Photos disappear from Messages on MacBook Air M1

Re: Photos disappear from Messages on MacBook Air M1

We don't know which version of MacOS / Messages you have installed on your Mac, or what settings you have in place.

Items that you share, and items shared with you, are generally stored in the corresponding app, unless you have turned that option off. Eg: Find all photos in the Photos app ... check out he "Shared with You" folder.

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More info. Eg: For MacOS Tahoe 26: Apple Support's online article:

Keep track of shared content in Messages on Mac - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"When a person shares content with you in Messages, such as a link to a news story or TV show, you can find that content in a Shared with You section in the corresponding app.

Shared with You is available in the following apps: the Apple TV app, Books, Finder, Freeform, News, Notes, Photos, Podcasts, Reminders, Safari, iWork apps and some third-party apps.

Note: Content only appears in Shared with You if the person who sent it is in your contacts."

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You have the option to use or not use the "Shared with you" feature.

Eg: Above linkd article says:

"Turn Shared with You on or off by conversation

You can choose people or groups whose shared content you want to see in the Shared with You section of the corresponding app.

1. Go to the Messages app  on your Mac.
2. Select a conversation.
3. Click the contact or group icon at the top of a conversation, then select Show in Shared with You (or unselect to remove shared content from the Shared with You section).
4. When Shared with You is turned off, you can still pin shared content to show it in the corresponding app."

Seems Apple calls that photo, a photo that is 'shared with you' in a message.