Help users express themselves in richer ways, create and share content, play games, make payments, and more — without ever leaving their conversations. Learn how to prepare, build, and submit apps for the App Store for iMessage. And businesses can connect with customers directly within Messages for customer support and commerce. Your iMessage apps will be available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iMessage.

Apple created a new message service called iMessage for iOS 5 users that allows user to send unlimited text messages via Wi-Fi or 3G from their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to any one with one of those devices. IMessage is built into the Message app that allows users to send text, photos, videos, locations and contacts, basically iMessage is great combination of both MMS and instant messaging. Meanwhile, Epic has filed a brief with testimony from Apple execs regarding the iPhone’s iMessenger app. Statements in the brief include word from 2013 that iMessage could also have an Android version of the app to let users of both platforms “exchange messages with one another seamlessly,” but plans to do so were tamped down by other. IMessage is very useful for users to explore and influence others in the field of iOS. If you’re an iPhone user, then you must be using iMessage for sure. Because it is easy, fast, and supports the sharing of multimedia files and attractive stickers. Mac users can use iMessage as well, which makes it easy to access messages on their computer.

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Sticker Packs

Help users express themselves in richer ways by providing stickers for download on the App Store for iMessage.

Sticker Pack App

Users can tap to send stickers in a thread, adjust their size, or place them on top of bubbles, other stickers, and photos. There’s no need to write code — simply drag your images into Xcode. Sticker packs can be listed in the Stickers category and relevant Stickers subcategories on the App Store for iMessage.

Sticker Pack Extension

If you have an iOS app, you can bundle it with a sticker pack or an iMessage extension. The sticker pack is listed on the App Store for iMessage in the same category and with the same description as your iOS app on the App Store. Users who download your iOS app will automatically see the sticker pack in iMessage.

iMessage Apps

Users can share content, edit photos, play games, collaborate with friends, and more within a custom interface that you design.

Standalone iMessage App

Your app can include stickers, text, video, and audio. You can also use code to add functionality such as Apple Pay and in-app purchase. Choose to list your app in the Stickers category or another relevant category on the App Store for iMessage.

iMessage Extension

An iMessage extension can include the same features as a standalone iMessage app, and allow users to access features of your iOS app within Messages. Your iMessage app will be listed on the App Store for iMessage in the same category and with the same description as your iOS app on the App Store.

Business Chat

Customers can use Business Chat to engage with your business within Messages. Find how to get started and help customers resolve issues, schedule appointments, make purchases, or make payments with Apple Pay.

Building Apps for iMessage

Download Xcode. Get the latest version of Xcode, which includes the iOS SDK and the tools you need to build, test, and submit your app to the App Store for iMessage.

Learn about the Messages framework. Find technical details on the Messages framework, which you’ll use to create sticker packs and iMessage apps.

Check the Guidelines. Learn about considerations for extensions and stickers in the App Store Review Guidelines. All submitted apps are reviewed based on this set of technical, content, and design criteria.

Getting Ready to Submit

Once you’re ready, use App Store Connect to test your app, prepare your product page, and submit. TestFlight in App Store Connect lets you distribute beta versions of your apps for valuable feedback. You can invite up to 10,000 testers using just their email address or a public link.

App Icon. Create and upload two sizes of your icon: one for the App Store for iMessage, and one for the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Download design templates to help create your icon in the required sizes from Human Interface Guidelines: Resources.

App Name, Subtitle, and Description. You can use the terms iMessage and Stickers in your app name, subtitle, or description. If you use these terms, don’t repeat them in your keywords, and vice versa.

Keywords. Carefully choose your keywords to ensure your app is easily discoverable in App Store search. Keywords are limited to 100 characters total, with words separated by commas and no spaces.

Screenshots. Showcase the iMessage experience by uploading up to five screenshots per localization on your app’s version page in My Apps. When showing conversations in Messages, make sure the information and accounts you display are not real. Do not display phone numbers.

