Does "Enable Messages in iCloud" on new device merge unique messages?

[matthewpomar]

I realized I did not have "Enable Messages in iCloud" enabled on a prior Mac I sold. Before selling it, in addition to TM backups, I also backed-up the entire Home folder, just-in-case of things like this.

I want to bring all my messages from my old Mac to my new Mac so I decided to restore the Messages folder into the Library folder of a Parallels Mac VM. I was able to see all my old messages and attachments from my old Mac. I was about to turn on "Enable Messages in iCloud" so that my old Mac messages would sync to iCloud and get synced to my new Mac. However, this post has be nervous about doing so. According to the poster:

It definitely does not merge and sync. I am pretty sure the feature is forward looking.​

Perhaps the issue is the poster was using a beta version, and the final release versions will merge and sync messages/attachments when adding a new device.

Can someone confirm this is how it works?

Also, does anyone see any risks with my overall plan of restoring the ~/Library/Messages folder in a new macOS VM and enabling iCloud on that?

Thank you.

 

[mikzn]

I am not sure about this either but here are a few of my thoughts ( I have many years of messages synced on iPhones, iPad Pro, MBP) and would not want to loose them - I had to upgrade my iCloud storage to have enough capacity to store my iMessages

if you have the back up from the prior MAC - that is good - but if you have an iPhone or iPad with iMessages also synced how will that affect them ?

It may overwrite those devices? On the other hand if you allow your MacOS to connect to iCloud it may download / update anyway without your prior mac (back up) over writing the other iOS devices with your back up info?

I guess it depends if your old mac has more unique messages? than your iOS devices? - I have updated my mac (new Drive) recently and added an iPad pro to the mix without any issues - FWIW