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dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,465
524
I had never enabled this feature for Messages in iCloud, but have never had any issues with getting my messages across my iPhone, spare iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Is it really needed and what is the main benefit? Thanks.
 

barbu

macrumors 65816
Jul 8, 2013
1,263
1,052
wpg.mb.ca
I think the difference is if you get a message on your phone when your computer is offline, or say you reinstalled the OS or got a new computer, your message transcript will be out of sync or missing. With iCloud sync, all devices you sign in on will always have all messages, attachments, etc.
 
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cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
If you have multiple Apple devices there is a definite advantage to have it on for some or all of those devices.

When Messages in iCloud is off your Messages app data is stored in the iCloud backup. So if you have 3 devices all with the same messages and you are using iCloud backup you are storing the same message data 3 times.

When you turn Messages in iCloud on a single database of your messages is stored on iCloud outside of your backup.

Basically depending on the amount of messages you have and whether you use iCloud backup you can potentially save yourself A LOT of iCloud space. I had about 4gb of messages on 4 devices, turning Messages in iCloud on freed up about 12gb of iCloud space.
 

bbednarz

macrumors 65816
Nov 16, 2017
1,416
3,749
Chicago
It's nice to be able to look up specific messages from people way in the past. It has come in handy for me on a few occasions. Also nice that if you delete someone on one device it deletes it on all (except the watch which is super annoying).
 

dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,465
524
Thanks for all of the comments. I don't pay for extra iCloud storage, so I hope that my messages would all fit withinn the free 5gb of space.

Is the syncing pretty quick after the first time? From what I can tell, even without the cloud sync, my messages on all devices seem to update pretty quick. But you are right, if I delete a message on one, it does not delete on the others.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
Thanks for all of the comments. I don't pay for extra iCloud storage, so I hope that my messages would all fit withinn the free 5gb of space.

Is the syncing pretty quick after the first time? From what I can tell, even without the cloud sync, my messages on all devices seem to update pretty quick. But you are right, if I delete a message on one, it does not delete on the others.

Assuming a good quality network condition is present syncing is fast. Keep in mind "Messages in iCloud" is exactly that, your messages are on Apples iCloud servers. The media content won't always be on your devices. After an undetermined about of time has past with conversation inactivity the media (photos, video, etc) will be removed from your iOS device. Only if you look at it later will it be downloaded again. With my normal usage my Messages app uses 10% of the storage on my Phone that it consumes on iCloud.

I would do a local back up first. Get one device exactly how you want your messages to be. Take that device turn on Messages in iCloud and let it sync overnight. Delete all the messages off other devices and then turn it on for them. This way your messages are perfectly sync'd.

As far as sync'd deleting, I have Messages in iCloud on all my devices except for my iMac. The iMac will still receive them but stores the data locally (which I back up locally). This way I can retain all my messages, just in case. You can do that with an iOS device but it defeats the purpose if you are backing up to iCloud.
 

akash.nu

macrumors G4
May 26, 2016
10,870
16,998
I never delete messages. Only delete the multimedia attachments sometimes. They take minuscule space if messages in cloud is turned on.
 
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k27

macrumors 6502
Jan 23, 2018
330
419
Europe
Is it really needed and worth it?

No!!!

Apple undermines the end-to-end-encoryption of iMessage. Many users probably do not care.

We have two known attack points that bypass end-to-end encryption:
- iCloud backup.
- Messages in iCloud: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202303 => no end-to-end encryption

Even if you don't use iCloud backup or messages in iCloud there is the problem that you can't exclude that others use it.
 

Ritsuka

Cancelled
Sep 3, 2006
1,464
969
A textbook example of reading everything and understanding nothing. From the page you linked:
Messages in iCloud also uses end-to-end encryption. If you have iCloud Backup turned on, your backup includes a copy of the key protecting your Messages. This ensures you can recover your Messages if you lose access to iCloud Keychain and your trusted devices. When you turn off iCloud Backup, a new key is generated on your device to protect future messages and isn't stored by Apple.

It's end-to-end. But if you use iCloud Backup the key is backed up. So don't use iCloud Backup if you want to sync your messages and have more privacy.
 

k27

macrumors 6502
Jan 23, 2018
330
419
Europe
A textbook example of reading everything and understanding nothing. From the page you linked:
Messages in iCloud also uses end-to-end encryption. If you have iCloud Backup turned on, your backup includes a copy of the key protecting your Messages. This ensures you can recover your Messages if you lose access to iCloud Keychain and your trusted devices. When you turn off iCloud Backup, a new key is generated on your device to protect future messages and isn't stored by Apple.
OK, I didn't read that. I looked only at the table. That's unfortunately represented by Apple.

It's end-to-end. But if you use iCloud Backup the key is backed up. So don't use iCloud Backup if you want to sync your messages and have more privacy.
The problem is that other users may use the iCloud backup. You can't control that.
 

k27

macrumors 6502
Jan 23, 2018
330
419
Europe
=> "Many users probably do not care."

Sorry. iMessage is listed as a cryptomessenger. Text messages can be confidential. We also have photos and videos. People think it's encrypted. When it ends up in iCloud backup, it's not anymore.You do not have control over who uses iCloud backup. Therefore there is no assurance that encryption can be relied upon.
 

bradbomb

macrumors 6502a
Jan 7, 2002
566
309
Los Angeles, CA
They're *text* messages. Get a grip and let them go.

For some people, texts are memories they want to preserve. I know I have all my texts since 2008 from my iPhone 3G on my current iPhone X and with Messages in iCloud they are all synced together on all my devices (MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iPad Pro)
 
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