App Preview. Your app preview footage demonstrates the features, functionality, and UI of your app. For iOS apps with iMessage or sticker extensions, you can show both the iOS app experience and the iMessage app experience. Do not show the Home screen or the transition from the app to the extension. App previews are displayed on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and are not displayed on the App Store for iMessage.

Category. The App Store for iMessage shows apps browsable by primary categories. The Stickers category appears at the top of the category list and also contains subcategories. This category is only available to standalone sticker pack apps and iMessage apps. You can choose Stickers as the primary category and one Stickers subcategory.

Categories for iMessage or sticker pack extensions are taken from the corresponding iOS app and used on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iMessage. iOS apps with iMessage or sticker pack extensions can’t choose the Stickers category.

For details on product page metadata, see Making the Most of Your Product Page. For details on the submission process, see App Store Connect Help.

Linking to Your Product Page

Once your app is approved, it will be available to millions of customers worldwide. Your marketing has the biggest impact when users can instantly download your app, so link directly to your product page on the App Store for iMessage by adding ?app=messages to the end of your App Store URL. If your URL already has an App Analytics campaign link or other query parameter, add &app=messages to the end of your App Store URL.

If you don’t include this parameter in your App Store URL, or if users are on an operating system earlier than iOS 10, the link will open the product page on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and users can download your app from there.

Requirements

iMessage apps are available on devices running iOS 10 or later. However, the content that your app generates will be sent to, and can be viewed on, macOS and watchOS devices.

If you plan to make your sticker pack available for purchase, you’ll need to set up your tax and banking information in App Store Connect. To do so, sign in to App Store Connect with the Apple ID you used to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. You’ll also need to request and accept the iOS Paid Applications agreement. This is not required for free sticker packs.

For details, see App Store Connect Help.

If you are wondering how do I extract data from an iPhone backup, then reading this post is a right choice. This Top 6 iPhone Backup Extractor Software review will help you choose the best one and tell you the detailed steps of how to extract the iPhone/iTunes backup.

iPhone Backup Tips

Apple encourages everyone to have a regular backup for an iPhone, iPad, and iPod. This way, you’ll have a backup copy of your information in case your device is ever lost, damaged, and replaced. What if the “misfortune” really happens someday? Do you have to buy another iPhone just for extracting your photos or text messages from the iTunes/iCloud backup? Before the iPhone Backup Extractor software comes to life, it seems impossible to recover your data from your iPhone backup.

Is iPhone Backup Extractor free? There are both free and paid iPhone backup extract tools and you can choose according to your needs. Next, we will show you some of them.

Can you extract photos from an iPhone backup? Here we list some top iPhone backup extractor tools you can have a try.

1. PhoneRescue for iOS

As a professional iPhone backup extractor, PhoneRescue – iOS data recovery is the best one you should try if you do want to extract your data from your backups. Also, if you’re facing a severe iOS data deletion or corruption disaster, it can solve the issue efficiently.

• PhoneRescue for iOS is fully capable of extracting different types of files from iTunes/iCloud backup without connecting to the iPhone, like photos, contacts, messages, notes, etc.
• You can preview and selectively choose certain data types you want with PhoneRescue, and import them directly to iPhone apps, or to the computer while you are unable to view iTunes/iCloud backup content before you restore.
• In addition, PhoneRescue for iOS can recover data from iPhone, such as photos, contacts, call history, messages, safari history, app data, voicemail, voice memo, and so on.
• The iOS Repair Tool feature of PhoneRescue also allows you to fix iOS system issues when your iPhone is stuck or freeze.

You can now download PhoneRescue for iOS free trial on your computer to have a try:

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Top iPhone Backup Extractor – PhoneRescue

Advantages:

• Extract lost/deleted iPhone data from iCloud/iTunes Backup, even it is an encrypted one.
• Exported iOS files can be saved in your wanted formats, such as HTML/ V-Card/VCF/Text.
• Preview data before extracting, which means you can select and extract only your wanted items.
• [NEW] Integrated iOS Repairing Tools – PhoneRescue has expanded the recovering power from specific data to the whole iOS system. When an iOS device runs into a system crash，it can be fully fixed within a single click.
• [NEW] Phone to Phone Recovery – Directly extract data from iPhone/ iTunes/iCloud backup and import the data to a new iPhone on the fly.

