How to Delete Messages in Spotlight Search History without Resetting or Syncing!!

It's a lot easier than it was first explained. And it does work. Go to- settings, then general, then spotlight search. Then uncheck everything that you do not want to come up on the search anymore. In most cases it's sounds like most people do not want their previous messages and mail to come up. UNCHECK THEM. then go to your search and look. They should be gone already.

Vinny, the email and texts should be gone once deleted, not just out of sight. Anyone may change those settings and one's private/secure information is once again available to see.

I have found that deleting texts or emails as soon as I read them, then emptying trash, does delete them and that they do not show up in Spotlight Search. It's not a perfect solution, but it works.

Thank you for helping me figure this out! I did exactly the steps that you listed and it worked! The only thing that happened a little different was- when I turned my phone off the first time I noticed that it rechecked the 'Messages' box in spotlight search settings. So once this was unchecked again I turned it off and on a couple times and Bingo! Gone! THANK YOU!!!

Thanks so much! It totally worked for me! Thank you a lot for spending your own free time to help us.

Hi

The iexplorer you are writing to use, is it the one in app-store called "iExplorer" made by Zhigang Chen?

Thank you, it worked!!!!

The answer given by Fre5h is correct. If you jailbreak your phone, this solution WILL work for you as it worked for me.

Disclaimer: check the laws in your area to make sure that jailbreaking is legal where you live. Since I'm in the United States and this does not circumvent any digital rights management, this is a perfectly acceptable solution.

1. Jailbreak your phone. Google it. I use Jailbrea.kr for instructions.

2. Get some software that allows you to browse the files on your device. I used iExplorer by Macroplant. (They have a trial version but I don't know its limitations as I bought mine a long time ago.)

3. Using your software, click ROOT, then navigate to /var/mobile/Library/Spotlight and open the folder "com.apple.MobileSMS".

4. Delete the 3 files contained inside: SMSSearchindex.spotlight, SMSSearchindex.sqlite, and updates.SMSSearch.spotlight. Don't worry; your phone will recreate them later. If you feel the need, save a backup copy of them to your desktop.

5. Reboot your phone.

After spending several hours looking for a solution, this finally worked for me. Again, everything I've said is legal. If I find a solution that does not require jailbreaking, I'll post that too.

This is a way to delete old emails and messages that pop up on the spotlight search

ok i have found out how to fix every thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok what you have to do is get on your mobile device iPhone, iPod, iPad, etc.

READ IMPORTANT---->Make sure you BACK UP your device before doing these steps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Step 1: Go to Settings

Step 2: Go to General

Step 3: Go to Reset

Step 4: Go to Erase All Content and Settings

Step 5: Wait for device to delete everything (the device should turn off)

Step 6: Turn back on device

Step 7: Go through the device setup

Step 8: Your device will look like its brand new with no contacts, songs, apps, etc.( dont panic )

Step 9: Sync your itunes with your device to get your apps, songs, contacts, etc.

Step 10: Go to your spotlight search and check for the messages...I bet there isnt any...I garentee that ther eisnt any old messages or old emails

Hope this helped you all out...please reply if you have any questions.

Don't jailbreak if its a new iPhone you can void the warrenty on the device and can't get any physical damages fixed...if you are going to jailbreak your phone do it after the warrenty expires...which should be a year...

That does work, Bevus, and it is what I did awhile back, but then you are starting w/a fresh slate that will again be filled. So, once you have rid yourself of the old deleted emails and text messages, the only way I have found to avoid new ones appearing in SS is to delete them quickly. I know that does not sound like it would work, but it does. I am unsure how long they can be on your device before deleting them, but I read my mail and texts within a day, and then delete anything private after I have read it. Someone on this thread (or maybe another) told me this. I thought it sounded silly but I did try it and it works. Then you will not have to keep doing the reset and restore.

Also, if you save deleted drafts of emails they will show up on SS too, so I no longer save drafts which are private.

I forgot to add empty the trash once they are deleted. So 1) delete ASAP and 2) Empty trash.

Thank you this helped so much! I had a few messages I didn't want people to see so thus helped a lot! Thanks again <3

it still appears wen u check messages thn wat do we do thn????????????

How did you do it? ive try it but it foesnt work

For me tell me pls Ine by one i got

ipone 4s

here's my address im gonna read it Pls

Send it to my inbox mail arnie_cornell@yahoo.com

pls send to me how you erase all the ipone search messages history

Thankz