How to view Old Conversations in Messages App

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Level 1

72 points

How to view Old Conversations in Messages App

In older versions of the Messages App, the conversations were stored in ~/Messages folder. They don't appear to be anymore in Yosemite. Is that correct?list of

I have a list of conversations in the Messages window. I want them saved, but I don't want to have to look at them anymore. I have the Option ticked in Preferences "Save history when conversations are closed" but I cannot find where that history is saved or an easy option in the Messages App to view old messages. That seems odd.

To clear the window of them I've been using the X next to the message. I presumed (perhaps wrongly) that simply closed the message, not deleted it totally?

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jan 19, 2015 1:41 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 19, 2015 1:28 PM in response to Paul Tansley

Hi,

There is no longer a "Recents List" in the File Menu (or anywhere else) in Messages.

The Archive folder is now in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages

See the Path Bar on this Pic.

Save on Close refers to several Actions.

Closing (Shut Down) the computer will save it on that action.

Quitting the app first will also do it.

Dismissing the Chat will also tend to Save it.

In the Archive folder there are dated Folders.

If you Quit or Shut Down the computer the items is saved on the Day that the last "Chat" happened.

If you had a chat over several days and shut down in this manner the different part would be in different dated Folders.

However like the iMessages "History" linking up old iMessages conversations the Saved Chats will also allow you to Scroll back in time as it were and "join up" the older Chats.

If you have Older Chats moved to the Archive folder such as ones created in iChat you may find they open in a separate window and don't join up quite as well.

9:28 pm Monday; January 19, 2015

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 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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Answer 2

Paul Tansley Author

Level 1

72 points

Jan 20, 2015 12:58 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thank you Ralph, that helps a lot. You are 100% correct, my messages are all there in the archive.

A couple of notes for anyone else searching for old messages. If searching for a single word in an old message - Spotlight doesn't appear to be able to find it. Spotlight will find a persons name that started a message - but not a word in one of their messages. However, placing that word in the search bar of the Messages App does. (only tested this a couple of times, but seems to be the case. But as with all searches it doesn't appear to be 100% reliable either).

Once the word is found in the Messages search, it does indeed bring back the whole conversation it appears. Or perhaps its simply showing me the conversation from that date.

At least the messages are indeed saved somewhere - but why there isn't a simple reliable way of finding them is beyond me. The Mac OS X which I once lauded for its ease of use seems to be getting harder to use and less obvious. Surely the whole reason behind Spotlight is it should find Everything on your mac and yet so many times on Yosemite I find it far less helpful than on previous versions of the OS.

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Answer 3

Jan 20, 2015 12:18 PM in response to Paul Tansley

for the Points

It does seem that the general push to make the OS more like iOS does lead to this situation where something that worked and was understood no longer fits that criteria.

I think most people would understand that a Computer version of something is capable of offering more.

In Messages (and ichat before that) you used to be able to Format Text chats. ( It is still possible, to a lesser extent that earlier versions, but you have to go to System Preferences > Accessibility and Reduce Transparency then Restart Messages) The standard Preferences Pane and Format Menu have been removed.

The iOS version can apply any sound that is on the iPhone or iPad to a particular Contact when they "call " in various apps.

This is no longer possible in Messages on the Mac.

It does seem that in an attempt to streamline various interfaces to match the two OS versions that functions are being withdrawn.

8:18 pm Tuesday; January 20, 2015

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 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

Reply