macbook transfer imessage to new computer

The contents of iMessage are stored under ~/Library/Messages. This is NOT the same as /Library/Messages. Very confusing. Note the relative path. If you are in the right subdirectory the Messages folder will look like:





You can copy the entire contents of the folder to your new macbook under ~/Library/Messages which will restore everything including the attachments and archived files. Is easier to copy only the 3 files .db, .shm and .wal which contain the messages and headers for contacts. Restart to get the old messages to show up. Phone numbers may not have contacts associated with them.

You can read the .db file with sqlite3.