Apple - Backup and Restore Apple Messages on macOS

Yes, it is possible to import message history from a Time Machine backup onto a new machine without a full restore from a Time Machine backup. This was tested on 10.10 but should work for at least 10.9 as well.

1. Take a full Time Machine backup of the new system.
2. Quit Messages.app.
3. Remove all of the following files and directories on the new system:
   • ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.iChat/
   • ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/
   • ~/Library/Messages/
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imessage.bag.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.FaceTime.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.ids.FaceTime.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.ids.iMessage.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.AIM.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.Jabber.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.LSSharedFileList.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.StatusMessages.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.Yahoo.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.plist
4. Copy the following files and directories from your Time Machine backup to their respective locations on your new system:
   • ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/
   • ~/Library/Messages/
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imessage.bag.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.FaceTime.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.ids.FaceTime.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.ids.iMessage.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.AIM.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.Jabber.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.LSSharedFileList.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.StatusMessages.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.Yahoo.plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.plist
5. Restart your system