Messages finish indexing

After 7 iPhone restore's, multiple chats with Apple Support, a call to Apple Support and 2 visits to the Genius Bar i believe I have figured out the problem. Apple could not figure out the issue or the Genius bar.

So basically apple tells you after iphone migration to leave the phone that's being migrated connected to WiFi for 24-48 hours.

I did this and all my messages said "more photos will be shown once messages finishes indexing"

My next attempt was to backup the phone via my Mac Book. To which my first attempt I noticed, after restoring the phone from backup it was still using icloud. The genius bar told me that was "strange" a restore from backup should simply upload everything to the phone as is.

Well after extensive research, apple new policy of "backup to your computer"

A backup from your a computer doesn't include:

• Content from the iTunes and App Stores, or PDFs downloaded directly to Apple Books
• Content synced from iTunes, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos
• Data already stored in iCloud, like iCloud Photos, iMessages, and text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages
• Face ID or Touch ID settings
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Apple Mail data
• Activity, Health, and Keychain data (to back up this content, you'll need to use Encrypted Backup in iTunes.)

So regardless if your backing up from your computer your messages are still being transfered via iCloud.

These are the steps I took.

I deleted my iCloud backup and created a new one. Keep in mind you will still need your old device. I only chose to backup on icloud the essentials such as messages. I restored from my computer backup photos and such.

Restored my iPhone via backup from my computer.

Once restored, I by-passed all the promts to "Set up later in settings"

Once at my home screen I turnded on iCloud

This instantly restored my messages.

I have the same message displayed "more photos will be shown once messages finishes indexing"

Within minutes all my photos within messages were showing up in the "info" tab. My messages backup was 23gb and was done within the hour.

Again, take in mind i tried almost every option available to me that apple told me to do and what i was thinking of. Glad to say I finally got it to work.

Hope this helps.