Clean install - transfer iMessage history?

[KoolAid-Drink]

Hey everyone,

I'm having major problems with my 10.10.3 install and need to start afresh. How do I keep my iMessage history (transferring it over) without doing a migration? I saw online that some people suggested transferring the Messages folder in ~/Library, but I tried that before and it didn't work. Am I missing something? If anyone can help with that, I'd greatly appreciate it. And, ASAP.

Thanks!

 

[chabig]

If you're having problems, you think it's your system, and you have no specifics to address, then there is nothing wrong with reinstalling the OS. But I would recommend taking things one step at a time. Reinstall the OS over the existing OS. If it works, you're done. If not, the next step can be a clean install and migration.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

If you're having problems, you think it's your system, and you have no specifics to address, then there is nothing wrong with reinstalling the OS. But I would recommend taking things one step at a time. Reinstall the OS over the existing OS. If it works, you're done. If not, the next step can be a clean install and migration.

So sorry, don't mean to sound rude, but this is kind of unhelpful. I know what I'm doing; AppleCare suggested I do that as well. Trust me on this one, there are specific problems and this is the best solution.

Second, I didn't ask for an opinion on what I should do re: clean install. I'm asking specifically about Messages and how to transfer Messages over, while doing a completely clean install otherwise. If anyone does not have specific advice on that, then please don't post anything. If there's specific folders and/or PLISTS I need to transfer over, that would be helpful information.

 

[chabig]

Trust me on this one, there are specific problems and this is the best solution.

OK. I trust you. I think iCloud will keep your messages in sync. But maybe you can find the messages in your Library folder. Good luck.

 

[golfnut1982]

Great question!
I've asked this before too. Would love to know.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

OK. I trust you. I think iCloud will keep your messages in sync. But maybe you can find the messages in your Library folder. Good luck.

I wish, but no. iCloud keeps contacts, calendar entries, etc. in sync, but not iMessages. Well, maybe the last very few iMessages sent back and forth, though. Not iMessages.

Can someone check this out and test? It says Mavericks to Yosemite, but not sure if it'd work strictly from Yosemite to Yosemite (10.10.3 both ways).

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6609505

 

[chabig]

Aren't they in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages

 

[simonsi]

Aren't they in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages

Yep. Hopefully that is specific enough for the OP.

 

[KALLT]

Aren't they in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages

That folder is a symlink to this folder: ~/Library/Messages/. There is a folder called Archive in there, which contains subfolders, which contain individual chats (.ichat files). I cannot tell whether Messages will allow you to restore these messages if you simply copy that Messages folder, but this is definitely the data they are looking for.