Removing the message thread, stored on my iPad while keeping them in iCloud for my MacBook Pro, and iPad
I am having space issues on my iPad mini and would like to free up the 45 GB of storage in Messages.
Question marked as
If you wish to remove Messages from your iPad without affecting your MacBook, you will need to first disable iCloud Messages on your iPad:
iPadOS 18
Settings > [Your Name / Apple Account] > iCloud > [Saved to iCloud] See All > Messages in iCloud > Use on this iPad - set to OFF
iPadOS 17
Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > iCloud > [Apps Using iCloud] Show All > Messages in iCloud > Use on this iPad - set to OFF
After you have disabled iCloud Messages on your iPad, you can safely delete unwanted Messages from the iPad Messages App without affecting your Mac - or data that is synchronised from the Mac to iCloud.