Retreiving messages on iCloud

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Level 1

5 points

Retreiving messages on iCloud

I have only been using iCloud to back up my Messages, Mail and Notes. I got an alert that my iCloud was full and I figured I didn't really need it and in an attempt to turn iCloud back up off. I went into Manage Account Storage, clicked on messages and deleted the Top Conversation with my significant other (thinking that I was removing it from iCloud), turns out I was deleting the conversation from my device.

The messages still exist on the iCloud as I can see that my 5gb of data is taken up by Messages (and I don't really have any other messages). I understand from reading other posts that Messages is an all or nothing back up. As I don't use iCloud to back up photos or other things, if I restore everything from the iCloud will I loose all my photos and anything on my phone that it is not on iCloud?

What are my options? If I purchase enough iCloud storage, could I back up everything now and then restore everything and retrieve my Message conversation?

Is there a way to sync my iCloud to my Mac?

iPhone 12

Posted on Oct 6, 2023 12:41 AM

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Answer 1

Cherie_Zero Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 9, 2023 4:59 AM in response to Ingo2711

Yes I checked that and it is enabled. When I turn it off it says I have 30 days to download the messages. How do you download them? Just go into the messages?

When I go into messages it says ‘downloading messages’ but then the messages don’t load onto the phone. I am wondering if because there are new messages there with this person maybe.. I will try a few other things (delete the messages that are there and see if that makes a difference).

thank you for your reply

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Answer 2

Ingo2711

Level 9

73,659 points

Oct 6, 2023 1:45 AM in response to Cherie_Zero

If you are not using iCloud Photos, you will not lose your photos, they will be part of the backup.

What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support

But, just to be sure, you should also create a backup on your Mac and import your photos to your Mac as well.

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support

Some iCloud data can be saved to your Mac:

Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

Also have a look at this related article:

Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Ingo2711

Level 9

73,659 points

Oct 8, 2023 5:59 AM in response to Cherie_Zero

Did you check "Messages" in the settings for iCloud/Apps that use iCloud/ and make sure, that "Sync this iPhone" is enabled as well?

If you disable this option, you will be asked it you want to download all messages from iCloud, if there are any missing on your iPhone.

...

copied from: Set up iCloud for Messages on all your devices - Apple Support

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Answer 4

Cherie_Zero Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 6, 2023 6:43 AM in response to muguy

I’m a bit confused. Are you saying because I have deleted the message from my phone, they are no longer available to me and I can’t recover it? My messages were being synced to iCloud before I deleted it. What is the 5gb of space of being used on my iCloud ?

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Answer 5

Ingo2711

Level 9

73,659 points

Oct 9, 2023 6:21 AM in response to Cherie_Zero

Did you try to disable messages in the settings for iCloud, restart the iPhone and enable it again?

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Answer 6

muguy

Level 10

82,963 points

Oct 6, 2023 3:49 AM in response to Cherie_Zero

if you do not backup your device to iCloud, there is nothing to restore. You’re syncing, not backing up, your messages. Any message available to you is on your device.

yes, you can also sync to your Mac. System settings - Apple ID - iCloud

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Answer 7

muguy

Level 10

82,963 points

Oct 6, 2023 9:13 AM in response to Cherie_Zero

Correct. If you sync, your device sync all of your devices and iCloud to have the same content. If you delete a message, it deletes everywhere. You may find recoverable messages in the Recently Deleted folder in messages. If there is no such folder, nothing is recoverable.

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Answer 8

Cherie_Zero Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 6, 2023 9:23 AM in response to muguy

Okay thank, I appreciate your response. I deleted it through manage account storage in the iCloud menu so it didn’t go into recently deleted unfortunately.

What is confusing me is what is the 5gb of messages in my iCloud storage. I don’t have any other messages that size and the conversation I deleted said it was close to that size. Is there a way to find out what is in the iCloud storage?

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Answer 9

Cherie_Zero Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 8, 2023 1:42 AM in response to muguy

This answer is not correct. The messages are still available to me and I have managed to recover the messages onto my Mac. I will keep working at getting them back onto my phone but as they are not gone from my iCloud, it should be possible.

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Answer 10

Cherie_Zero Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 10, 2023 9:44 AM in response to Ingo2711

Thanks for the suggestion. I just tried that and still nothing. When I go into messages it does say downloading message but then they don’t download onto my phone.

A bit strange really, I used the same method to get the messages to download onto my Mac. I won’t give up, I’m sure there must be a way to get it back in my phone.. if I can’t, well at least I managed to recover the messages onto my Mac.

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Retreiving messages on iCloud

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