Sync messages via iCloud
The advantage of iMessage (compared to WhatsApp, for example) is that it is available on all your Apple devices. All conversations are synced and stored in iCloud thanks to iMessage in iCloud with end-to-end encryption. If you turn on this feature, all your conversations will remain in sync on all your devices, even if you delete conversations or photos or videos. We explain the difference in operation if you enable or disable iMessage in iCloud and how to configure it.
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Sync iMessage with iCloud
If you sign in with the same Apple ID on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, you can use iMessage on all devices. Your messages therefore arrive on all devices and are stored and downloaded locally. A backup of your conversation is part of your overall iCloud backup, which is secure but not encrypted with end-to-end encryption. If you use Messages in iCloud, all conversations are stored in iCloud via end-to-end encryption. Your messages are therefore better protected than in an iCloud backup.
If you have Messages in iCloud turned on, a message that you delete from your iPhone will also be deleted from your other devices. Be careful with this, because gone is gone. You can no longer restore a backup and you can delete a complete conversation with one wrong action, which cannot be retrieved afterwards. If you don’t use this feature, all new messages will be sent to your devices, but deleting conversations will keep everything out of sync.
Messages in iCloud is available on devices running iOS 11.4 and later and macOS High. Sierra 10.13.5 and newer.
Enable Messages in iCloud
You can enable iMessage syncing via iCloud at any time. This works as follows:
On iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
- Go to the Settings app.
- Tap your name and choose iCloud.
- Turn on the switch under Messages.
On the Mac
- Open Messages (iMessage).
- In the menu bar, go to Messages > Preferences > iMessage.
- Check the Enable Messages in iCloud option to enable the feature.
You can also turn off Messages in iCloud using the same setting. You can disable the feature on a per-device basis, so it’s up to you on which device you use Messages in iCloud.
It may take a while for all messages to be uploaded to iCloud after enabling the feature. Make sure your device is connected to WiFi and connect it to the charger if necessary. In the Messages app, you can see the status of syncing at the bottom of the conversation list.
This is how Messages works in iCloud
Once you enable Messages in iCloud, the Messages app works a little differently on a few fronts:
- Thanks to Messages in iCloud, all messages are stored in iCloud, instead of on each individual device. This saves local storage space on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- All conversations on any device with Messages in iCloud enabled will stay in sync. That is, if you delete a message from your iPhone, it will also disappear from your Mac and iPad. If you turn off Messages in iCloud, you must manage conversations on each individual device separately. In addition, there is more delay in forwarding messages to all your devices if you have this feature turned off.
- All your messages, including text messages, photos and videos, and audio files, are encrypted in iCloud. If this function is off, it will only be stored locally encrypted and included in your backup. Backups are therefore somewhat larger if you have disabled this function.
- If you have a new iPhone, iPad or Mac, your complete message history will be displayed on it. If you don’t use Messages in iCloud, only new messages will be visible there.
One thing to keep in mind is that Messages in iCloud takes up space in your iCloud storage space. On the other hand, less data is stored locally and your iCloud backup is also a lot smaller.
iMessage Sync Not Working?
Are the messages arriving on one device but not on the other? Or do you have another problem with iMessage? Check out our tip about iMessage problems. It often helps to disable iMessage or to log in again.
Want to know more about iMessages? Then check out our list of the best iMessage tips for the Messages app!
