This article shows you how to print text messages received on your Android device for free. All you need is a computer to which a working printer is connected. To do this you can use the SMS Backup + application which allows you to create a backup copy of your SMS on a Gmail account. This will make it easy to print them using a normal computer. Alternatively, you can take a screenshot of the SMS to print and use Google Drive to share them on a computer.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Using SMS Backup +
Step 1. Download and install the SMS Backup + app
SMS Backup + will create a folder inside your Gmail mailbox where the backup copies of your SMS will be transferred. This way you will have the possibility to print them directly from your computer without any difficulty. Log in to Play Store Google by tapping the relevant icon
then follow these instructions:
- Select the search bar;
- Type the keywords sms backup +;
- Select the app SMS Backup + from the list of results;
- Push the button Install;
- When prompted, press the button I accept.
Step 2. Launch the SMS Backup + app
Push the button You open of the Play Store that appeared at the end of the installation or touch the SMS Backup + application icon in the "Applications" panel of the device.
Step 3. Press the OK button when prompted
You will be redirected to the main application screen.
Step 4. Connect the app to your Gmail profile
Push the button Connect placed in the center of the screen, select the Google account synchronized with the device, when prompted press the button Allow and finally press the button Backup. In this way the app will be synchronized with the chosen Google account and all the SMS on the device will be saved on the latter.
Step 5. Back up your messages manually
If the option to automatically backup SMS does not appear after connecting the app to your Google account, press the button Backup at the top of the screen and wait for the data transfer to complete.
At the top of the screen you can check the progress of the backup process
Step 6. Log in to Gmail using a computer
Type the URL https://www.gmail.com/ into the address bar of the browser you prefer and provide the login credentials to your Gmail account (email address and password) if requested.
If the inbox of a Gmail account other than the one synchronized with the Android device in use is displayed, click the circular icon relating to the profile picture in the upper right corner of the browser window, press the button Add account and log in with the correct account.
Step 7. Go to the SMS folder
It is displayed within the left sidebar of the Gmail web interface. In some cases you may need to select the item first Other to be able to locate the indicated folder. You will see the contents of the Gmail label created automatically by the SMS Backup + app related to the backup copies of the SMS stored on the Android device.
Step 8. Enter a conversation
Select the conversation you want to print. This will display the most recent messages contained within it.
Text messages will be saved grouped by the name of the contact who sent them. For example, if you have received 100 messages from a contact named Luca, within the Gmail label you will find an email with the subject "SMS with Luca" and the value "(100)" next to the name
Step 9. Select the "Print All" option by clicking the icon
It is located in the upper right part of the box relating to the content of the selected email, to the right of the line of text relating to the subject. The print dialog will be displayed.
Step 10. Print your text messages
If necessary, select the printer to use, verify that the print settings for the use of colors and the orientation of the sheets are set correctly, then press the button. Press. If the computer is properly connected to the printer and the printer is running, the selected SMS will be printed on paper.
Method 2 of 2: Using Screenshots
Step 1. Launch the Android Messages app
Tap its icon. This will display all the SMS present on the device, grouped into individual conversations based on the sender's name.
This method is compatible with any messaging application, including those of social networks, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Voice, etc
Step 2. Select a conversation
Tap the collection of SMS you want to print. A detailed list of all the SMS you have received and sent to the chosen contact will be displayed.
Step 3. Take the screenshot of the SMS you want to print
In some cases you may need to scroll up or down the list of messages in the conversation to display the content of what you want to print on paper on the screen.
Step 4. Take screenshots of the rest of the conversation
If you need to print all the messages in the selected conversation, virtually divide it into sections and take a screenshot for each of them. When you have completed this step you can continue.
Step 5. Launch the Google Drive app
Tap its icon characterized by a stylized yellow, green and blue triangle.
Step 6. Press the ＋ button
It is located in the lower right corner of the main Google Drive screen. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 7. Choose the Upload option
It is one of the items listed in the menu that appeared.
Step 8. Select the Screenshots album
It is listed within the list of folders you can upload images from.
Step 9. Select the SMS screenshots to print
Press and hold the first image you want to upload to Google Drive, then select the rest of the screenshots to print.
Step 10. Press the Open button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. All the images you have chosen will be uploaded to Google Drive.
Step 11. Log in to the Google Drive website using your computer
Type the URL https://drive.google.com/ into the address bar of the internet browser you prefer, then, if requested, log in by providing the login credentials of the same account with which the Android device is synchronized.
If Google Drive is linked to an account other than the one with which you took the screenshots, click the circular icon in the upper right corner of the browser window that shows the image of the current profile in use, press the button Add account, then log in with the correct profile.
Step 12. Select the screenshots to print
Hold down the Ctrl (on Windows) or ⌘ Command (on Mac) key while clicking the mouse on each of the screenshots you need to print.
Step 13. Download the chosen images to your computer
Press the ⋮ button in the upper right corner of the Google Drive web interface, then choose the option Download from the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 14. Extract the ZIP archive you just downloaded
All selected screenshots will be saved on your computer as a ZIP file. The process for unzipping a ZIP archive varies depending on the platform you are using (Windows or Mac):
- Windows - double-click the ZIP file icon to unzip, access the tab Extract of the appeared window, select the icon Extract everything, push the button Extract and wait for the file extraction process to complete.
- Mac - double-click the ZIP archive icon to unzip and wait for the file extraction process to complete.
Step 15. Select the screenshots to print
Click the first image to include in the selection, then press the key combination Ctrl + A (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + A (on Mac) to select all the screenshots present.
Step 16. Access the "Print" dialog box
Press the key combination Ctrl + P on Windows or ⌘ Command + P on Mac.
- If you are using a Windows computer, you can access the tab Share, located at the top of the window, and press the button Press located inside the "Send" group of the ribbon.
- If you are using a Mac, go to the menu File, located at the top of the screen, and select the option Press….
Step 17. Print the selected screenshots
If necessary, select the printer to use, verify that the print settings for the use of colors and the orientation of the sheets are set correctly, then press the button. Press. If the computer is properly connected to the printer and the printer is running, the selected screenshots will be printed on paper.