Disadvantages:

• Free to scan and preview, but you need to pay for it if you want to extract some files from iTunes or iCloud backup to computer or iDevice. Check out the price plan of PhoneRescue for iOS.

Step 1. Run PhoneRescue for iOS on a computer.

Download PhoneRescue for iOS on a computer and launch it once you installed it successfully. You can connect your iPhone iPad iPod to the computer or not. And then you can choose a backup to extract. The Recover from Backup option and Recover from iCloud tab are here for you to click.

Step 2. Choose the backup.

Now you can choose one backup to download. The software was default to download all the content the backup owned. You can unselect all contents and get the exact one. Like the messages, click on Messages and tap the OK to go on.

Choose Messages to Export

Step 3. Preview the data and export them.

Once the tool finishes the download and scanning process, you will see all these data are listed on the screen. You can click on the To Computer button to get them from backup to your computer, or (if you connected your iPhone to the computer) you can click on the To iPhone to extract these data to your device.

Well, you can also use PhoneRescue for iOS to extract your backup data from iCloud as easily as from iTunes backup. As a professional data recovery tool, you can retrieve the exact ones as you want with PhoneRescue for iOS while the iTunes/iCloud won’t provide a choice, no matter you got a device besides you or not, no matter the device is broken or works great. Just give it a try and make things easier.

2. AnyTrans

AnyTrans is acknowledged as a must-have iPhone data manager. How do I extract data from an iPhone backup? AnyTrans also does a great job of backing up & extracting your iPhone/iCloud backup.

• With it, you can make a regular backup of your iPhone without iTunes, after that, you can also freely view and extract the iPhone backup you made with AnyTrans.
• You can also use the iCloud Manager feature to log in with multiple iCloud accounts to view, download, and extract data from iCloud backup to the computer.
• It allows you to view and download files from the backup including photos, contacts, messages, call logs, calendars, etc.
• You can use it to manually backup your iPhone or just use the Air Backup feature to backup over the air.
• AnyTrans also does you a big favor on data transferring, it’s quite easy to transfer data from one iPhone to another, or from android to iPhone, or from iPhone to computer, and vice versa.

Here you can freely download AnyTrans on both your Windows and Mac to have a try:

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

iPhone Backup Extractor & Manager – AnyTrans

Advantages:

• It is a full-way iPhone manager, cannot only extract your iPhone backup but also backup and transfer your data;
• The simple and clear design brings everything into focus, extracting your iPhone backup data in a few clicks;
• Fully compatible with all iPhone/iPad/iPod models and iOS versions;
• It also lets you transfer data among iDevice, computer, iTunes, and iCloud.

Disadvantages:

• Free to scan and preview backup files, and you have items limits for export so you need to upgrade to the pro version if you want to extract more files from backup. Check the price plan of AnyTrans here: Buy AnyTrans >

3. iPhone Backup Extractor

This software is named as “iPhone Backup Extractor“, which is compatible with all the iDevices and available on both Mac/PC operation systems. With it, you can easily get your iTunes backup information and extract data from iTunes backup on a computer.

Advantages:

• Available on Mac/PC operation systems.
• Can extract data from iPhone backup or iCloud backup.
• With expert mode to extract iPhone backup.

Disadvantages:

• It’s a paid software too.

4. iBackup Extractor

iBackup Extractor can find all iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad backups on your computer and lets you recover your files with ease. With iBackup Extractor, you can extract iMessages, call logs, bookmarks, calendars, and other data from iTunes backup.

Advantages:

• Can extract files from any iTunes Backup of iOS devices.
• Available on Mac and Windows computers.
• Free trial to extract 50 items and can retrieve deleted iPhone data.

Disadvantages:

• Cannot extract data from iCloud backup.
• Cannot fully scan iTunes backup.
• With few Export-formats available.

