Recover deleted messages on iPhone (2024)

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Table of Contents

iPhone User Guide

Welcome
- Setup basics
- Make your iPhone your own
- Take great photos and videos
- Keep in touch with friends and family
- Share features with your family
- Use iPhone for your daily routines
- Expert advice from Apple Support
What’s new in iOS 17
- Turn on and set up iPhone
- Wake and unlock
- Set up cellular service
- Use Dual SIM
- Connect to the internet
- Find settings
- Set up mail, contacts, and calendar accounts
- Learn the meaning of the status icons
- Read and bookmark the user guide
- - Learn basic gestures
  - Learn gestures for iPhone models with Face ID
- Adjust the volume
- Multitask with Picture in Picture
- Access features from the Lock Screen
- View Live Activities in the Dynamic Island
- Perform quick actions
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- Use the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
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- - Get started with FaceTime
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    - Receive FaceTime calls
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- - Adjust map settings
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- - Get started with Freeform
  - Create a Freeform board
  - Draw or handwrite
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  - Delete and recover boards
- - Get started with Health
  - Fill out your Health Details
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    - Use audiogram data
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- - Intro to Home
  - Upgrade to the new Home architecture
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- - Get music, movies, and TV shows
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- - Get started with Journal
  - Write in your journal
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- - Magnify nearby objects
  - Change settings
- - - Add and remove email accounts
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  - - Use Hide My Email
    - Use Mail Privacy Protection
  - Change email settings
  - Delete and recover emails
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- - View maps
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- - Measure dimensions
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  - Use the level
- - Set up Messages
  - About iMessage
  - Send and reply to messages
  - Unsend and edit messages
  - Keep track of messages
  - Search
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  - Group conversations
  - Watch, listen, or play together using SharePlay
  - Collaborate on projects
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  - Take and edit photos or videos
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  - Send stickers
  - Request, send, and receive payments
  - Send and receive audio messages
  - Share your location
  - Animate messages
  - Change notifications
  - Block, filter, and report messages
  - Delete messages and attachments
  - Recover deleted messages
- - Get music
  - View albums, playlists, and more
  - Play music
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  - Queue up your music
  - Listen to broadcast radio
  - Change the way music sounds
- - Get started with News
  - Use News widgets
  - See news stories chosen just for you
  - Read stories
  - Follow your favorite teams with My Sports
  - Listen to Apple News Today
  - Search for news stories
  - Save stories in News for later
  - Subscribe to individual news channels
- - Get started with Notes
  - Add or remove accounts
  - Create and format notes
  - Draw or write
  - Add photos, videos, and more
  - Scan text and documents
  - Work with PDFs
  - Add links
  - Create Quick Notes
  - Search notes
  - Organize in folders
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  - Use Smart Folders
  - Share and collaborate
  - Export or print notes
  - Lock notes
  - Change Notes settings
- - Make a call
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  - While on a call
  - Set up voicemail
  - Check voicemail
  - Change voicemail greeting and settings
  - Select ringtones and vibrations
  - Make calls using Wi-Fi
  - Set up call forwarding and call waiting
  - Avoid unwanted calls
- - View photos and videos
  - Play videos and slideshows
  - Delete or hide photos and videos
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  - Trim video length and adjust slow motion
  - Edit Cinematic mode videos
  - Edit Live Photos
  - Edit portraits
  - Use photo albums
  - Edit, share, and organize albums
  - Filter and sort photos and videos in albums
  - Make stickers from your photos
  - Duplicate and copy photos and videos
  - Merge duplicate photos and videos
  - Search for photos
  - Identify people and pets
  - Browse photos by location
  - Share photos and videos
