I want to keep the messages on my iPhone forever, but delete messages on my iPad older than 30 days.
If I set Message History > Keep Messages > to 30 days on my iPad, is that going to sync with my iPhone and also delete my messages older than 30 days as well? How do I know for sure and not find out the hard way that all my messages (and memories) on iPhone beyond 30 days are all gone forever?
Here's what I'd like to know. If Messages on my iPad is turned off for iCloud, and I delete all messages to save space, while my iPhone has my entire history of messages and attachments...
If I then turn iCloud on for Messages on my iPad, does that delete all my messages on my iPhone, or does it bring all the messages on my iPhone to my iPad? Or neither?
My guess is that it should download all the messages from my iPhone since only my iPhone is synced to iCloud, and my iPad is not?
Thus, the best way to delete the several gigabytes of space that Messages is taking on my iPad is to turn off iCloud for Messages, and then delete everything, and then I won't worry about losing anything on my iPhone?
Here's what I'd like to know. If Messages on my iPad is turned off for iCloud, and I delete all messages to save space, while my iPhone has my entire history of messages and attachments...
If I then turn iCloud on for Messages on my iPad, does that delete all my messages on my iPhone, or does it bring all the messages on my iPhone to my iPad? Or neither?
My guess is that it should download all the messages from my iPhone since only my iPhone is synced to iCloud, and my iPad is not?
Thus, the best way to delete the several gigabytes of space that Messages is taking on my iPad is to turn off iCloud for Messages, and then delete everything, and then I won't worry about losing anything on my iPhone?
Hey Tux Kapono,
If you turn off iCloud on the iPad first, deleting content is isolated to the iPad. If you turn it back on, it would sync the iCloud messages content back to your iPad. The first article has more information.
"If you use Messages in iCloud and delete a message, photo, or conversation on one device, it’s removed from all of your devices."
Delete and recover messages on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
If your goal is to manage the space on the iPad, this article has more information. How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support
"In the Storage section of Settings, your device might offer recommendations for optimizing your storage. To optimize your storage:
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. Have a good one.
Hello Tux Kapono,
If you are not using Messages in iCloud (explained here: Use Messages in iCloud), then you are able to set different preferences for how long your messages can be kept.
Let us know if we can help with anything else at all. Thanks and have a fabulous day!
Trying to clear space on my iPad by deleting message history there, but not on iPhone
