paytonannthomp

Q: How can I delete all my iMessages on my Mac? But keep the iMessage app?

I found a way to delete my messages on my mac but then the whole app deleted which left me with a grey question mark over the app icon. How can I delete my iMessages from the app without deleting the app? I just think that the messages are slowing my computer down and my typing on the iMessages app is delayed. THANKS!!!

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Oct 19, 2015 11:15 AM

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Q: How can I delete all my iMessages on my Mac? But keep the iMessage app?

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  • by bodyxs,

    bodyxs bodyxs Oct 19, 2015 11:31 AM in response to paytonannthomp
    Level 3 (676 points)
    Oct 19, 2015 11:31 AM in response to paytonannthomp

    Select a conversation, then press Command-Delete. To Clear all messages without closing a conversation Choose Edit > Clear Transcript.

    Don't forget to disable “Automatically save conversations”  go to Messages > Preferences, click General, then deselect “Save history when conversations are closed.”

  • by paytonannthomp,

    paytonannthomp paytonannthomp Oct 19, 2015 11:44 AM in response to bodyxs
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Oct 19, 2015 11:44 AM in response to bodyxs

    thanks for the help! is there a way to delete them all at once rather than doing each one separately?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Apple recommended

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Oct 26, 2015 2:17 PM in response to paytonannthomp
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Oct 26, 2015 2:17 PM in response to paytonannthomp

    Hi,

     

    The App stores  iMessages in the chat.db item in ~/Library/Messages

    This folder also contains the Attachments folder (where in line pic and files are kept).

     

    The Chat.db item also keep a record of what is in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages/Archive

    In this Messages folder there is also an Alias that points the the other folder.

     

    The chat.db items can get quite large if you have lots of iMessages conversations.

     

    Deleting them will work but it leaves you with no "recent" history to any iMessage conversation.

    It is a bit of a sledgehammer approach and results may not fit what you expect.

     

    Manually editing a conversation from  older to newer item is a preferable way to go.

     

     

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    9:17 p.m.      Monday; October 26, 2015

     

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