Hi all-
I had to restore my phone because the password wasn't working. Very annoying. I have all my sms texts on my Macbook, but I don't use iCloud (I already pay for OneDrive and Google Drive and I'm not paying for another). Is there a way to accomplish this so I have my sms and mms messages on my restored phone?
Thank you!
iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 15
Hi rusHmatic,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. We understand that you've restored your iPhone and want to get your messages back. Have you ever used a computer to back up your iPhone? If so, you can restore the latest backup and your messages should be there if you don't use Messages in iCloud. These articles will help:
Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup
Just for your reference, you get 5 GB of free iCloud storage to start: iCloud
Take care.
Hi rusHmatic,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. We understand that you've restored your iPhone and want to get your messages back. Have you ever used a computer to back up your iPhone? If so, you can restore the latest backup and your messages should be there if you don't use Messages in iCloud. These articles will help:
Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup
Just for your reference, you get 5 GB of free iCloud storage to start: iCloud
Take care.
rusHmatic wrote:
I'm wondering if I can find them and then transfer them back onto my iPhone.
No.
Going forward, you can sync using iCloud:
Use Messages in iCloud - Apple Support
Apple gives you 5 gigs for free as part of your Apple ID so you wouldn't need to pay anything extra for this.
rusHmatic,
Understood. To clarify, the articles in the above response can be used if a backup was created on a computer. If a backup wasn't created using a computer there wouldn't be any way to retrieve the information.
Cheers!
I'm probably explaining it poorly. These messages are located on my MacBook Pro's iMessage account. I can see them all in iMessage, so the message history must be backed up somewhere on my machine.
I'm wondering if I can find them and then transfer them back onto my iPhone. Does that make sense?
rusHmatic wrote:
Nah. I definitely won't. I have enough storage on other services and I'll figure out a way around it.
iCloud is not storage space in the same sense as the other services you mention. It's specifically designed for syncing content across your Apple devices. But, if you want to waste your time figuring out another way to do things rather than use the free service you already have at your disposal, that's entirely up to you.
Thank you for the explanation beyond "No". I understand what iCloud does for syncing and backing up iPhone's environment. My 5 gb is used up, but not with a backup, so I need to go clear it out I guess. Now that I know there's no workaround, that's my option. Thanks for your time.
Hi there. Thank you for the response.
As I mentioned, I'm not using iCloud and also was not previously. Is there a way to accomplish this without iCloud?
Thanks
Nah. I definitely won't. I have enough storage on other services and I'll figure out a way around it.
Hmm. Alright, then. Thanks for your time on this. It's appreciated!
Best of luck!
rusHmatic,
Thanks for the added information. You wouldn't be able to get the messages to your iPhone from your MacBook Pro without using Messages in iCloud or without having backup directly on your computer.
All the best.
iMessage sms texts to new iPhone without using iCloud?
