# Messages

> Your text conversations in Conversations, and where to turn the Messages source on.

Source: https://groupthink.com/docs/messages/
Last updated: 2026-10-05

**Messages** is one of the sources listed under **Conversations** in the left sidebar. It is the feed of your text conversations. This page says what the source shows and where its switch is. The two pages under [Related](#related) have the details.

## What it brings in

Text conversations, by two routes:

- **Pasting one thread.** See [Capture a Text Conversation](/docs/capture_texts).
- **Importing from Messages on a Mac.** See [Import Your Messages History on a Mac](/docs/messages_back_catalog).

Both end up in the same **Messages** feed.

## Turn it on

Pasting a thread has no switch. The Mac import does, and it is in the Messages pane:

1. In the left sidebar, click **Messages** under **Conversations**.
2. At the top of the page is the **Messages settings** pane. If it is closed, click **Source settings**.
3. Find the card called **Messages on this Mac**. In the Groupthink desktop app for Mac it shows **Off**.
4. Click **Turn on Messages import**.

The steps that follow are in [Import Your Messages History on a Mac](/docs/messages_back_catalog). Once it is set up, the card shows **On**. If it shows **Needs permission**, that page explains what to do.

On the web, the card shows **Mac app only** and has no button. The import is set up in the desktop app.

The pane also holds a second card, **Phone numbers from your Mac's Contacts**.

## What you see

The page is titled **Messages**, with this line under the title: "Text conversations you logged or imported, newest first."

Before anything has come in, the page reads **Nothing from Messages yet** and the **Messages settings** pane is open. Once there are conversations in the feed, the pane starts closed. Click **Source settings** to open it.

A dot appears on the **Source settings** button when Messages needs your attention.

## Related

- [Capture a Text Conversation](/docs/capture_texts): paste one thread and file it onto the right person.
- [Import Your Messages History on a Mac](/docs/messages_back_catalog): the Mac import, step by step.
- [Conversations](/docs/conversations): the full feed and the other sources.