Deleting new messages on Apple Watch deletes all the message on iPhone

Product Feedback - Apple

You need to send feedback only way to get it corrected

Deleting an iMessage on the watch would remove it from the watch only. Now it’s deleting them from the phone. It’s a complete surprise to anyone that has used an Apple Watch and iMessages in the last 10 years because it’s the complete opposite of what we expect. By habit many (most) read the message on the watch and delete it knowing the full quality original is on the phone. Now doing something that’s a habit deleted not only the newest message but the entire thread. At least we can retrieve them from the Recently Deleted because it hasn’t been 30 days from the release.

With that tone, have you used an Apple Watch and iMessages?

A lot of people delete messages from their watch. If you don’t then why are you even commenting on this? Some like to keep things organized, or only have the ppl they message daily or frequently on their watch. It’s easy access without having to get out your phone. An if you delete all the unwanted messages from your watch it makes it easier to find those select few you want to message faster. I keep ALL my messages on my phone unless I choose to delete the whole thread because that person is no longer someone I talk to.

This is so frustrating! I don’t want tons of messages on my Apple Watch. I only keep a few that I usually text a lot on my watch. I don’t want to scroll through all of them to find who I need. Please fix this issue!

We definitely need an update to correct this. I too, only keep a few text threads on my iWatch. I am tired of having to recover threads on my iPhone. Come on Apple lets get this fixed ASAP!

Prior to updating to IOS 18.0.1, I could delete my messages from my iWatch and they were not affected on my iPhone. The only option I can find is to turn off iCloud synching of my messages. That is not an option for me, I need to be able to back them up.

And not to mention let alone it’s not even a hard press to delete all your messages on the watch at once 😮‍💨 the process of deleting 5 messages is **** 🥵

Thank you so much for posting this! I didn’t even think of this and was so upset I thought I lost my messages forever.

I like having all messages on my phone but keeping my watch clear to the text messages I get during that day. Easier to know what messages I get during work. Keeps myself more organized. I’ve been reading just from this thread that a lot of people like to keep their watches clean and not filled with all messages.

I do not want to load the memory of my watch. I keep the conversation on my phone memory. I can reply back quicker knowing who write me last from the conversation messages. I keep my important things to do on my watch. My mom text me her grocery list. I delete the message from my watch to free it and later I read it from my phone! I got the notification wich is fine and keep it for later on my phoe with all the pictures she sent me. This is only 1 clear exemple, I have a lot!

i'm wondering why I did the upgrade and now every time I delete a message off my watch I have to go and get it back on my phone cause it's deleting it on my phone as well and I'm not liking this. Is there anyway we can fix this?

Beckster8806 wrote:

Oh wow I really hope they do another update to change it back to how it was!

Apple doesn't read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

funkygal25 wrote:

This is the absolute worst update ever. I would rather keep my messages on my phone and be able to clear my watch without them disappearing on my phone like it always did. I HATE IT! Also, why hasn’t there ever been a way to revert back and undo the last update?

Well, apparently millions of users thought that deleting messages from an Watch should work exactly the same way as deleting them from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and told that to Apple over and over though the feedback link. I’ve seen countless posts saying so. You can give your opinion the same way→Product Feedback - Apple

And the reason you can’t revert updates is because all updates include security patches, and reverting would make devices vulnerable to the malware that the updates blocked.

Slim980 wrote:

i'm wondering why I did the upgrade and now every time I delete a message off my watch I have to go and get it back on my phone cause it's deleting it on my phone as well and I'm not liking this. Is there anyway we can fix this?

That is the way it is now. This is the fix to a problem people have been complaining about since the watch was released.

You can let Apple know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

If never worked like what in 10 yrs? Explain yourself please, thank you