Apple Removes New Messages in iCloud Feature in Latest iOS 11 Beta
Prior to the launch of iOS 11 beta 5, which arrived earlier today, Aug. 7, developers could store iMessage conversations in iCloud to sync and save space. Not anymore. The Messages in iCloud feature has now been removed, although Apple promises that it will return in a future update.
In the release notes for iOS 11 beta 5, Apple explains:
The “Messages in iCloud” feature has been removed in iOS 11 beta 5 and will ship in a future software update to iOS 11. Users can continue to receive and store messages on each device, and they can continue to backup and restore messages using iCloud Backup.
First introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, Messages in iCloud allows conversations to sync across multiple devices. For example, if you delete a thread on your iPhone, the deletion is also noted on your Mac or iPad.
As Apple explained at the time, an added advantage of Messages in iCloud is having smaller backups, since most of your older messages would now be saved in iCloud rather than on your device.
Apple hasn’t mentioned why the feature was removed or when it will return. As MacRumors rightly explains, however, it’s return date probably won’t be before the official public release of iOS 11 this fall.
Take a look at Apple’s Craig Federighi announcing Messages in iCloud at WWDC:
As a reminder, Apple’s likely to release the first public version of iOS 11 as early as next month. It should launch a few days before the arrival of this year’s new iPhones, which could be announced soon after the U.S. Labor Day holiday, which is on Sept. 4.
Are you upset seeing Messages in iCloud removed? Start a conversation in the comments below.
For more on iOS 11, see:
