Backing up messages

vrcook wrote:

I do NOT have Messages set up so that they may all be viewed on my Macbook. I want to save text strings on my iPhone in Messages for viewing later, and go ahead and delete them off the phone. I thought I had set Messages from either device to be saved to iCloud, but when I log into iCloud, I do not see the icon, in order to open stored message/text strings and read them. Can I do this in iCloud? I see a block of my storage dedicated to Messages so I assume they are there.

You won't be able to save or sync to icloud and delete message off your phone, it doesn't work that way.

Read here icloud backups What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support

Read here syncing with icloud Use Messages in iCloud - Apple Support

You'll need to buy a 3rd party software like touch copy to do what you want.