HT204408: Get help signing in to Messages, FaceTime, and Game Center
Learn about Get help signing in to Messages, FaceTime, and Game CenterQ: On my iPod Touch 4, there are a couple of years of iMessages. New iTouch 5, new messages now appear on both devices, How to ... On my iPod Touch 4, there are a couple of years of iMessages. New iTouch 5, new messages now appear on both devices, How to I get my old iMessages to appear on the Touch 5? more
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Helpful answers
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Dec 28, 2013 11:41 AM in response to shanntymby Ralph Johns (UK),Hi,
If you are expecting the app to do it it cannot.
iMessages are sent and in some cases they are also pushed to other devices in the "sync" process.
The Servers know how many devices that you have "Registered" and will try for at least two days to send the "Copy".
Basically the "sync" is only "Display on all Devices" and there are time limits on how long the servers will try.
You may do better in one of the iPhone Communities and using a iTunes sync
https://discussions.apple.com/community/iphone

7:41 pm Saturday; December 28, 2013 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
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
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Jan 2, 2014 8:54 AM in response to shanntymby shanntym,- Thank you. I have seen this question all over the place, with many intelligent answers that explain how it all works. Unfortunately, they have all been hard to follow and had left me thinking that there must be a better way.
I now have the exact answer, and so I am posting it here for anyone else to see who has the same problem. You will get my opinion here as well, so please do not be offended:
- You cannot extract and import your messages to get them on two devices.
- Yes, you can buy a 3rd party software that backs things up and you can have it that way, but they are all pricey and the "free demo" only shows you that it can be done, doesn't let you do it - and you find this out after you install it....booo, hisssss
- You CAN get your old messages on two devices, BUT you must wipe out the new device and restore from the cloud.
The restore from the cloud, you have to do this:
- Back up your old device to the cloud.
- Wipe out your new device.
- Start your new device as a brand new thing and in the settings, restore it from the cloud choosing the newly backed up old device file.
- Both your devices will have the same info. You can go into settings and change the name of the new device, and you can do whatever else you want. Go ahead and sync it; you'll now have all imessages on both devices going forward, old AND new.
Best way to do this is to start your new device to begin with by setting it up and choosing "restore from icloud" when prompted. That way you are all set to begin with.
Whew! Yes, it's a pain. But it is doable, and really not such a big deal. These messages are golden, these devices are fantastic. Now get going!
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Jan 2, 2014 1:35 PM in response to shanntymby Ralph Johns (UK),Thanks for letting us know.
I can see that works for iOS devices of the same type.
Might work to some extent with iPod and iPhones.
Not sure it will work with iPad to iPhone or Touch.
Still excludes those on a Mac or on an iOS device and wanted on the Mac.
9:35 pm Thursday; January 2, 2014
iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
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
