What happens when I select 'disable and download messages' for iMessage on iPhone?

Question

What happens when I select 'disable and download messages' for iMessage on iPhone?

I want to keep all my messages in the Cloud, but I don't want any stored on my phone. When I go to Settings --> iCloud --> Saved to iCloud --> Messages in iCloud and deselect "Use on this iPhone" a message pops up that says "cancel" or "disable and download messages". What happens if I select disable and download messages? I'm assuming it will turn off imessages syncing to the cloud and download all my messages to the phone? Why is that the only option?

I don't care about future messages from this phone syncing to the cloud, but I do want to keep my message history on the cloud. I just want to use iMessage without any prior chat history on my iPhone, if there's another way of doing this that I'm not considering.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Mar 30, 2025 6:16 PM

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Answer 1

muguy

Level 10

90,914 points

Mar 30, 2025 6:18 PM in response to randomquestionsonly

No. If you sync, you sync everything. Sync is all or nothing.

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Answer 2

Mar 30, 2025 6:49 PM in response to muguy

Could you elaborate on this answer? Can you tell me what happens if I select "disable and download messages". I have turned off iCloud sync and I don't wish to sync this phone. If more detail is helpful:

I am traveling with a phone with less storage than my regular phone. I don't care/want to have any chat history on this phone, nor do I care about saving any of the chats I have while traveling. I just want to use iMessage for the duration of the trip, then return to my normal phone afterwards and be able to retrieve my iMessages.

If I turn off sync, disable Messages in iCloud on this phone, can I then delete the download without deleting all the messages on the cloud?

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What happens when I select 'disable and download messages' for iMessage on iPhone?

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