How to transfer iMessage content from old to new computer?

Hi,

The Link above should sort that issue out.

Broadly speaking I would expect the new Computer owner to be Greyed Out and ones from the other computer to not be.

The other things to check is whether the aliases in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Preferences are actually pointing to the correct .plists

Although the .plists store the info in ~/Library/Preferences like they have for some while those app that can do the Sandboxing Read and Write using the Container route so one you have to Own all the folders in between but you also have to have the Aliases pointing to Write to the "right" .plist.

8:19 pm Sunday; July 20, 2014

Ralph,

I too am having the same problems. I followed all of the steps you showed, but still it does not show up.

Also, when I copy the chat.db files over to my new computer, they become non executable files, no longer document files. Any help please?

Hi,

How are you transferring them ?

The Messages App should be closed down.

Ideally the chat.db item that have been created already on the "New" computer could be removed.

You could then move the files from th "old" computer to the new ones desktop and change the Ownership there.

Then they could be put in the ~/Library/Messages folder (if the original ones are still there you should be asked to Replace or Keep both).

7:32 pm Thursday; July 24, 2014

Ralph,

I've just tried transferring them via air drop, so now the non-executable file is no longer a problem. However, even with the new chat.db files, nothing has changed on my new laptop.

Hi,

And you have done a Get Info on each and change the Owner's name to your short name on this computer/Mac User Account ?

8:57 pm Thursday; July 24, 2014

I'm not sure what you meant by getting the short name, but yes, I made sure that I was the owner of the files. Here's a screen shot of my "get info"

Also, is it possible to transfer over the just messages without having to transfer over the attachments?

HI,

The "shortname" is the Name of the Home folder which tends to be your own Name as you set the computer up but with no spaces (as you show).

Older version of the OS tended to keep to lower case but as you have found you can use Upper case Characters at the set up point.

The biggest problem in changing files from one computer to another is when the Mac User account uses the same Name.

9:25 pm Thursday; July 24, 2014

Hi,

I must admit to not having tested this.

Mostly all the files involved are needed (the three Chat.db items and the Attachments.)

9:26 pm Thursday; July 24, 2014

Ralph,

I tried putting the entire messages folder "with attachments, and the chat.db files", as well as the messages folder with "archive and attachments" into my new laptop, and I applied ownership to the entire library folder.

Yet nothing is still changing, and when I open up message, I don't see my old messages

Hi,

the iMessages held in the chat.db will not magically appear back in th Messages main window until you iMessages that particular person again (or they you). The App should then look for "history" an the chat.db items should then supply it.

8:49 pm Friday; July 25, 2014

Ralph, I have the same issue. Once I transfer all my Messages to my new Mac, the pictures and movies no longer display in-line. If you ever do find a solution to this, please share! Also, thanks for all the Messages help you provide on these forums!

Hi,

This should be a case of moving the required files form one computer to the other and then making sure you Own those files and still have Read an Write permissions.

Unfortunately I don't have a second Mac that can run Yosemite to actually test this out in a practical way.

8:27 PM Thursday; December 4, 2014

Ralph,

This was very helpful. I followed all of the instructions and didn't have any problems, but then when I went to launch Messages I am now getting a "Messages is updating... The Messages database is being upgraded, please wait while it finishes or Quit Messages and relaunch it later." window. Is this normal? It's been "updating" for awhile...

Thanks,

Sharon

Hi,

There is something odd that happens to the Attachments folder (~/Library/Messages) that loses it's Folder definition and becomes some unidentified document.

It is not clear why.

If you have a Time Machine Backup then restore the Folder from just before the Update.

If you have no Backup then delete the file and recreate a new Folder with Attachments as it's name. (you will have lost the pics and files that came in the Chats)

10:25 pm Saturday; December 20, 2014