Where Does BlueBubbles Store Messages and Attachments?
BlueBubbles server caches attachments on its host Mac, while Android clients sync chats from the server. Both sides are covered.
Last updated
BlueBubbles works like AirMessage with its own flavor: a server app on a Mac facing iMessage, plus clients (mostly Android) syncing through it. The server keeps an attachments cache and its own database next to Apple's Messages store.
Clients hold synced conversations and a media cache. They re-download from the server on sign-in, so wiping a client is harmless. Wiping the server without a backup means re-fetching everything from Apple's database, which takes a while on large histories.
Where BlueBubbles stores this, by platform
~/Library/Application Support/bluebubbles-server
Server database plus attachments cache (exact subfolder names vary by server version; check server settings for a custom path). Source history is Apple's ~/Library/Messages/chat.db.
BlueBubbles (private app storage)
Synced chats plus media cache. Files you explicitly download land in shared storage. Reinstall and sign in to pull everything back from the server.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move BlueBubbles server to a new Mac?
Back up the server data folder on the old Mac, install the server on the new one, and re-pair clients with fresh codes. Apple chat history needs its own migration via Apple's tools.
Attachments stopped syncing. Where do I look?
Check free space and permissions on the server Mac first; clients only mirror what the server has fetched. Download important media in the client so a copy lands in gallery storage.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.