Message+ and “Move to iOS” App Issue, Disable Message+?

I have a Samsung Galaxy S8 and recently purchased an iPhone 13 Pro. I’ve used the Verizon message+ app for years thinking it was the native messaging app on my device. I want to move my data to my iPhone, but it seems like the message+ app is causing issues with the “Move to iOS” app. The message+ app sends a text to the new device to confirm I want to allow it access, but it seems like it locks up the process of the Move to iOS app.

I pay for backup, but only 90days of messages are saved (which is dumb and a ripoff), and I don’t want to lose years of data. Can I disable the message+ app and keep all the messages stored on my phone’s native message app? I hope that if my messages are just in the native message app, I’ll be able to move them to my new iPhone with the Move to iOS app (or some other data transfer app). Would it be less of an issue if I was moving between different android devices, because I can return the iPhone and get something different if I have to (can you tell I’m desperate to save my data?)

When I look at Apps in the Settings menu, my message+ app is using 579mb while the native message app is using 102mb. Does that mean all my texts aren’t saved in the native message app? I can scroll back years in my text conversations in the native app, so it seems like they’re there.

Accepted answers

Verizon_Support

Deleting the Verizon Messages (Message+) app from a device or switching to another messaging app, even the default messaging app on the device (iMessage), won't stop the storage of messages.

*Breanna

All comments

Verizon_Support

We know it's important to keep your messages, Sarl. When you go to your native messaging app, and scroll to the bottom message, is it the same as what is in Message+? *Rebecca

Sarl

the newest message in the native messaging app is the same as the the newest message in message+

Sarl

I may have misunderstood. I can scroll back pretty far to some old texts in my native message app, but it pauses every once in a while to load more.

Ann154

There are a number of SMS Backup applications available in the Google Play Store that will backup all of your text messages to a file. The one I use backs up to a XML file format. This backup will allow you easily transfer all of your messages between Android phones. For example, my text messages will go back 2009 if I scroll down far enough. That is means I have transferred between several android phones before they were restored on my current phone.

I have never tried to transfer the messages between Android phones and iPhones. It may not be possible, but check the application's description to see if that is an option.

Verizon_Support

Thanks for the reply, Sarl. When you are not using the Move to iOS app on the device and you download the Message+ app on the new iPhone from the App Store, are you able to start the process without the device locking up? -Kevin

Sarl

Hi Kevin, I downloaded the Verizon Message+ app on the iPhone, but it only has the last 2 weeks of messages.

If I disable the Message+ app on my Samsung/Android device and use the native messaging app, will that delete my data/texts?

Verizon_Support

I understand. Your messages should not disappear if you disable Message+.

*Breanna

AlanDale

I have a Samsung Galaxy S8+ with Message+ for my text messages (SMS). My text messages go back to 6/13/13 and I have thousands of text messages. When I used the "Move to iOS" on my S8+ it stalls with 1 minute left and continues to show the 1 minute left for over 4 hours. I then had no option accept to press the "Cancel" option. When I then went back to my Message+ app on the S8+ my SMS messages no longer displayed and there was a Button that said "Starting...". When I press that button it then displays all my text messages again. When I installed the Message+ app on to my new iPhone 13 Pro Max it only displays 90 days of text messages. I need it to display all my text message which I hear from a Verizon tech support person that the new Message+ app will only show the most recent 90 days of text messages and none of the older text messages like it use to do. This is a huge problem for me because I need all my old text messages from my old Samsung Galaxy S8+ moved over to my new iPhone 13 Pro Max. How can I get this done? I have a back up of my SMS messages on Verizon Cloud but there is no way to view them from there using Verizon Cloud on the cell phone nor on my desktop. I also have them backed up on One Google Drive but they can't be viewed there either. Over the last 6 days I have discussed this issues with the top level tech support with both Verizon and Apple and have yet been able to get to a solution. Bottom line, I need all my Message+ text messages migrated to my new iPhone 13 Pro Max in an assessable and readable format. What do you suggest that I do?

Verizon_Support

We know it's important to make sure you are able to view all your message. If you have them backed up, the best option would be to restore the messages to your device using one of the back up services, AlanDale.

*Rebecca

AlanDale

If I restore the backup to Message+ on my iPhone I only get the past 90 days and not all my messages. How do I get all my messages restored?

Verizon_Support

Hello, AlanDale. It is nice to meet you. I would be wondering what is going on with my Verizon Messages + too. I did want to clarify a few things. Did you make sure you backed up all your messages? Is this how you restored your messagess? https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-209183/

-Amber

Ann154

@AlanDale
wrote:
If I restore the backup to Message+ on my iPhone I only get the past 90 days and not all my messages. How do I get all my messages restored?

You might want to check the Google Play Store to see if there is a text message backup application that could restore your messages on an iPhone. If that isn't an option look for an application that will at very least back them in a format you can access them on your computer.

I personally use the following application, but I'm switching between two android phones.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore

AlanDale

Rebecca,

All my messages are backed up to Verizon Cloud. When I restore my text message to Message+ it will not show all my messages and Message+ will only show the past 90 days. I need to see all of my backed up messages.

Verizon_Support

AlanDale, we know that your messages are all important. I am glad that they are back on your S8+. As you have attempted this after fully backing the messages up to Message + and are finding that it stalls, another option would be a tool offered by the S8+. Here is a link with details and steps at https://www.samsung-messages-backup.com/resources/samsung-to-iphone-transfer.html .

-Loren