How to Change How Long You Store Text Message History on iPhone or iPad

Channel:

Max Dalton

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Published on December 31, 2021 4:00:23 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onegh0mcAS4

Duration: 2:26

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In this video I'll show you how to change how long you store text message history on your Apple iPhone or iPad.

Timestamps:
Introduction: 0:00
Steps to Change How Long You Store Text Message History on iPhone or iPad: 0:47
Conclusion: 2:07

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Video Transcript:
By default, text messages and their associated attachments received on your Apple iPhone or iPad are kept forever. While this history is great for hanging onto treasured conversations and images shared with loved ones, or conversations with other people you want to make sure and have a paper trail for, it can really eat up a lot of your device's storage. One option to free up space on your device is to change how long you store your text message history. The only warning is that any messages and their attachments older than your new time frame to keep messages within will be automatically deleted.

Now let's walk through the steps to change how long you store text message history on your Apple iPhone or iPad.

Step 1. Tap to open the "Settings" app. You'll land on the Settings screen.

Step 2. Scroll down the Settings menu until you see Messages, and then tap "Messages." The Messages screen is displayed.

Step 3. Scroll down this screen until you get to the Message History section, and then tap "Keep Messages." The Keep Messages screen is shown, where you'll see options to keep your text messages for either 30 days, one year, or forever. A check mark is shown next to your current option for how long you keep text messages. Again, by default, all text messages on your iPhone or iPad are kept forever.

Step 4. Tap the new option you want to choose to keep text messages for. A Delete Older Messages window pops up, warning you that moving forward will permanently delete all text messages and message attachments from your device that are older than your chosen time frame.

Step 5. Tap "Delete" if you want to move forward. You'll now see a check mark next to the new time you want to keep messages for. All messages and their associated attachments older than your new time frame are automatically deleted.