Where Does AirMessage Store Messages and Attachments?
AirMessage server on Mac reads your Messages database and caches attachments locally, with Android and web clients syncing from it.
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AirMessage bridges iMessage to Android and the web through a server app on a Mac. The Mac holds two things: Apple's own Messages database with your history, and AirMessage's own cache of attachments and session state.
Clients keep a lighter copy: recent conversations plus media you explicitly download. If the Mac sleeps or signs out, clients stop syncing, which is why server upkeep matters more than client storage. An always-on energy schedule beats manual launches.
Where AirMessage stores this, by platform
~/Library/Application Support/AirMessage
Server cache and attachments (exact subfolder names vary by release). Real history lives in Apple's ~/Library/Messages/chat.db, which is SIP-protected. Keep this Mac awake and signed in.
AirMessage (private app storage)
Conversation cache plus media saved through downloads. Full history resyncs from the server on sign-in, so clearing app data only costs offline copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move AirMessage server to a new Mac?
Install AirMessage server on the new Mac, sign in, and re-pair each client with the new code. Chat history comes from Apple's own Messages database, so migrate that separately with Migration Assistant.
How do I save photos from AirMessage to my phone?
Tap download on the attachment in the client; it lands in the gallery or Files app. The server keeps its own cache copy regardless, which is what fills Mac disk over time.
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