How long does Messages keep history for in Yosemite? I know for iDevices you can choose between 1 month or 1 year but I'm wondering about how Mac handles it....

How long does Messages keep history for in Yosemite? I know for iDevices you can choose between 1 month or 1 year but I'm wondering about how Mac handles it....

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on May 20, 2016 2:07 PM

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5 replies

May 22, 2016 12:44 PM in response to mckenziepiping

Hi,


I have iChat saved chats from 2004 to the present.

Messages can open all but those save under iChat 1 (So from about may 2005)


iMessages are stored by default to the chat.db databases in ~/Library/Messages


You can also elect to Save Chats and these are held in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages/Archive by date

a long conversation over days, weeks or longer is Saved in parts.

The App can put this back together if you dismiss the chat then restart it. (it presents you with a "history")





User uploaded file

8:44 pm Sunday; May 22, 2016


 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone and an iPad (2)

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How long does Messages keep history for in Yosemite? I know for iDevices you can choose between 1 month or 1 year but I'm wondering about how Mac handles it....

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