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Text Message Data Overload

E

Embalmer12

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 22, 2017
10
1
For some reason I have a very unreasonable 34gb of data being used by my text messages (app). I have deleted countless threads and after 'updating' my phone I now have over 36gb of 'documents and data'.

Before I delete everything off of my phone I have to ensure that everything is not deleted.

I need to keep some of the text threads and be able to access them later for legal reasons. This has kept me from limiting how long the phone will keep the messages (1 week, 1 month, etc).

I have deleted enough threads, photos, and videos to create space on the phone but my data and documents has increased.

I don't want to restore my phone because I don't want all of the messages to appear on my phone again.

Is there something I can do? I feel like this is going to be complex or very simple. Thanks in advance for any help! I will try to respond to questions asap.
 
Any attachments inside your text messages count towards the size. You say you deleted stuff, but you're unclear as to whether that's inside the Photos and Videos apps or actually inside the message threads.
 
In addition to what eyoungren said, if you had been using the same backup since iOS 6/7 there was a bug that would not delete attachments even if you deleted the threads. So its possible there are attachments floating around in your storage that you cannot delete because the threads are gone. Only way to clean that is a fresh install without a backup.
 
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Sorry--I have deleted the photos and videos along with the entire 'conversation' in the message app. My photos and videos are taking up 5gb of space, a small amount compared to the 36gb my 'data and documents' takes up.
 
Embalmer12 said:
Sorry--I have deleted the photos and videos along with the entire 'conversation' in the message app. My photos and videos are taking up 5gb of space, a small amount compared to the 36gb my 'data and documents' takes up.
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So Messages itself says 36GB? Definitely a deletion issue from the past if thats the case. You could try enabling "Keep messages 30 days" under message settings to see if that erases old stuck attachments, but I'm guessing a full restore is needed.
 
I have updated to the most recent iOS as well--is that what you meant Mlrollin?
 
The status bar on the bottom of iTunes indicates ~5gb for photos and video, 2gb for apps, and ~36gb for 'documents and data'....

When I go to 'manage storage' on my iphone, it lists ~36gb in the messages app
 
Embalmer12 said:
The status bar on the bottom of iTunes indicates ~5gb for photos and video, 2gb for apps, and ~36gb for 'documents and data'....

When I go to 'manage storage' on my iphone, it lists ~36gb in the messages app
Click to expand...
Okay, so you have two options. First try deleting all message threads entirely and enabling the 30 day auto delete in message settings. This could trigger stuck attachments to delete.

If that does not work, you will need to restore as new without a backup. Otherwise there is no other way to clear that.
 
I'm not sure Mlrollin---how would I remedy that issue?--or know if that IS the issue?
 
Embalmer12 said:
I'm not sure Mlrollin---how would I remedy that issue?--or know if that IS the issue?
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Well you would know if you have been restoring a backup to your phone for a few years. But thats besides the point. Above I outlined two possible ways to fix it. If the first doesn't work, I don't know anything else besides a restore, but you will lose all data on your phone and have to start over.
 
Embalmer12 said:
I need to keep some of the text threads and be able to access them later for legal reasons. This has kept me from limiting how long the phone will keep the messages (1 week, 1 month, etc).
Click to expand...
This part alarms me. I would recommend a custom communications management tool to better organize and safeguard you and the 'texters'.
 
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960design said:
This part alarms me. I would recommend a custom communications management tool to better organize and safeguard you and the 'texters'.
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I totally missed that in the opening post. OP, if you are keeping for legal reasons, you definitely need to find a more secure method to do so. A lot can go wrong with iOS and things can become corrupt leading to issues like this.

At this point you have to keep the 36GB of missing data or try to transfer the message to your computer and restore your phone.
 
Thinking about it, I'm sure I've been restoring my phone so that I can keep a few of the conversations.

Mlrollin, you're suggesting wiping my phone so that everything is cleared. What happens to my contacts, etc. that I would want to transfer back to my phone?

I'd love to move my messages to an external memory device so I can keep them and the other data on my phone strictly for access/reference.
 
Embalmer12 said:
Thinking about it, I'm sure I've been restoring my phone so that I can keep a few of the conversations.

Mlrollin, you're suggesting wiping my phone so that everything is cleared. What happens to my contacts, etc. that I would want to transfer back to my phone?

I'd love to move my messages to an external memory device so I can keep them and the other data on my phone strictly for access/reference.
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If you use iCloud for Calendar/Contacts, those will return to the device next time you log into iCloud on the device after restoring it.

As for saving messages, you can try doing this: https://macroplant.com/iexplorer/tutorials/how-to-transfer-and-backup-sms-and-imessages

Dont restore your phone until you verify that all messages are saved on the computer. But a restore as new is definitely needed.
 
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I dont know why people keep years and years of text conversations.
I'd suggest to restore and setup your device as new.
It will run faster, better and without any software bugs carried over from years and years of iphone backups from different lower iOS versions or earlier devices.
 
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In other words, if I wipe my phone, how do I replace the items I want (contacts, SOME of the messages, etc) while not restoring from an old version?
 
Embalmer12 said:
In other words, if I wipe my phone, how do I replace the items I want (contacts, SOME of the messages, etc) while not restoring from an old version?
Click to expand...
As mentioned above, iCloud will restore contacts (if you use iCloud). You cannot restore messages. Thats the point of starting over as new, not to carry the 36GB of corruption back over.
 
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You can transfer your contacts to your computer or to icloud and then sync them back.
Text conversations you cannot restore back.
You either get them all or none.
If you restore from backup you will get the 36GB of junk files back.
 
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How do I keep the messages where I can access them for reference at a later date?
 
Mlrollin91 said:
As mentioned above, iCloud will restore contacts (if you use iCloud). You cannot restore messages. Thats the point of starting over as new, not to carry the 36GB of corruption back over.
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iOS11 fixes this. iMessages should be restored. I have not tested this yet.
 
960design said:
iOS11 fixes this. iMessages should be restored. I have not tested this yet.
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Won't solve the OP's problem though. He has 36GB of corruption tied to messages. It will probably back all that up.

Apple should tell everyone to delete all their messages before enabling iCloud Message sync so it doesn't backup corruption. Its definitely what I am going to do. Dont want to waste GBs of iCloud space on nothing.
 
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So I don't want to 'back up now' or 'restore backup' when I connect the phone to itunes? Sorry I'm not more clear, I worked through lunch and I'm hangry.....1) Do I restore my phone when it's connected to iTunes? 2) How do I keep ~36gb of 'documents and data' from being stored on my computer's hd?
 
Embalmer12 said:
So I don't want to 'back up now' or 'restore backup' when I connect the phone to itunes? Sorry I'm not more clear, I worked through lunch and I'm hangry.....1) Do I restore my phone when it's connected to iTunes? 2) How do I keep ~36gb of 'documents and data' from being stored on my computer's hd?
Click to expand...
Well before you do anything use the tutorial to save your messages. Once that is done you can proceed on wiping your phone. I would do that first then come back and report.
 
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