5. iSkysoft Toolbox – Data Recovery (iOS)

iSkysoft Toolbox – Data Recovery (iOS) is similar to PhoneRescue for iOS, it cal recover data from iPhone and extract data from iPhone backups. It supports the iPhone iPad, iPod touch and works on PC and Mac.

iSkysoft Toolbox – Recover (iOS)

Advantages:

• Scan your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch directly to recover lost data.
• Extract data from the iTunes Backup for you to recover selected files.
• Extract data from iCloud Backup to retrieve selected files.

Disadvantages:

• You need to pay if you want to extract files from the backup.
• It doesn’t support encrypted iTunes backup files.

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6. iBackup Viewer

iMacTools iPhone Backup Viewer (iBackup Viewer) supports extracting almost all kinds of data from iPhone backup, including contacts, call history, messages, internet, photos and App data. With iBackup Viewer, you can easily scan and view data on your iTunes backup on the computer.

Advantages:

• Can find all of the iPhone backups on the computer.
• Can Browse and extract data from iTunes backup.
• Simple interface and easy-to-use.

Disadvantages:

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• Not freeware, you have to pay for it.
• Can’t recover the data that has been overwritten (not only PhoneRescue but also other iPhone backup extractor tools can’t).

FAQs: iPhone Backup Extractor Related Questions

First thing first. What is iPhone backup?

iPhone backup refers to the copying and archiving of iPhone data with iTunes/iCloud, so it can be used to restore an iPhone from the original after a data loss or iPhone upgrade event. iPhone backup usually has two purposes. One is to recover iPhone data after an iOS data disaster, be it for rescuing from iOS data deletion. The other is to set up an iPhone with the data from an earlier backup (how to transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone).

Then, what is iPhone Backup Extractor?

Whenever an iPhone backs up to your computer or to the iCloud server, iTunes/iCloud keeps nearly all of your device’s data and settings, like the messages, notes, bookmarks, app settings, and so forth. Regarding the iTunes backup on a Mac, files synced from your iPhone are stored in a backup folder in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. Three common file types are:

• Info.plist file in each folder tells you which folder corresponds to which device.
• Manifest.plist contains an encoded manifest, a list of those files backed up by iTunes along with info like their digital signature, size, permissions, and so forth.
• Several backup files using my backup extension contains semi-encrypted versions of all the backed up files.

What an iPhone backup extractor software does is, it locates/downloads your iTunes/iCloud backup folders, reads the Info.plist and Manifest.plist files so as to let you extract files based on a variety of file types. Usually, an iPhone backup software is capable of extracting data on your computer, but rare ones let you transfer the extracted files directly onto a new device.

Last, the criteria of a good Backup Extractor?

The criteria of the best iPhone backup extractor vary from users’ specific demands. Here are some key factors to consider when you need to extract your iOS backups.

#1. Compatibility

As Apple keeps rolling out a new version of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, compatibility is one of the key criteria for choosing a suitable iPhone backup extractor. You’d better check the model and iOS of your device to see if it is listed on the developer’s product specification page.

#2. Design & Easy-to-use

No one can bear the resident apps on his or her computer is ugly or hard to use. That’s why the design and usability of a Backup Extractor are also one of the key criteria.

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#3 . Cost

It’s our failure that we hardly deliver you all the BEST yet FREE iPhone/iTunes Backup Extractor solutions. As recovering your important personal information is crucial to your life, we believe commercial software products with expert support would bring the best result. Therefore, almost all the products we will review are paid software.

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The Bottom Line

The basic principle of choosing the best iPhone backup extractor tools is to find data on your iPhone backup and transfer them directly to your iPhone, instead of saving on the computer. So if you want to transfer files like pictures, voice memos, or contacts to your iPhone, it’s recommended to use AnyTrans for iOS. Otherwise, if the content you need has been deleted before, PhoneRescue offers you the pro-level iOS data recovery solution. Go Get AnyTrans or PhoneRescue for iOS to get started.

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