iMessage is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world today. It’s popular because it offers a range of features that keep users engaged, including voice messages. However, one of the common complaints from iOS users is that their iMessage audio messages expire after a certain amount of time. This can be frustrating if you want to keep an audio message for future reference. But don’t worry, in this article, we will show you how to prevent iMessage audio messages from expiring.

Apple automatically sets a seven-day expiry date on audio messages that are sent or received through iMessage. This means that the message will no longer be available after seven days, even though it still takes up space on your device. Here are some simple steps to prevent this from happening.

Step 1: Change the Auto-Delete Settings

iOS allows you to customize the auto-delete settings for your audio messages. You can either set it to delete messages after 30 days or never. To change this setting, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll down and select Messages.
3. Tap on Audio Messages.
4. Select ‘Never’ under the ‘Expire’ option.

By selecting ‘Never’, all your audio messages will be stored indefinitely on your device. This can be particularly useful if you want to keep an audio message for future reference.

Step 2: Save Audio Messages to iCloud

Another way to prevent iMessage audio messages from expiring is to save them to iCloud. This is a great option if you don’t want audio messages taking up space on your device. When you save messages to iCloud, they are stored securely in the cloud. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Locate the audio message that you want to save to iCloud.
3. Tap and hold the message to bring up a pop-up menu.
4. Select ‘More’.
5. Tap on the box next to the message to select it.
6. Tap on the ‘Save’ button.
7. Choose ‘Save to Files’.
8. Select iCloud Drive as your storage location.

Once you’ve saved your audio message to iCloud, it will be available on all your Apple devices that are logged into the same iCloud account.

Step 3: Use Third-Party Apps

There are several third-party apps available that can help you save and manage your iMessage audio messages. These apps can allow you to save your messages permanently without taking up space on your device or saving them to iCloud. Some popular apps in this category include Chatology, iMazing, and iExplorer.