Hello!
I have recently found myself trying to install Xcode onto my MacBook Pro, so that I could learn to code for iOS. To my surprise, the MacBook Pro needs to have over 30 GB in free space to run the installer for Xcode_12.5_beta_2.xip. I've only had about 15 GB free for some time now, and have not been able to run the installer for several days.
In looking into storage management, I see that I have 40 GB used for Messages on my MacBook Pro. I then thought that if I could store it on iCloud, that that action would alleviate my storage needs. However; I have run into the problem that I cannot set for Messages to use iCloud for storage, as the option does not exist in Storage Management:
Nor in the iCloud System Preference:
Curiously; I thought all along that I was storing Messages in iCloud, because it supposedly was available from within Messages' preferences:
So, here I have sat for days trying to understand how to free storage from Messages up on my MacBook Pro. Reading many, many posts about how to rectify:
Might anyone have any ideas on how to free this space up, so that I can get on with the Xcode_12.5_beta_2.xip install?
One final plan that may work, since I do not necessarily need Messages on my MacBook Pro, would be to do the following:
This should completely decouple my MacBook Pro from Messages in iCloud, leaving me safe to delete Messages data on my MacBook Pro... without them being deleted from iCloud and my iPhone.
I have recently found myself trying to install Xcode onto my MacBook Pro, so that I could learn to code for iOS. To my surprise, the MacBook Pro needs to have over 30 GB in free space to run the installer for Xcode_12.5_beta_2.xip. I've only had about 15 GB free for some time now, and have not been able to run the installer for several days.
In looking into storage management, I see that I have 40 GB used for Messages on my MacBook Pro. I then thought that if I could store it on iCloud, that that action would alleviate my storage needs. However; I have run into the problem that I cannot set for Messages to use iCloud for storage, as the option does not exist in Storage Management:
Nor in the iCloud System Preference:
Curiously; I thought all along that I was storing Messages in iCloud, because it supposedly was available from within Messages' preferences:
So, here I have sat for days trying to understand how to free storage from Messages up on my MacBook Pro. Reading many, many posts about how to rectify:
- Enable Keychain (had already been done)
- Make certain all devices have Messages in iCloud (my iPhone has had iCloud Messages setting visible and has had it set for years)
- Some even said to download everything - turn off Messages in iCloud - and wait 30 days for everything to clear from Apple's servers (mmm... I don't think that will work out too well)
- Restart MacBook Pro (done several times)
Might anyone have any ideas on how to free this space up, so that I can get on with the Xcode_12.5_beta_2.xip install?
One final plan that may work, since I do not necessarily need Messages on my MacBook Pro, would be to do the following:
- Step 1 - On MacBook Pro: in Preferences, disable "Enable Messages in iCloud"
- Step 2 - On MacBook Pro: in Preferences, disable "Enable this account"
This should completely decouple my MacBook Pro from Messages in iCloud, leaving me safe to delete Messages data on my MacBook Pro... without them being deleted from iCloud and my iPhone.
- Is my above train of thought correct? If I follow Step 1 and Step 2... I am free to delete all of the data from Messages on my MacBook Pro, without iCloud thinking that I want them deleted from all devices?