When you delete and disable messages on iCloud, it means that any messages stored in iCloud or on any device signed in with your Apple ID will no longer be accessible. Specifically, any messages that you sent, received, and had stored on iCloud will no longer be available on any device on which they were enabled.
The data will also be completely erased from iCloud. It’s important to note that while disabling messages on iCloud will delete your messages, it won’t delete any locally stored messages on any device signed in to your Apple ID.
Messages can still be accessed on those devices, and if you wish to delete those, you’ll have to do so manually on each device. Additionally, disabling messages on iCloud won’t affect any messages stored in the iMessage app, as those will remain until deleted.
What happens if I disable and delete?
Disabling and deleting something depends on the context and the nature of the item in question. Generally, disabling means to turn off a certain feature or capability, while deleting means to permanently remove the item from existence.
For example, if you disable a feature in a computer program, the feature may be turned off and unusable, but it would still be present within the program itself; however, if you delete it, it would be completely removed and eliminated.
Similarly, if you disable an account, it may be deactivated and made inaccessible, but the information attached to that account could remain in the system; however, with deletion, all the information associated with it would be completely wiped out.
In short, disabling something essentially just turns it off in some way, while deleting permanently removes it from existence.
Does disabling iMessage delete messages?
No, disabling iMessage does not delete messages. Messages and other data associated with iMessage will remain on the device, including text messages, pictures and video messages, and any older iMessages that were sent before the iMessage feature was disabled.
To delete messages, you must separately delete individual messages, conversations, or attachments. Therefore, if iMessage is disabled, messages will not be deleted.
Do deleted messages stay on iCloud?
No, deleted messages are not stored on iCloud. When a message is deleted from the user’s device it will be immediately removed from iCloud as well. However, even when a message is deleted from a device it can still remain on the Apple servers for up to 30 days.
During that time the message is available for recovery if needed. After the 30 days have expired any traces of the message will be completely and permanently removed from Apple’s servers. To make sure that no trace of a message can still exist, Apple suggests that users “force erase” their devices.
Doing so will permanently stop the storing of messages and any other information on Apple’s server.
How do I permanently delete text messages so they can’t be recovered?
If you want to be sure that your text messages cannot be recovered, then the best way to do this is to delete them from your phone or device and then securely overwrite the memory or storage of your device.
Depending on the type of device you are using, the method of securely overwriting the memory may be slightly different. If you are using an iPhone, then you can use the secure erase feature which will wipe the phone’s memory and make it impossible to recover any data that was previously stored.
On Android phones, you can use an application such as DiskDigger for Android which will securely erase the memory. Finally, you should backup your data and regularly factory reset your device so that all the old data is overwritten.
Doing these steps will ensure that your text messages cannot be recovered.
What does it mean disable and download messages?
Disabling and downloading messages means that the messages will no longer be visible or stored on the device. When a message is disabled, it is no longer available for viewing or use. If the user wants to access the messages again, they must download them again.
When a user downloads messages, they are downloaded to the device, allowing the user to access or view the messages whenever they please. This is useful if the user is low on memory or if the user wants to delete the messages from their device but still have access to them.
Are deleted texts really deleted?
No, deleted texts are not really deleted. When a text message is deleted, it isn’t permanently erased from the device or memory storage, but rather is marked as being overwritten by new data. This means the area of the device’s memory or storage which stores the text messages still contains the message, but it is effectively hidden until new data completely overwrites the original message.
Although it is difficult to recover deleted text messages, it is possible with the help of specialized software, forensic tools, and a few other methods, though these methods are complicated and time consuming and may not always be successful.
In some cases, for example, the device has already completely overwritten the original data and the message is permanently lost.
How far back does iCloud save text messages?
iCloud backs up your entire history of text messages, including both sent and received messages, to iCloud. iCloud stores your most recent message history, including attachments and images, for up to 30 days.
After that, message content and attachments are removed from iCloud. You can also store your messages, attachments, and images, locally on your device using Messages on iCloud. This feature can help you save space on your device, because messages are kept in iCloud and downloaded to your device when you need them.
With Messages on iCloud, your message history, attachments, and images stored in iCloud can be downloaded to any of your devices automatically, when signed in with the same Apple ID.
