Messages in iCloud with Multiple Phone Numbers

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Level 1

8 points

Messages in iCloud with Multiple Phone Numbers

I have two iPhones, call them A and B, tied to the same Apple ID. Both phones are using the latest iOS that support Messages in iCloud. Phone A is configured to send/receive iMessage with phone number A. Phone B is configured to send/receive iMessages with phone number B. I would like to know what will happen if I turn on Messages in an iCloud.

1) Will the messages (SMS, MMS, and iMessages) from phone A and phone B be merged together?

2) If someone messages me at Phone B (SMS or iMessage), will I receive or see that message on Phone A, even if Phone A is configured to send/receive with phone number A only?

3) Does Messages in iCloud require iCloud keychain to be turned on?

Thank you.

Posted on Nov 28, 2018 4:23 PM

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Answer 1

i_rina

Community Specialist

Nov 30, 2018 7:23 AM in response to rkwc

Hey rkwc,

I understand you want to use two phone numbers with iMessage but on separate devices. I can understand wanting to take advantage of Messages in iCloud as well and I have some information that can help. First, if you enabled this for both devices, all of your messages will merge as iMessage is designed to work exclusively with one number per Apple ID account. However, if someone messages you on Phone B, it should not appear on Phone A, as long as that number is not enabled when you go to 'Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > You Can Receive Message To And Reply From'. Lastly, Messages in iCloud requires iCloud keychain as explained in the resource below. Keep all your messages in iCloud

Regards.

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Answer 2

Nov 30, 2018 10:39 PM in response to rkwc

Messages in iCloud simply does not change the way new messages are distributed to devices. It has nothing to do with that. It's all about storage offloading and "deletion syncing." The only other affect you could possibly need to worry about is merging existent stuff, one time, when it's first enabled and all "synced" up on multiple devices. I don't know, but I have good reason to presume it's not going merge anything contrary to your per-device iMessage address segregation. It's simply not going change or disaffect anything else about Messages. The Messages in iCloud engineers have really taken the cake here. They're not that stupid and neither is Messages in iCloud. Back up the devices and fire it up and, if it blows up, you can restore the backups. There are at least some people who did, in fact, have to enable iCloud Keychain in order to enable Messages in iCloud. I already had it enabled long prior.

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Answer 3

rkwc Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 30, 2018 2:27 PM in response to i_rina

Thanks for your reply.

However, if someone messages you on Phone B, it should not appear on Phone A, as long as that number is not enabled when you go to 'Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > You Can Receive Message To And Reply From'. Lastly, Messages in iCloud requires iCloud keychain as explained in the resource below. Keep all your messages in iCloud

I don't understand how the message will not appear on Phone A if someone messages me on Phone B, because as you said the messages will be merged when Messages in iCloud is turned on for both devices.

I was advised by an Apple advisor that the message will appear on both phones, but he's not entirely sure so I'm still waiting for a reply from an an Apple engineer.

Regarding iCloud keychain, I was advised by Apple support on the phone that it is NOT required for Messages in iCloud to function.

Let me know your reply above is based on real-world experience. Thank you.

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Messages in iCloud with Multiple Phone Numbers

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