Delete all messages on iPad but not iPhone.

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RWinAK Author

Level 1

4 points

Delete all messages on iPad but not iPhone.

This is exasperating. I've tried several methods suggested elsewhere in the community but nothing has worked.

My iPad (Model A1954 iPadOS 17.0.3) is running out of memory.
I don't need or want to use iMessage on my iPad
I want to delete all messages currently stored on my iPad.
I still want to use iCloud to store messages from my iPhone.
I'd like to continue to use iCloud on my iPad for other apps.

I've turned off Settings - Messages - iMessage
Then tried deleting Settings - General - iPad Storage - Top Conversation, Photos, etc
I still show storage being used .

iPad (1st generation)

Posted on Nov 20, 2023 4:57 PM

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Answer 1

RWinAK Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 21, 2023 11:42 AM in response to LotusPilot

Well, it seems that there is a lag somewhere because the steps I used above in my original post worked.

As an fyi there's a disconnect between what you suggest and what I see. From your reply above these settings do not exist:

"Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to OFF".
"Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to ON"

Once I've disabled Settings - Messages - iMessage to Off when I open the iMessage app I get a popup asking me to sign in. Signing in the enables iMessage.

Is there some setting that I need to change so that I'm seeing the same settings that you mention?

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Answer 2

Nov 20, 2023 5:28 PM in response to RWinAK

To delete Messages from your iPad and not your iPhone, from iPad settings:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to OFF

Now, on your iPhone...:

If you wish to continue forward SMS messages received by your iPhone to your iPad - where they can be read and then deleted from the iPad alone:

Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to ON - and explicitly enable your iPad from the list of devices

If you don't want to forward SMS messages received by your iPhone to your iPad:

Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to OFF

Back on your iPad, having disabled iCloud Messages on the iPad, you can delete individual conversations from within the Messages App...

From the Messages sidebar tap the blue Edit button at top-left - and from the action menu, tap the Select Messages. Either swipe along the left-side of the list with your finger to bulk-select, or tap individual conversations. When you've made your selection, tap Delete at bottom-right of the sidebar.

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Delete all messages on iPad but not iPhone.

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