iCloud "synching" question….

[Solomani]

Hi all, I have a question regarding what is kept in iCloud and what isn't.


I refer to the screenshot here (from Apple's own website). It says (below) "And since all of your attachments are stored in iCloud, you can save space on your device." Ummm wait. So iCloud (same Apple ID) is enabled on both my Mac and my iPhone. If I delete a message conversation from my iPhone that contains several videos, then it's presumed that those also are deleted from my Mac's Messages app. And then the same conversation is also deleted from iCloud, so all the attachments/videos within that message conversation are also wiped out from the iCloud storage??

Something doesn't add up here. Can someone explain it better? Thanks.

 

[Solomani]

Oh and second question: If I enable "Messages in iCloud", does that mean that all those JPEG and MP4 stuffed messages (now stored in iCloud for all of my devices) will suddenly bloat up my iCloud Storage limit? Or do the Messages (many of mine contain pictures and videos) not count against my iCloud Storage limit?

 

[MBAir2010]

anything stored in the iCloud will expand in the iCloud.
And Apple will conveniently remind you upgrading your iCloud service is necessary when almost full.

heck, they will even knock on your door with a credit card swiper when this occurs.

 

[cynics]

Attachments sent in messages from one device aren't automatically download to the others unless you click on it. So if you send an iMessage to a friend with a photo from your Mac your iPhone will appear to get it but it will be a preview (thus saving space) however if you click on it or save it or otherwise interact with it it will download the full res version.

Messages in iCloud do count against your storage space. However they are removed from your iPhones Cloud back up where it was previously being stored. If you have multiple iOS devices this can save you a tremendous amount of space since you'll only have one copy of your messages not one in each back up.

 

[Solomani]

Attachments sent in messages from one device aren't automatically download to the others unless you click on it. So if you send an iMessage to a friend with a photo from your Mac your iPhone will appear to get it but it will be a preview (thus saving space) however if you click on it or save it or otherwise interact with it it will download the full res version.

So if I get some iMessages from Old Aunt Martha who keeps messaging me with horrid cat videos, I can just Swipe Delete the messages (without ever reading them) and they would never have counted against my iCloud limit to begin with?

 

[cynics]

So if I get some iMessages from Old Aunt Martha who keeps messaging me with horrid cat videos, I can just Swipe Delete the messages (without ever reading them) and they would never have counted against my iCloud limit to begin with?

Doubtful IMO.

To me it appears to work in a method somewhat similar to iCloud Photo Library with optimize storage turned on. The attachment will goto iCloud and seed all your devices with Messages in iCloud turned on but only when the attachment is requested (opening the thread or viewing the attachment). So if you got 100mb cat video you would lose 100 mb iCloud storage. If you were delete the video/conversation thread you would regain it back just as quick. Devices themselves appear to only download the attachment to their local storage when you open that particular message thread.

Messages with attachments that you have viewed appear to stay on your devices for about a day or so before they are removed from the devices local storage and rely on iCloud if you want to see it again.

I have 3 iOS devices and by turning on Messages from iCloud (thus removing them from iCloud back ups on all 3 devices) I got back around 3gb of iCloud storage and about 750mb on each device.

 

[MBAir2010]

what is a horrid cat video?
this:

Jax and Jax by expo bill, on Flickr

 

[Solomani]

Thanks all for the above answers.

One more question related to this. With iCloud Photo Library turned on... what if I also have Optimize iPhone Storage turned ON. If a friend asks me to send her (or send via AirDrop) one of the nice pictures stored inside my phone Photo Library, does it end up sending her the low-resolution (crappy) image?? Because I interpret this as the original (higher quality) images are stored in iCloud, not in my phone.

 

[cynics]

Thanks all for the above answers.

One more question related to this. With iCloud Photo Library turned on... what if I also have Optimize iPhone Storage turned ON. If a friend asks me to send her (or send via AirDrop) one of the nice pictures stored inside my phone Photo Library, does it end up sending her the low-resolution (crappy) image?? Because I interpret this as the original (higher quality) images are stored in iCloud, not in my phone.

No. Any interaction (mail, message, airdrop, etc etc) you have with a photo that the low res version is stored on your iPhone will cause it to download the full resolution from iCloud. Even looking at it and zooming in will cause your phone to download the full resolution version (you'll see a loading circle in the bottom right of the photo).

 

[Solomani]

No. Any interaction (mail, message, airdrop, etc etc) you have with a photo that the low res version is stored on your iPhone will cause it to download the full resolution from iCloud. Even looking at it and zooming in will cause your phone to download the full resolution version (you'll see a loading circle in the bottom right of the photo).

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Good to know. Thanks.