Deleting texts using iMessage does not sync all devices

Your messaging is working as it was designed. Deleting messages and conversations has to be done on each individual device that is how Apple has created their iMessage service.

Hi,

Your Contacts can be Synced through iCloud so that the name on your iPhone matches the one in the Mac version of Messages.

The iMessages server is separate from iCloud

The Apple ID you use does not have to be your iCloud one.

The iMessages are not synced via iCloud.

Syncing in this case is "Display on All devices" and not some sort of "Keep actions with the iMessage across all devices".

Mostly this enables the Mac to store Versions of Chats you don't have room for on your iPhone.

You are welcome to give Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html

I link to the iChat page as Messages (Mac) is built on the iChat engine (to the extent the version numbers follow on)

9:40 PM Friday; February 22, 2013

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

for the Points

9:42 PM Saturday; March 16, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

If all devices sync for new text messages, then why on earth can't they sync when deleted? Its irritating to have to delete messages from iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Mac Mini.

Use this form to request that Apple make deleting messages sync between devices in Messages.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/messages.html

Hi,

Basically iMessages are shoved at the devices (the actual term is Pushed).

An iMessages is "copied" for each individual device that you have logged in and the "copies" are sent uniquely to each.

There is no cross over between them.

An iPhone can be shut down, SIM Removed and the server will keep trying until the device is back on line again irrespective if it has also been sent already to a Mac.

They are not "Fetched" like an email is from the server.

10:19 p.m. Wednesday; August 12, 2015

Is the issue of not being able to manage messages across all devices new? Until recently if you deleted a message off the Iphone it would also delete off the Ipad. Now it's not working. I have spent hours searching for answers. This is a flaw that needs to be corrected.

Hi,

In my experience each device is standalone in this regard and that the "sync" is only "Display on All devices"

Effectively the iMessages servers "copy" the iMessages for as many devices as you have registered.

iMessages are constantly pushed at the devices until they accept.

One device may therefore accept before another.

As each device logs in using it's Serial Number in conjunction with the iPhone Number or Apple ID and Password iMessages can only be sent/pushed to that device.

That said I do find that my Mac does not always show me items that were a conversation on my iPhone when I turn it On.

I.e it look like items are already "deleted" when in fact they have never arrived.

In fact for me they are not always in order.

I iMessaged my wife at 7 minutes past 4 yesterday but her reply at 4.31 (just at the top and cut off) show "first".

I find the system is not always as smooth as it should be with no real clues as to why this is.

This page does not show any light either http://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/

The Push system is not like the Fetch system that the Mail app uses.

Items are sent to individual items and are not linked to each other.

8:52 pm Thursday; March 3, 2016

I can remember a day when message deletions on the iphone or mac were synchronized.

I don't understand why this has changed and definitely do not like that it has changed.

Hi,

I must admit I don't remember my version ever working like that.

The Mavericks iMessages article Messages (Mavericks): What is iMessage? does not say.

This also does not say one way or the other https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMessage

I also used this search but it would not get past page 11 (or 40) and is not that specific about Messages and iMessages.

The Messages Help option is not clear and does not even seem to mention syncing with other devices.

9:35 pm Tuesday; May 3, 2016

If all devices sync for new text messages, then why on earth can't they sync when deleted? Its irritating to have to delete messages from iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Mac Mini.

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem or a suggestion for change. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem/suggested change solved sooner.

Feedback

Hi.

It's about the method used to send them to you.

Basically each iMessages if Flagged to be sent to all the devices you have.

The iMessages server will try to deliver the iMessage again and again to one device if it has been off line for some time.

If one device has accepted the iMessages and you have deleted it there is no way to access the "waiting" ones for other devices.

The effect is similar to using a POP email account.

You can set each device to leave the emails on the server so that other devices can fetch and read them.

This way you can see emails on both Mac and an iPhone.

Deleting these on one does not get the email redelivered if it is left on the sever and they also have to be deleted of each device.

Another way of looking at the action is that the iMessages Server makes enough "copies" for each device.

Once a "copy" has been assigned to be sent to one device it cannot be seen or detected by the other devices.

The Servers keep Pushing the iMessages until accepted.

This is not the way it works but it is one way of describing how it appears to work.

AS Eric says http://www.apple.com/feedback/messages.html

Having said that it has been this way since Messages 7 in Mountain Lion.

8:40 pm Wednesday; December 28, 2016