Well for me (and I bet for most folks that have recent apple devices with larger local storage), messages in the cloud is not interesting for the space saving feature. I think it is useful because of the improve message synchronization between devices. Up until now, it wasn't always guaranteed that messages sent and received on one device would be available on another device. Now the conversations will be identical on all devices which is really nice.
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Apple Releases iOS 11.4 With Messages in iCloud and AirPlay 2
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- Addresses a Messages issue that could cause some messages to appear out of order
- Fixes an issue where selecting music from your iPhone could fail when playing music over Bluetooth or when connected to USB on some vehicles
Aleluya
- Fixes an issue where selecting music from your iPhone could fail when playing music over Bluetooth or when connected to USB on some vehicles
Aleluya
Are you saying that iMessage in iCloud is not enabled yet? This is confusing.
So, how will the iMessage cloud sync will work if I deleted a conversation from my phone but the whole thread is still available on my iPad? I deleted it by accident, so now I have a year-long conversation showing up on the iPad and a three-month chat with the same person on my phone.
Upon turning this feature on, which one will prevail? Will they combine and duplicate? how does it work?
Upon turning this feature on, which one will prevail? Will they combine and duplicate? how does it work?
That makes sense then, it's saving space by removing all messages from device older then some set timestamp. Then if you scroll back it will re-download/lose that space.
(Emphasis added.)
Apple today released iOS 11.4, the fourteenth update to the iOS 11 operating system that was first introduced last September. iOS 11.4 comes a month after the release of iOS 11.3.1, an update that introduced a bug fix for a display repair issue.
iOS 11.4 is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings --> General --> Software Update. Eligible devices include the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad mini 2 and later, the iPad Air and later, and the 6th-generation iPod touch.
iOS 11.4 is an audio-focused update, introducing support for multi-room audio through a new protocol that supports multi-room audio on all AirPlay 2 enabled devices.
Right now, AirPlay 2-compatible devices include the Apple TV and the HomePod, but in the future, AirPlay 2 will be available on third-party speakers from manufacturers like Bang & Olufsen, Bluesound, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Libratone, Marantz, Marshall, Naim, Pioneer and Sonos.
With AirPlay 2, you can play the same song on multiple speakers throughout the house, move music from one room to another, or play music in any room from any room using an iOS device, HomePod, Apple TV, or Siri voice commands. AirPlay 2 devices are now displayed in the Apple Home app as AirPlay 2 is integrated with HomeKit.
Using AirPlay 2, you can control where music is playing through the Control Center or within apps on an iOS device or ask Siri to play music in any room (or multiple rooms) with an AirPlay 2-enabled device.
HomePod is also gaining support for stereo pairing, which is designed to let two HomePods work in unison.
The iOS 11.4 update also introduces Messages in iCloud, a feature that has been in the works for several months and was first promised as an iOS 11 feature in June of 2017. Messages in iCloud is designed to store your iMessages in iCloud rather than on each individual device, allowing for improved syncing capabilities.
At the current time, incoming iMessages are sent to all of the devices where you're signed in to your Apple ID, but there is no true cross-device syncing. Messages in iCloud will let you download all of your iMessages on new devices, and a message deleted on one device will remove it from all devices, which is not the case right now.
Older messages and attachments are also stored in iCloud rather than on device, saving valuable storage space across all of your Macs, iPhones, and iPads.
For the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, there is a new (PRODUCT)RED wallpaper available, which is not available on iPhone X, and in betas, the iOS 11.4 update included USB Restricted Mode, which may have made it into release.
USB Restricted Mode introduces a week-long expiration date on access to the Lightning port on iOS devices if your phone has not been unlocked, a feature that limits law enforcement access to the iPhone and the iPad using tools like the GrayKey box.
In addition to these features, iOS 11.4 also includes several bug fixes, as outlined in Apple's release notes. Full release notes are below:
iOS 11.4 may be one of the final updates to the iOS 11 operating system, which will be followed by iOS 12. Apple will unveil iOS 12 at the Worldwide Developers Conference next week.
Article Link: Apple Releases iOS 11.4 With Messages in iCloud and AirPlay 2
"Fourteenth" update to iOS 11?
Not to be pedantic, but is that a typo or did I miss a number of updates?
Very cool. Are there any details on how iMessages are kept private now that they are fully stored on Apple servers and not just directed to end user devices?
I wonder if imessages in the cloud works on the final release as it still did not work for me in the last beta.
Actually, can anyone point to an Apple document explaining Messages in the cloud and how it functions?
Ideally, Messages in iCloud ensures that all devices are in sync; likewise, any changes made on one device are replicated to the other (deleting, etc.).
Just updated to 11.4 on my 7 Plus and it didn't explode. Excellent start so far 
In addition to this, you can set up a device as new without losing your whole message history.
And you lose your phone or it breaks, then what? All those photos are gone.
I also like it because when I get a new iPhone, I always set up as new. I turn on iCloud photos, and all my photos are there. No need to set up from back up
I love seeing people who come into the one shop I work at “you can’t save my photos?, this is the only spot I had them!” And their photos are gone forever.
Just updated to 11.4 on my 7 Plus and it didn't explode. Excellent start so far
Apple is aware of the issue and announced a quick statement: You were updating it wrong!
It wasn’t very intuitive turning on Messages in iCloud.
I initially tried ‘Settings’ -> ‘Accounts & Passwords’ -> ‘iCloud’, - Messages wasn’t listed.
Then tried ‘Settings’ -> ‘(my name)’ -> ‘iCloud’. - This gives a similar list to going the above route, but includes Messages.
Why?????
I initially tried ‘Settings’ -> ‘Accounts & Passwords’ -> ‘iCloud’, - Messages wasn’t listed.
Then tried ‘Settings’ -> ‘(my name)’ -> ‘iCloud’. - This gives a similar list to going the above route, but includes Messages.
Why?????
I’ve updated... but I’m not certain if I trust iCloud Messages yet... I need clear description of how it works.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
That's a feature. It's called the TimeToGetMoreMoneyFromGuillaumeBsWife function. It's a common feature across iOS devices, apparently with some cutting-edge customizations to make it unique to each user but still lead to the same outcome. It can manifest in many different ways but all of them are designed to point one to an Apple store.
An issue though is that you are handling your part of the function wrong. You are supposed to make a few posts using phrases like "long in tooth" and similar.
And then go buy her a brand new iPhone...
and yourself one too...
and maybe an extra for a backup just in case (Apple needs the money).
What you are doing wrong is implying that a software update from the seller of the product could make an existing model develop issues likely only resolved by buying a new model from that exclusive seller. That's a major no-no. Any such issue is always user error, then any third party software error, then any third party hardware error, then any unborn children's error, maybe a few shots of Samsung or Google being behind it, some 'cheap Chinese charger' problem (it doesn't matter if you don't have one), etc. (ANYTHING and ANYONE other than the mothership).
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If I delete a message on my Apple Watch does it sync with all my devices or is it just the iPhone, iPAD and Mac that sync?
The same old apple. Also, would you rather they release such things to the public still buggy and not properly tested? OS development is hard enough without the weight of knowing over a billion people use it and that everything will be heavily scrutinized upon release.