How To Fix Finding And Recovering Deleted Messages On IPhone

Accidentally deleting important text messages on your iPhone can be a stressful experience, but with the right steps, you can recover them. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to find and recover deleted messages on your iPhone.

Recovering Deleted Messages via the Messages App

The simplest way to recover deleted text messages is through the Messages app itself, provided the messages were deleted within the last 30 to 40 days. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Messages App: Start by opening the Messages app on your iPhone.
2. Access Recently Deleted Messages: Tap the Edit option at the top left corner of the screen. Then, tap Show Recently Deleted.
3. Select Messages to Recover: A list of your recently deleted messages will appear. Select the messages or conversations you want to recover by tapping on them.
4. Recover Messages: Tap Recover at the bottom right corner, and then confirm by tapping Recover Message or Recover [Number] Messages in the pop-up that appears.
5. View Recovered Messages: The recovered messages will be restored to their original place in your conversations. You may need to scroll through your existing messages to find them.

Restoring Messages from iCloud Backup

If the messages are no longer available in the Recently Deleted section, you can try restoring them from an iCloud backup.

1. Check iCloud Backup: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups to see if you have a backup that includes the deleted messages.
2. Erase and Restore iPhone: If you find a suitable backup, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Erase All Content and Settings. After the reset, sign in with your Apple ID and select From iCloud Backup during the setup process.
3. Choose Backup: Select the backup that contains the messages you want to recover and proceed with the restore process. Note that this will erase all current data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the backup.

Restoring Messages from iTunes or Finder Backup

If you have backed up your iPhone to your computer using iTunes or Finder, you can restore the messages from these backups.

1. Connect iPhone to Computer: Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC.
2. Open Finder or iTunes: On macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. On older macOS or Windows, open iTunes.
3. Select Device: In Finder, find your device under Locations. In iTunes, click the phone icon and select Summary.
4. Restore Backup: Click Restore Backup and select the backup that contains the deleted messages. If the backup is encrypted, you will need to enter the password.
5. Wait for Restore: The restore process will erase all current data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the backup.

Using Third-Party Software (Caution Advised)

While there are third-party software options like PhoneRescue for iOS that claim to recover deleted messages, these tools are not always reliable and may require payment. It is generally recommended to avoid these services due to their unreliability and potential for scams.

Recovering SMS Messages via Carrier

If the deleted messages are SMS (green text messages) sent to or from non-iPhone users, you might be able to recover them through your carrier. However, this process can be complex and may require verification from both parties involved. iMessages, being encrypted, cannot be recovered through carriers.

Preventing Future Data Loss

To avoid losing important messages in the future, ensure that you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer. Also, consider enabling the Messages option in iCloud settings to sync your messages across all your Apple devices.