How do I install the Messages skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add cardmagic/messages in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Messages safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Messages?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Messages free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Messages?

cardmagic (@cardmagic) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Messages by cardmagic — Agent Skill

Name: Messages
Author: cardmagic

Messages

Fuzzy search and browse Apple Messages/iMessage — find texts, search by contact or date, view conversation threads, list recent messages, and check who texted. Use when user asks to find texts, search messages, look up conversations, find what someone said, filter messages by sender or date range, who texted recently, or view recent messages.

cardmagic 36d45d4 2.0 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

messages

Fuzzy search and browse Apple Messages using the messages CLI tool.

Installation

If the messages CLI is not installed, install it:

git clone https://github.com/cardmagic/messages.git
cd messages && make install

Requirements:

macOS with Apple Messages
Node.js 22+
Full Disk Access for terminal (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access)

Browse Commands

Browse recent messages and conversations (no search query needed):

# Show most recent messages (answers "who texted me?")
messages recent

# List contacts by recent activity
messages contacts --limit 10

# List conversations with message counts
messages conversations

# Show recent messages from/to a specific person
messages from "John"

# Show full conversation thread with someone
messages thread "John" --after 2024-12-01

Search Commands

Fuzzy search through message content with typo tolerance:

# Rebuild index and search (recommended for first use or after new messages)
messages index-and-search "search query"

# Search with filters
messages search "query" --from "John"
messages search "query" --after 2024-06-01
messages search "query" --limit 25
messages search "query" --context 5

# Combine filters
messages search "dinner" --from "Mom" --after 2024-01-01 --limit 15

Filtering tips: Sender filter supports partial matches (--from "John" matches "John Smith") and phone numbers (--from "+1555"). Use quotes around multi-word search terms: "dinner plans".

Utility Commands

# Check index stats (message count, date range, etc.)
messages stats

# Rebuild index only (without searching)
messages index

---name: messagesdescription: Fuzzy search and browse Apple Messages/iMessage — find texts, search by contact or date, view conversation threads, list recent messages, and check who texted. Use when user asks to find texts, search messages, look up conversations, find what someone said, filter messages by sender or date range, who texted recently, or view recent messages.---# messagesFuzzy search and browse Apple Messages using the `messages` CLI tool.## InstallationIf the `messages` CLI is not installed, install it:```bashgit clone https://github.com/cardmagic/messages.gitcd messages && make install```**Requirements:**- macOS with Apple Messages- Node.js 22+- Full Disk Access for terminal (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access)## Browse CommandsBrowse recent messages and conversations (no search query needed):```bash# Show most recent messages (answers "who texted me?")messages recent# List contacts by recent activitymessages contacts --limit 10# List conversations with message countsmessages conversations# Show recent messages from/to a specific personmessages from "John"# Show full conversation thread with someonemessages thread "John" --after 2024-12-01```## Search CommandsFuzzy search through message content with typo tolerance:```bash# Rebuild index and search (recommended for first use or after new messages)messages index-and-search "search query"# Search with filtersmessages search "query" --from "John"messages search "query" --after 2024-06-01messages search "query" --limit 25messages search "query" --context 5# Combine filtersmessages search "dinner" --from "Mom" --after 2024-01-01 --limit 15```**Filtering tips:** Sender filter supports partial matches (`--from "John"` matches "John Smith") and phone numbers (`--from "+1555"`). Use quotes around multi-word search terms: `"dinner plans"`.## Utility Commands```bash# Check index stats (message count, date range, etc.)messages stats# Rebuild index only (without searching)messages index```

Frequently asked questions