Are you tired of your iPhone automatically deleting texts and important messages? Don’t worry; with iOS 17, you can easily stop your iPhone from doing that. All you need to do is change a few settings, and you’ll be good to go. After reading this quick overview, you’ll know exactly what to do to keep your texts safe and sound.
You can also check out this video about how to prevent your iPhone from deleting texts automatically for additional info.
Step by Step Tutorial: Stop Your iPhone from Deleting Texts
Before we dive into the steps, let me give you a quick rundown of what we’re trying to achieve here. By adjusting your iPhone’s message history settings, you can prevent your device from automatically deleting texts after a certain period. This way, you’ll be able to keep your messages for as long as you want.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Open your iPhone’s Settings app to begin the process of keeping your texts safe.
The Settings app is the one with the gear icon, typically located on your home screen. If you can’t find it, swipe down on your home screen and use the search feature to find it quickly.
Step 2: Scroll down and select ‘Messages’
Find and tap on the ‘Messages’ option to access your message settings.
The ‘Messages’ option is usually found in the fifth group of setting options. If you have trouble finding it, use the search bar at the top of the Settings app to search for “Messages.”
Step 3: Tap on ‘Keep Messages’
Once you’re in the Messages settings, look for the ‘Keep Messages’ option and tap on it.
The ‘Keep Messages’ option lets you decide how long you want your messages to be stored on your iPhone. By default, it might be set to 30 days or 1 year.
Step 4: Select ‘Forever’
To keep your texts from being deleted, select the ‘Forever’ option.
Choosing ‘Forever’ means your messages will not be automatically deleted after a certain period. They will remain on your device until you decide to delete them manually.
After completing these steps, your iPhone will no longer delete your texts automatically. They will stay on your device until you choose to remove them. This way, you won’t lose any important information or cherished memories that are stored in your messages.
Tips to Keep Your Texts Safe on iOS 17
- Regularly back up your iPhone to ensure that your texts are saved even if something happens to your device.
- Consider using cloud services like iCloud to store messages, so they’re accessible from any device.
- Be mindful of your iPhone’s storage capacity; keeping messages forever can consume a significant amount of space.
- Manually delete unimportant texts to keep your message app clutter-free.
- Use the ‘Search’ feature in the Messages app to quickly find old messages instead of scrolling through your entire history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I back up my iPhone to save my texts?
Back up your iPhone regularly, at least once a month, to ensure all your texts and data are safe.
Will selecting ‘Forever’ slow down my Messages app?
While keeping a lot of messages can take up space, it shouldn’t significantly slow down your Messages app if you have a newer iPhone model with ample storage.
Can I still delete texts manually if I select ‘Forever’?
Yes, you can always delete messages manually, regardless of the ‘Keep Messages’ setting.
What happens if I run out of storage on my iPhone?
If you run out of storage, you may need to delete some messages or other data to free up space, or consider upgrading your iCloud storage plan.
Is there a way to automatically delete certain types of messages, like spam?
Unfortunately, there’s no feature to automatically delete specific types of messages, but you can report and delete spam messages manually.
Summary
- Open the Settings app.
- Select ‘Messages.’
- Tap on ‘Keep Messages.’
- Choose ‘Forever.’
Conclusion
Keeping your texts from being automatically deleted on your iPhone is a simple task with iOS 17. By following the steps mentioned above, you can make sure that your messages stay put for as long as you need them. Remember, regular backups are essential to ensure that your data is never lost, even if your iPhone encounters problems. Take advantage of cloud services like iCloud to have access to your messages across all devices, and manage your storage wisely to avoid running out of space. By implementing these practices, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your texts are safe, secure, and always within reach. So go ahead, take control of your messages, and never worry about losing an important text again with iOS 17.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.