If you use the Messages app on your Mac, you might notice that older text messages and iMessage attachments seem to disappear over time. This happens because macOS has a setting that automatically deletes older messages to save storage space on your hard drive.
While this is useful for users with limited disk space, it can be incredibly frustrating if you need to look back at an old conversation, find a specific address, or retrieve a photo someone sent you months ago.
Fortunately, you can change this setting and force your Mac to keep all of your messages indefinitely.
How to Stop Messages from Automatically Deleting
To change your message retention settings on a Mac, follow these steps:
- Open the Messages app on your Mac.
- In the menu bar at the very top of your screen, click on Messages and select Settings (or Preferences on older versions of macOS).
- In the Settings window, make sure you are on the General tab.
- Look for the dropdown menu labeled Keep messages.
- Click the dropdown menu. By default, it might be set to “30 Days” or “1 Year.”
- Change the selection to Forever.
Will This Recover Previously Deleted Messages?
No. Changing this setting to “Forever” will only prevent macOS from deleting messages moving forward. Any messages that were already automatically deleted under the previous “30 Days” or “1 Year” rule are permanently gone and cannot be recovered simply by changing this setting.
Important Note About iCloud Storage
If you use “Messages in iCloud” to sync your texts across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, keeping your messages forever will consume more of your iCloud storage quota. Videos and high-resolution photos sent via iMessage can take up a significant amount of space over several years.
If you eventually start running out of iCloud storage, you can always return to this menu and change the setting back to “1 Year” or manually delete large attachments from specific conversations without losing the text itself.