Messages not syncing from local backup

[ian-frs]

Setting up my 17PM and for some reason the local backup didn't bring the messages over, anyone else have this issue? I don't use any iCloud backups for messages.

Edit: Checked the app size and it says I have 35.8gb of documents and data; it just isn't showing in the app.

Edit 2: After waiting most of the day I gave up and tried to transfer from phone to phone and that worked. No idea if there's a bug in backups or what.

 

[cacheout]

Having the same issue.

 

[Dan08]

I had the same issue but I didn’t want to do the whole transfer again so I just turned on iCloud messages on my old phone, waited for them to sync, and then turned on iCloud messages on my new phone as well…

 

[ZMAN Z28]

I went into my settings and turned syncing back on in messages. It's now syncing on my 17 ProMax 1TB

 

[Simmering2881]

I have the same issue here. I am going to try and do a device to device transfer. This will take a while as I have to do it over wifi (old iphone is not usb-c). I suggest anyone here submit feedback to Apple about this:

Feedback - Messages for iOS and iPadOS - Apple

 

[Simmering2881]

TL;DR: Make sure your new device on iOS 26 is fully updated. There is a newer build of iOS 26 (same version number, just newer build number) available as a day one update. Once I updated my new device, I restored it from my same PC backup, and messages appeared.

---

Okay in my last post, I mentioned how my source device (iPhone 13) does not have USB-C.. that does not matter for a device-to-device wired connection per Apple's documentation here.

Last night I tried doing the wireless device-to-device transfer, and it ended up failing (error screen to bring the devices closer together - they were literally on top of one another, not moving on a desk). I then tried to do this with a usb-c to lightening cable.. this eventually errored out about 40 minutes down the line.

I tried AGAIN restoring my new iPhone 17 from a backup on PC... and of course message were not there. This time, however, I went into settings on my new iPhone 17 and noticed that were was a software update (I was already on iOS 26, and this update was for iOS 26, with a more recent build number). I updated my software, restarted my phone, and.... the messages were STILL not there.

Lastly, with my target device on then newest build of iOS 26, I decided to AGAIN restore it from the backup.. and this time it worked! All of my messages were there this time!


Here are some same or similar cases of this issue happening:
*

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1nmbw6v/where_are_all_my_messages_and_recent_phone_calls

*

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1nlqxqm/need_help_messages_are_not_appearing_after

(OP here had same resolution)
*

https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/1nmamvh/imessages_not_showing_up_after_backup

*

https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/1nli8yh/apple_devices_pc_app_backup_not_restoring_iphone

*

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1nlkz8j/imessage_not_included_when_restoring_iphone_backup

* https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-transfer-did-not-transfer-messages.2466907
* https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2464940/page-188?post=34158883#post-34158883

 

[BradLA]

I'm posting in this thread so I can get updates on it. I made a post about it in the preorder thread, and just replied to @Simmering2881 who asked me a question here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usa-apple-com-iphone-air-17-17-pro-17-max-pre-release-order-and-delivery-thread.2464940/page-194?post=34165122#post-34165122

I still don't have my Messages, but the Apple customer service Advisor said Apple is aware of the issue.

When I got my iPhone 17 PM in store, I did the trade-in so I had to set up the new phone there. The Apple guy helping me was obviously very busy and kind of rushing through. The phone did prompt a software update at the beginning, but he skipped it, and I wonder if that was where the issue started.

I hope my Messages come back soon! I was honestly pretty upset they didn't show up after the iCloud back up.

 

[Simmering2881]

I'm posting in this thread so I can get updates on it. I made a post about it in the preorder thread, and just replied to @Simmering2881 who asked me a question here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usa-apple-com-iphone-air-17-17-pro-17-max-pre-release-order-and-delivery-thread.2464940/page-194?post=34165122#post-34165122

I still don't have my Messages, but the Apple customer service Advisor said Apple is aware of the issue.

When I got my iPhone 17 PM in store, I did the trade-in so I had to set up the new phone there. The Apple guy helping me was obviously very busy and kind of rushing through. The phone did prompt a software update at the beginning, but he skipped it, and I wonder if that was where the issue started.

I hope my Messages come back soon! I was honestly pretty upset they didn't show up after the iCloud back up.

As long as your storage still indicates it is being used my Messages, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Hopefully this will get fixed in iOS 26.1 (already in beta!), or some other hotfix and then they'll just reappear.

 

[BradLA]

As long as your storage still indicates it is being used my Messages, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Hopefully this will get fixed in iOS 26.1 (already in beta!), or some other hotfix and then they'll just reappear.

Yes, the storage amount is still there, but not the messages. REALLY hoping this gets fixed in an iOS 26.0.1 update and not having to wait until 26.1. 😭

 

[Fred Zed]

iCloud messages seems to be a right mess. It says my storage and message count are the same as what the 16PM had yet it doesn’t show messages unless I use the search function whithin messages. Wonder how many weeks or months it takes to sync.