How do you backup messages on mac?
About to reset my macbook pro and start from scratch but want to save all my iMessage conversations stored on there. Is there any way to do this?
MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)
Hi,
I am not sure what you mean by stored in this case ?
Basically all iMessages are stored in ~/Library/Messages and across the three database items there (the first is Chat.db)
This allows you to dismiss conversations from view by mousing of the side bar and using the X that appears.
In the Preferences > General Section though you can set "Save of Close".
This saves both iMessages and messages from other account types you may have to a folder in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages/Archive
It will only Save new chats from the time you enable it and not any on show in the main Chat window.
"Close" in this case tends to be end of Session/Quit of App or Sleep will cause it to happen.
If you open Messages every day and Quit when you finish they will tend to be stored in a daily manner.
If a conversation (iMessages) or Chat (every other account) take place over several days then the Save on Close only stores the new bits for that "day".
If you make a Back up it should include your Users Folder which will include the ~/Library item and this will have what you currently have.
You could make Backups of the two specific Folders (Messages and Archive) to make sure you keep an extra copy of those.
9:52 p.m. Monday; October 5, 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
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