Delete Messages data on Mac without affecting other devices?

[BYTE_ME]

I'm typically a PC guy and recently picked up a Mac mini M1 to learn Xcode. I do have an iPhone and iPads for mobile use. I'll be using the Mini as a dev box more than a conventional desktop, so I don't want or need things like Messages or any other iPhone related apps or the storage they require. While I can appreciate the way Apple products seemlessly work together, in my case I don't want to waste GB's of storage on features I will not use.

I signed out of my iCloud account in the Messages app, but the Mac storage still shows space used by the Messages data from when I originally set up the Mac. I DON'T WANT to delete my Messages or texts from iCloud or otherwise affect my iPhone / iPads, so I am wary of any delete options until I fully understand the ramifications.

Any suggestions?

TIA

 

[!!!]

You should just be able to delete the data in ~/Library/Messages.

But based off your post it sounds like you care about not losing your messages? I would definitely recommend turning off iCloud sync for messages. Do note the difference between "sync" and "backup", where sync means "sync any changes, including corruptions and accidental deletions."

 

[BYTE_ME]

You should just be able to delete the data in ~/Library/Messages.

But based off your post it sounds like you care about not losing your messages? I would definitely recommend turning off iCloud sync for messages. Do note the difference between "sync" and "backup", where sync means "sync any changes, including corruptions and accidental deletions."

I'd like to reclaim the storage on the Mini, but don't want to do anything that deletes them from iCloud or my other devices.

I have already signed out of iCloud in the Messages app on my Mini so nothing further gets added. Apparently all the iCloud apps sync automatically when signing into my account while setting it up and before I knew it there was GB's of message data downloaded to the Mini drive. As mentioned, I will not be using Messages on the Mini.

It took a moment to figure out that like Windows, certain system folders are hidden by default and I had to enable the ability to find the Library folder. Question - can I just delete the entire Messages folder, or is it preferable to delete the folder's contents. I think this is the right place: