i no longer have my old phone. how do i get my old messages back?
Is there any way to restore old imessages if i no longer have the old phone?
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You need another device or computer. If a device and you were syncing Messages using iCloud, sign into Settings/Messages using the same Apple ID. Then go to Settings/Your Name, sign in using the same Apple ID. Then go to iCloud, and turn Messages syncing on. The sync is very, very slow. On a computer, go to Messages/Preferences/Accounts and create an account using the same Apple ID. Then go to System Preferences/iCloud (Apple ID for Catalina or later), sign in, and turn Messages syncing on.
If you weren't syncing Messages to iCloud, if you have a backup, you can it restore to another device. Restoring from a backup erases all data currently on your device. Any data newer than when the backup was made will be erased. A restore is an all or nothing restore. You can't access a backup to see the contents and only restore certain files.
Backup - Restore your device from an iCloud or iTunes backup.