Messages in iCloud, as the name suggests, stores your iMessages in Apple's cloud servers rather than on each of your individual devices, which has a number of benefits.

iphone x macbook hero imessage how to
When you receive a message on one device, it shows up on all devices logged into the same ‌iCloud‌ account. Likewise, when you delete messages and conversations they are instantly removed from all your devices.

Another advantage of the feature is that your messages, photos, and other message attachments are stored in ‌iCloud‌, which frees up space on your devices. In addition, all your messages appear when you sign into a new device with the same ‌iCloud‌ account.

To make sure that Messages in ‌iCloud‌ is turned on for you, follow these steps.

How to Enable Messages in iCloud on iOS

Bear in mind that iOS 11.4 or later must be running on your device for the feature to work.

  1. If you haven't already, enable two-factor authentication on your Apple account.
  2. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  3. Tap your name in the banner at the top.
    settings

  4. Tap iCloud.
  5. Make sure the switch next to Messages is toggled to its green ON position.

How to Enable Messages in iCloud on Mac

Note that Messages in ‌iCloud‌ only works on Macs running macOS High Sierra (10.13.5) or later.

  1. Launch the Messages app on your Mac – you can find it in the Applications folder. It can also be found in the Dock on new Macs.
    messages

  2. If this is your first time using Messages on Mac, you'll be asked to sign in. Enter the same Apple ID that you use with Messages on your ‌iPhone‌ and other Apple devices.
    messages

  3. If you have two-step or two-factor authentication turned on for your ‌Apple ID‌, enter your verification code.
  4. Select Messages -> Preferences... in the menu bar.
    messages

  5. Select the iMessage tab.
    messages

  6. Tick the box next to Enable Messages in iCloud.

What to Do if Downloading Messages From iCloud Gets Stuck

iCloud
When you enable Messages in ‌iCloud‌, your device will start downloading messages from other devices. This should only take a few minutes, but some users have reported that it can take hours, or otherwise go on indefinitely as if it's stuck. If you encounter this problem, here are a few things you can try to resolve it.

  • Check that Apple's ‌iCloud‌ servers are operating normally. You can find out the status of Apple's services by going to the System Status website.
  • Double-check that all your devices are logged into the same ‌Apple ID‌ / ‌iCloud‌ account.
  • Disable Messages in ‌iCloud‌, then re-enable it.
  • Restart your devices.
  • On your devices, sign out of ‌iCloud‌, wait a minute or two, then sign back in again. To log out on iOS, open the Settings app, tap the banner with your name at the top, scroll down and tap Sign Out. On Mac, open System Preferences, click the iCloud pane, then select Sign Out.

With Messages in ‌iCloud‌ enabled, you'll probably want to be more careful when it comes to deleting messages, as once they're gone on one device, they're gone on all your devices. You'll get a confirmation prompt when deleting entire threads of messages, but individual messages don't offer this prompt, so that's just something to keep in mind.

Popular Stories

Alleged M4 MacBook Pro Leak Video

Alleged M4 MacBook Pro Unboxing Video Reveals These Four Upgrades

Sunday October 6, 2024 6:10 pm PDT by
An alleged unboxing video for an unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip was uploaded to YouTube today by Russian channel Wylsacom. The video was later linked to on social media platform X by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It is possible that this is the same MacBook Pro box shown in photos that were shared by leaker ShrimpApplePro in late September, as he claimed that this MacBook Pro...
M4 Real Feature Red

Gurman: Apple to Launch First M4 Macs and Potentially iPad Mini 7 on November 1

Sunday October 6, 2024 6:40 am PDT by
Apple will announce several new M4 Mac models around the end of October, with the company planning to launch at least some of them as soon as Friday, November 1, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple will launch a new M4 version of its low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, as well as higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models...
space black mbp

Apple Potentially Facing Worst Leak Since iPhone 4 Was Left in a Bar

Monday October 7, 2024 3:03 pm PDT by
Alleged photos and videos of an unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip continue to surface on social media, in what could be the worst product leak for Apple since an employee accidentally left an iPhone 4 prototype at a bar in California in 2010. The latest video of what could be a next-generation MacBook Pro was shared on YouTube Shorts today by Russian channel Romancev768, just...
top stories 5oct2024

Top Stories: iOS 18.1 Coming Soon, October Apple Event Rumors, and More

Saturday October 5, 2024 6:00 am PDT by
It's hard to believe we're already into October with the iPhone 16 launch behind us, but there's lots more still to come from Apple this year on both the hardware and software fronts. We're still expecting a number of Mac and perhaps some iPad updates in the very near future, while Apple Intelligence features are set to begin rolling out with iOS 18.1 and related operating system updates....
Generic iOS 18

Apple Plans to Release iOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence on October 28

Sunday October 6, 2024 6:18 am PDT by
Apple intends to launch iOS 18.1 with the first set of much-anticipated Apple Intelligence features on October 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman says the release date is arriving this month later than initially expected, as Apple is reportedly taking extra time to ensure a smooth rollout and prepare its AI cloud...
watchos 11 vitals

Apple Watch Users Report Vitals App Detecting Illness Before Symptoms Appear

Monday October 7, 2024 5:34 am PDT by
Apple's new Vitals app for watchOS 11 appears to be impressing some users with its ability to detect potential illness days before symptoms manifest, according to recent reports on Reddit. The Apple Watch app, which analyzes key health metrics measured during sleep over the last seven days, appears to be providing early warnings of impending sickness for at least some Apple Watch wearers...
Prime Big Deal Days Hero 3

The Best Early Prime Day Deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, and More

Friday October 4, 2024 10:43 am PDT by
Amazon is hosting another Prime Day event this year, called Amazon Prime Big Deal Days and offering shoppers the first chance to save on holiday shopping from a major retailer. Similar to the first Prime Day, it will last for two days (October 8-9) and you can already find a large selection of early deals across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.0.1 With Touch Screen Bug Fix and More

Thursday October 3, 2024 2:22 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1, the first updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 come two weeks after the launch of iOS 18. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, the...
maxresdefault

Two Weeks With the iPhone 16 Pro Max

Friday October 4, 2024 12:04 pm PDT by
Now that it's been two weeks since the iPhone 16 models were released, we've been able to spend enough time with the new devices to share a more in-depth review on their performance, battery life, feature set, and more. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've been testing the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, but the gap between the Pro models and the standard iPhone 16...