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deleting messages from Mac

I need to free up storage on my Mac. Looks like messages is taking up a lot of space. I have messages on my Mac and iPhone and saved in iCloud. If I change my Mac messages settings to deleting messages after one month or one year on my Mac, will that also delete from my iPhone and in iCloud? I would like to keep all messages in iCloud. Also, if I delete photos and videos in Messages on my Mac, will that delete on iPhone and iCloud?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 30, 2020 9:22 AM

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Posted on Sep 30, 2020 1:56 PM

Thanks tygb.


I guess my question is - How do I move messages faster to iCloud so they are taking up less storage on my Mac? For work reasons, I don't want to delete any messages that I may need at a future date. Although I am sure there are many messages I could do without.


On my phone messages is taking up 7.88 GB, on my Mac messages is taking up 16.18 GB. I would like to see messages on my Mac taking up less storage space.


Any ideas?

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 30, 2020 1:56 PM in response to tygb

Thanks tygb.


I guess my question is - How do I move messages faster to iCloud so they are taking up less storage on my Mac? For work reasons, I don't want to delete any messages that I may need at a future date. Although I am sure there are many messages I could do without.


On my phone messages is taking up 7.88 GB, on my Mac messages is taking up 16.18 GB. I would like to see messages on my Mac taking up less storage space.


Any ideas?

Sep 30, 2020 10:41 AM in response to yvefrombroomfield

See some articles .

https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT204247

https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/macbook-air/apdb468896e0/2019/mac/10.14.5

https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT206996

https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/system-information/syspf5a64aa6/mac

As per the article https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT208532

Here’s how it works

Messages in iCloud are updated automatically, so you always have the same view everywhere that you use iMessage. If you have deleted a message, photo or conversation on one device, it will be removed from all of your devices. And since all of your attachments are stored in iCloud, you can save space on your device.

You can use Messages in iCloud on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Regarding the messages preferences when opened see the article https://support.apple.com/et-ee/guide/messages/icht20001/mac

https://support.apple.com/et-ee/guide/messages/icht1035/13.0/mac/10.15

  • Set how long to keep messages: Choose Messages > Preferences, click General, then click the “Keep messages” pop-up menu and choose an option.
  • Important: If you choose an option other than Forever, your conversations (including all attachments) are automatically removed after the specified time period is over.



deleting messages from Mac

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