How to View Text Messages on iCloud: Full Guide

iCloud is a fantastic way to back up and sync photos, notes, messages, contacts, reminders, and other documents. You could restore your iPhone and iPad from iCloud backup when your devices are stuck on an iOS update or you need to switch to a new device. Besides, with the same Apple ID, you can easily see messages on another iPhone when they are synced to iCloud.

However, for some reason, iPhone users, like the one above, may want to know how to browse your text messages on iCloud. Is it possible to operate? Apple doesn't allow users to check what their iCloud backup files are and where their iCloud backups are saved. If you want to make it, you could access messages via iPhones or computers.

How to view text messages on iCloud from iPhone

When you log in to your iCloud account on iCloud.com with your Apple ID and password, you could view photos, notes, calendar, contacts, reminders, mails, and other documents but messages are excluded. Because messages on iCloud are stored in a non-accessible format.

If you want to see text messages on iCloud from iPhone, you could restore an iCloud backup or sync messages to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Follow the steps below to access text messages on iCloud from iPhone.

Step 1. On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, Open “Settings” > [your name] > “iCloud”, and then turn on Messages. The messages on your iPhone will be uploaded to iCloud.

Step 2. To view text messages on iCloud, you could log in with your Apple ID on another iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Keep the Internet connection, your messages will be synced on the targeted iOS device.

How to see messages on iCloud from PC/Mac

iCloud Messages can also be browsed on your Mac and PC.

How to view text messages on iCloud from Mac

You can access iMessage or text messages on Mac if you sign in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone. Furthermore, if you have enabled Messages in iCloud on iOS 11.4 or later, the iPhone messages will sync with Mac.

Step 1. On your Mac, Open “Messages”. In the dock option, choose “Messages” > “Preferences”.

Step 2. Click “iMessage” > tick “Enable Messages in iCloud”.

Then you can see your messages within the Messages app on Mac.

Access text messages on iCloud from PC

To see text messages in iCloud from PC, you can go to iCloud.com to browse it or use the freeware named FoneTool to make it. It’s an awesome way to back up text messages without iCloud. Except for messages, you could view photos, music, videos, and contacts on your iPhone and iCloud.

★Key features of FoneTool

Quickly back up iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch photos, videos, music, contacts, messages, etc.

Easily transfer data from iPhone to iPhone, iPhone to PC and vice versa.

Manage iPhone/iPad storage and data flexibly. 

Compatible with the latest iOS 17 and iPhone 15.

Step 1. Download and install FoneTool on your computer. Connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB cable. Tap “Trust” on your iPhone to trust the computer.

Step 2. Disable Messages in iCloud sync by going to “Settings” > [Your Name] > “iCloud” > turn off Messages and download all messages stored on iCloud to your iPhone.

Step 3. Launch FoneTool > Go to Phone Backup > Choose Selective Backup > Click Get Started > Choose Messages to select the text messages you need.

Step 4. Set a backup storage path to save the messages and then click “Start Backup” to begin the task.

Once the process is complete, you can go to My Backups > Click the targeted backup and tap on View dot to browse your text messages on PC.

How to view deleted text messages on iCloud

If you accidentally deleted text messages, the best way to view deleted text messages is to restore your iPhone from iCloud backup. Before the steps to recover deleted text messages, you need to confirm you haven’t turned on iCloud sync in settings. Otherwise, the deleted text messages will be deleted permanently. Follow the steps below to restore your iPhone via iCloud backup.

Step 1. Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Transfer or Reset iPhone”/ “Reset” > “Erase All Content and Settings”.

Step 2. Your iPhone will restart and follow the setup wizard to reset the iPhone. When comes to the “Apps & Data” screen, select “Restore from iCloud Backup”.

Step 3. Sign in to your Apple ID to check the iCloud backup list and select the backup that contains the deleted text messages to recover.

These are all about how to view text messages on iCloud.

Bonus tip: How to transfer text messages from the old to the new iPhone

To transfer text messages from the old to new iPhone, the best way is to use an iPhone transfer freeware - FoneTool. It can help you easily transfer all data including text messages from iPhone to iPhone in one click even if they are using different Apple IDs.

Now you can download FoneTool on your Windows PC and follow the steps to make it. You could also transfer text messages from iPhone to iPad with this feature.

Step 1. Click the "Phone Transfer" on the left bar of the FoneTool home interface > Go to iPhone to iPhone and click "Get Started".

Step 2. The source and target devices will be listed. You could enable backup encryption to protect data in the source device. And then click “Start Transfer” to complete how to transfer data from one Apple ID to another.

The bottom line

Hopefully, you get to know how to view text messages on iCloud from iPhone and PC/Mac in this guide. You need another iOS device to view text messages stored on iCloud or restore your iPhone from iCloud backup to view the deleted text messages.

To keep your text messages safe, it’s advised to make iPhone data backup via iCloud/iTunes or use the freeware phone tool - FoneTool to selectively back up iPhone. You need to disable Messages in the iCloud sync function first to make sure text messages are included in backup files.

Moreover, if you want to quickly and stably transfer multiple photos, videos, music, and files from iPhone to iPhone or Android to iPhone, you could go to this download page to get FoneTool's mobile app.