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User profile for user: davekrkr
davekrkr Author
User level: Level1 8 points
I want to deleto old text messages from an ipad
previously I had my data on this ipad, now I want
to strip all personal info from it to allow guests to use.
when I sing out of messages on ipad, and then launch
messages app to delete previous texts, a sign in apple ID
window won't let me past to delete them and not have
icloud sync'd delelting them across all my other devices?
HELP!
Posted on Jul 19, 2021 6:34 PM
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: Eric--F
Eric--F
User level: Community Specialist
Posted on Jul 20, 2021 1:14 PM
Hi davekrkr,
Thanks for reaching out using Apple Support Communities. Here to help.
We understand you are trying to delete messages from an iPad.
An iPad does require being signed into iMessages in order for the Messages app to function properly. Have you tried signing back in, deleting the messages, then signing out? The link below will have information regarding Messages on iPad.
Set up Messages on iPad
If you do wish to remove all of your data from the iPad so another user can use it, you may also want to consider the steps outlined in the link below.
What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Hope this helps! Take care for now
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User profile for user: Eric--F
Eric--F
User level: Community Specialist
Jul 20, 2021 1:14 PM in response to davekrkr
Hi davekrkr,
Thanks for reaching out using Apple Support Communities. Here to help.
We understand you are trying to delete messages from an iPad.
An iPad does require being signed into iMessages in order for the Messages app to function properly. Have you tried signing back in, deleting the messages, then signing out? The link below will have information regarding Messages on iPad.
Set up Messages on iPad
If you do wish to remove all of your data from the iPad so another user can use it, you may also want to consider the steps outlined in the link below.
What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Hope this helps! Take care for now
Link
User profile for user: Eric--F
Eric--F
User level: Community Specialist
Jul 20, 2021 2:07 PM in response to davekrkr
Hi davekrkr,
Thanks for following up.
We understand you want to delete those messages on the iPad but do not want them to delete across other devices. You also are concerned about signing back into iMessage as you do not want other messages to download in.
The feature that brings messages in from ICloud and other devices is called Messages in iCloud. This feature can be managed separately from the iMessage service itself. Messages in iCloud is off by default, and you can ensure it is off by heading to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Messages and ensuring this is toggled off. If you are not signed into iCloud, messages will be unable to download in so this will not be a concern.
You can turn off Messages in iCloud on any of your devices, and this will prevent synchronization of Messages on those devices to or from iCloud.
If Messages in iCloud is on, changes made will go across devices, but if this is off, change such as deletions will only be on that specific device.
Use Messages in iCloud
Again, Messages in iCloud is off by default after a factory restore or after signing out of iCloud. As long as this is off in iCloud settings on the iPad, message content will not sync to or from the iPad if you sign into iMessage.
Hope this helps! Let us know if we can clarify anything further.
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User profile for user: muguy
muguy
User level: Level9 75,543 points
Jul 20, 2021 6:54 PM in response to davekrkr
View the section for turning off messages in iCloud at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208960. Once you have done that on your iPad, you can safely delete messages. Send yourself one to test before you begin and be sure you have your other device backed up just for good measure.
All you should have to do is toggle the switch; no resets, logging out, etc. Once that's done your iPad is "isolated" from messages in the cloud.
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User profile for user: davekrkr
davekrkr Author
User level: Level1 8 points
Jul 20, 2021 1:36 PM in response to Eric--F
eric,
I think you’re missing my intent?
I wish to sign out of messages on ipad,
and have previous text messages be deleted!
correct me if I’m wrong, using your suggestion
of signing in and deleting messages while sugned
into an apple ID deletes them across all other devices?
that’s what I DON’T WANT!
now how does one sign out of messages, remove all
their texts messages, and leave a blank slate, while not
going thru complete reset to factory settings?
also, correct me if I’ve misunderstood, even if I reset to
factory standards, the minute I sign into apple ID again,
my current texts will come along with that sign in, as
messages defaults to ON when signing in?
thanks for your reply!
dave
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User profile for user: davekrkr
davekrkr Author
User level: Level1 8 points
Jul 20, 2021 2:18 PM in response to Eric--F
eric,
I still don’t see a clear path to NOT
deleting messages across the cloud?
after a factory reset, if I sign in to apple
ID, messages are ON by default, which
brings me back to the starting point
of this query, old texts showing behind
messages sign in screen?
hiw can I be clearer?
dave
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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level10 230,262 points
Jul 20, 2021 2:41 PM in response to davekrkr
If you are not using iCloud messages on the iPad, which as eric told you is a separate switch, then wiping the iPad as he provided will not wipe messages from your other devices.
Now, if you are going to sign into the device again with your Apple ID, it won't log into iMessage if you turn iMessage off. Even if it does, it shouldn't download past messages and you can then go in an delete those messages from the iPad. And like I said earlier, if you are not using iCloud Messages, which you can check if you go to Settings><yourname>iCloud and make sure it is off, then deleting messages on the iPad will not delete messages on any other devices you are logged into.
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User profile for user: davekrkr
davekrkr Author
User level: Level1 8 points
Jul 20, 2021 4:27 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
chris,
while I appreciate your answer,
previous to coming here for help
I did the factory reset on ipad.
I thought I was clear in response to
eric’s post that when I log in w/apple
ID, messages in icloud defaults ON!
subsequently going to the message
app and switching the app OFF I am
left with current texts in icloud, minus
the names associated w/raw numbers?
which is why I asked this question?
I hope I’m describing my result clearly!
dave
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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level10 230,262 points
Jul 20, 2021 4:56 PM in response to davekrkr
Turn off iCloud Messages on that device, sign out of Messages, then delete the messages you have on that device. You would probably want to make sure that nothing else is turned on in iCloud either, since it would take anything from your iCloud account you have on any other devices, like Contacts, Calendar, etc.
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User profile for user: davekrkr
davekrkr Author
User level: Level1 8 points
Jul 20, 2021 5:23 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
chris,
followed your instructions again, NO JOY!
after your steps, messages opens w/sign in
screen, all old text message behind it,
without associated contact names…
which is where/why I asked this question.
problem remains…. sorry!
dave
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User profile for user: davekrkr
davekrkr Author
User level: Level1 8 points
Jul 20, 2021 6:47 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
chris,
I’ll repeat…
turning off icloud messages,
then signing out of messages,
leaves me with log in screen
and old text messages behind it!
I have read other threads here saying
same, same w/no resolution?
how do I get past sign in screen in
messages to delete old text messages?
dave
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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level10 230,262 points
Jul 20, 2021 7:27 PM in response to davekrkr
You can log in and then remove those messages. You are no longer connected to iCloud Messages unless it magically turned itself on and you can delete those messages like I said. Just because you log into iMessage again does not mean you are going to delete messages on your other devices. After you have deleted them all, then turn iMessage off, and then log out of iMessage.
Sorry if I wasn't clear enough in my explanation.
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User profile for user: davekrkr
davekrkr Author
User level: Level1 8 points
Remove iMessages on iPad ONLY