https://github.com/ReagentX/imessage-exporter

Export iMessage data + run iMessage Diagnostics
https://github.com/ReagentX/imessage-exporter

apple backup cli-app export imessage reverse-engineering

Last synced: 3 months ago
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Export iMessage data + run iMessage Diagnostics

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/ReagentX/imessage-exporter
• Owner: ReagentX
• License: gpl-3.0
• Created: 2022-05-05T02:33:49.000Z (over 2 years ago)
• Default Branch: develop
• Last Pushed: 2024-10-23T05:06:54.000Z (3 months ago)
• Last Synced: 2024-10-29T11:29:52.367Z (3 months ago)
• Topics: apple, backup, cli-app, export, imessage, reverse-engineering
• Language: Rust
• Homepage:
• Size: 14.3 MB
• Stars: 2,993
• Watchers: 26
• Forks: 122
• Open Issues: 3
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • License: LICENSE

Awesome Lists containing this project

• Awesome-iPhoneBlog.de-List - ReagentX/imessage-exporter: Export MacOS iMessage data + run iMessage Diagnostics
• starred - ReagentX/imessage-exporter - Export iMessage data + run iMessage Diagnostics (Rust)
• project-awesome - ReagentX/imessage-exporter - Export iMessage data + run iMessage Diagnostics (Rust)

README

        
# imessage-exporter

This crate provides both a library to interact with iMessage data as well as a binary that can perform some useful read-only operations using that data. The aim of this project is to provide the most comprehensive and accurate representation of iMessage data available.

This software can:

- Save, export, backup, and archive iMessage data to open, portable formats

- Preserve multimedia content (images, videos, audio) from conversations

- Facilitate easy migration of message history between devices and platforms

- Run diagnostics on the iMessage database

- Give you full ownership and control over your communication history

- Support compliance with data retention policies or legal requirements

- Run on macOS, Linux, and Windows

## Example Export

![HTML Export Sample](/docs/hero.png)

## Binary

The `imessage-exporter` binary exports iMessage data to `txt` or `html` formats. It can also run diagnostics to find problems with the iMessage database.

Installation instructions for the binary are located [here](imessage-exporter/README.md).

## Library

The `imessage_database` library provides models that allow us to access iMessage information as native data structures.

Documentation for the library is located [here](imessage-database/README.md).

### Supported Features

This crate supports every iMessage feature as of macOS 15.0.1 (24A348) and iOS 18.0.1 (22A3370):

- Multi-part messages

- Replies/Threads

- Formatted text

- Attachments

- Expressives

- Tapbacks

- Stickers

- Apple Pay

- URL Previews

- App Integrations

- Edited messages

- Handwritten messages

See more detail about supported features [here](docs/features.md).

## Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQ document is located [here](/docs/faq.md).

## Special Thanks

- All of my friends, for putting up with me sending them random messages to test things

- [SQLiteFlow](https://www.sqliteflow.com), the SQL viewer I used to explore and reverse engineer the iMessage database

- [Xplist](https://github.com/ic005k/Xplist), an invaluable tool for reverse engineering the `payload_data` plist format

- [Compart](https://www.compart.com/en/unicode/), an amazing resource for looking up esoteric unicode details

- [Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/darwin_0.1), for hosting the Darwin source referenced in reverse engineering the `typedstream` format