What if you realize that you really need to view or refer to an old message after you’ve deleted it? Whether there are some important links in the message, some photos you didn’t save, or anything else, you may think you’re out of luck.
When you try to delete a message or conversation on your iPhone, it doesn’t actually get deleted right away (similar to how your pictures don’t get completely deleted right away). Instead, your messages are simply marked for deletion, still making them inaccessible and invisible to us.
The deleted texts still exist on our phones for a short time until the files are permanently deleted. Now that you know a little more about what happens when you delete a message, let’s look at ways to recover them.
How to recover texts on an iPhone
Your ability to recover any deleted messages depends largely on a few factors, from the time period in which you deleted them to the backups you made in the past. It may or may not be possible to recover those messages or any of their contents.
Recover Messages from iCloud Backup
One of the first things you should try is to recover your messages from an iCloud backup. The only downside to this is that you will need to factory reset your device and then restore it.
To avoid losing other important data on your phone, first check that your messages are backed up to iCloud. That is how:
- Gonna Settings on your iPhone and tap your name at the top.
- Then tap iCloud.
- Check that the toggle switch next to Messages Its on.
If your messages were saved in a recent backup, you will see the amount in Gigabytes below the Manage storage option.
Once you have verified that your messages are saved in the cloud, you can proceed to reset your device. That is how:
- Open the Settings on your iPhone and tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Restart.
- Tap Erase all content and settings.
- After erasing the phone, it will turn off and then turn on again. Follow the prompts and connect to WiFi. Select the option to Restore from iCloud backup.
You will then need to sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Disclaimer: Before performing a factory reset, make sure you have a backup of your data to avoid losing more important information. Also, check that you can sign in to your Apple account to avoid getting locked out.
Recover messages from an iTunes backup
If your carrier doesn’t support message backup, or it didn’t work for you for one reason or another, this is the next method you should try. However, again, this will only work if your messages are backed up. This basically works as if you were restoring any lost data from an iTunes backup.
- Connect your phone to your computer and wait for iTunes to appear or manually open the program yourself.
- You’ll see your phone in the bar box near the top of iTunes, and clicking on it will take you to your phone’s information page.
- From here, simply select Restore backup. It should get your phone back to how it was the last time you backed up.
Check your other Apple devices
If all your messages disappeared from one device, they may still be available on another. Check any macOS device, tablet, or other phone for missing messages.
Thanks to Apple’s fantastic integration setup, your missing messages may be on another device. Even an older one. If they are there, back them up to iCloud or iTunes to recover them later.
Use recovery software
If you have tried the above methods and still haven’t recovered your messages, there is one more thing you can try. A simple Google search will bring up several websites that claim to recover deleted messages, photos, and other data. However, this is a “buyer beware” recommendation.
It’s a good idea to check online reviews to learn about the different options in this space until you find one that works for you. Several of these can cost you a few dollars, so be sure to do your research and use the one you feel is most reliable. Even if apps are reliable and work for most, that doesn’t guarantee they will work for you.
Hopefully, if you try these methods, at least one of them will help you save your deleted messages. Otherwise, there’s nothing else you can do except use it as a lesson to examine the messages on your phone before deleting them closely.
Data recovery services will need to access all the data, files and information on your device. This means that you will be exposed to some security risks when using these services. Another thing to consider is that some data recovery services charge a fee but may not be delivered. Fortunately, we tested these services and compiled our list of recommendations here.
When you find the right service (and we recommend doing your research before using it), you will probably need a computer (Mac or PC) to use the software. The service will recover any small fragments of data left after deletion and present the information in downloadable files. Assuming your messages are still stored somewhere in your phone’s memory, these services will be successful.
Frequent questions
This section will answer more questions about restoring deleted messages.
Can I receive my text messages from my cell phone operator?
In most of the cases, no. And there is a good reason for that. Although your carrier probably stores your messages on a server somewhere if they are ever needed by police, most employees won’t have access to them. Your text messages are your private messages and therefore it is not likely that anyone can access them, not even someone who works for a cell phone carrier.
In my experience, there isn’t even an option in the employee’s system to review text messages, much less send them to them. However, in some cases it is possible for him to obtain your text messages through a subpoena and court hearing.
Do deleted messages disappear permanently?
In most cases, yes. If you delete your messages and there is no backup, your messages will certainly disappear for everyday casual users. But in some situations, law enforcement or another agency can recover them.
