" and wait for the program to install. Restart your computer.

• 3

  Power your phone off and detach the battery from its compartment. Unplug the SIM card and slide it out.

• 4

  Insert the SIM card into the data manager device. Plug the data manager into the USB port of your computer. Wait for the PC's operating system to recognize the device and install the drivers, then click "OK."

• 5

  Click the "Start Menu" on your computer and open up the software application that you installed. Wait for it to open. Once it does, a window appears. Click "File" and "Download SMS Messages." The window should fill with your texts. You have successfully copied them to your computer.