  - Share long videos
  - View photos and videos shared with you
  - Watch memories
  - Personalize your memories
  - Manage memories and featured photos
  - - Use iCloud Photos
    - Create shared albums
    - Add and remove people in a shared album
    - Add and delete photos and videos in a shared album
    - Set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library
    - Add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library
    - Use iCloud Shared Photo Library
  - Import and export photos and videos
  - Print photos
- - Find podcasts
  - Listen to podcasts
  - Follow your favorite podcasts
  - Use the Podcasts widget
  - Organize your podcast library
  - Download, save, or share podcasts
  - Subscribe to podcasts
  - Listen to subscriber-only content
  - Change download settings
- - Add or remove accounts
  - Make a grocery list
  - Add items to a list
  - Edit and manage a list
  - Search and organize lists
  - Work with templates
  - Organize with tags
  - Use Smart Lists
  - Share and collaborate
  - Print reminders
  - Use the Reminders widget
  - Change Reminders settings
- - Browse the web
  - Search for websites
  - Customize your Safari settings
  - Change the layout
  - Use Safari profiles
  - Use Siri to listen to a webpage
  - Bookmark favorite webpages
  - Save pages to a Reading List
  - Find links shared with you
  - Annotate and save a webpage as a PDF
  - Automatically fill in forms
  - Get extensions
  - Hide ads and distractions
  - Clear your cache
- Shortcuts
- - Check stocks
  - Manage multiple watchlists
  - Read business news
  - Add earnings reports to your calendar
  - Use a Stocks widget
- Tips
- - Translate text, voice, and conversations
  - Translate text in apps
  - Translate with the camera view
- - Subscribe to Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, or an Apple TV channel
  - Add your TV provider
  - Get shows, movies, and more
  - Control playback
  - Manage your library
  - Change the settings
- - Make a recording
  - Play it back
  - Edit or delete a recording
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  - Organize recordings
  - Search for or rename a recording
  - Share a recording
  - Duplicate a recording
- - Keep cards and passes in Wallet
  - Set up Apple Pay
  - Use Apple Pay for contactless payments
  - Use Apple Pay in apps and on the web
  - Track your orders
  - Use Apple Cash
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  - Use Savings
  - Pay for transit
  - Access your home, hotel room, and vehicle
  - Add identity cards
  - Use passes
  - Use COVID-19 vaccination cards
  - Check your Apple Account balance
  - Use Express Mode
  - Organize your Wallet
  - Remove cards or passes
- - Check the weather
  - Check the weather in other locations
  - View weather maps
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  - Learn the weather icons
- Use Siri
- Find out what Siri can do
- Tell Siri about yourself
- Have Siri announce calls and notifications
- Add Siri Shortcuts
- About Siri Suggestions
- Use Siri in your car
- Change Siri settings
- Contact emergency services
- Use Emergency SOS via satellite
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- Set up and view your Medical ID
- Use Check In
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- Reset privacy and security settings in an emergency
- Set up Family Sharing
- Add Family Sharing members
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- Share subscriptions
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- Set up parental controls
- Set up a child’s device
- Get started with Screen Time
- Protect your vision health with Screen Distance
- Set up Screen Time
- Set communication and safety limits and block inappropriate content
- Charging cable
- Power adapters
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- - Use AirPods
  - Use EarPods
- Apple Watch
- - Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV or a smart TV
  - Connect to a display with a cable
- HomePod and other wireless speakers
- External storage devices
- Bluetooth accessories
- Printers
- Share your internet connection
- Allow phone calls on your iPad and Mac
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Cut, copy, and paste between iPhone and other devices
- Stream video or mirror the screen of your iPhone
- Start SharePlay instantly
- Use AirDrop to send items
- Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable
- Intro to CarPlay
- Connect to CarPlay
- Use Siri
- Use your vehicle’s built-in controls
- Get turn-by-turn directions
- Report traffic incidents
- Change the map view
- Make phone calls
- Play music
- View your calendar
- Send and receive text messages
- Announce incoming text messages
- Play podcasts
- Play audiobooks
- Listen to news stories
- Control your home
- Use other apps with CarPlay
- Rearrange icons on CarPlay Home
- Change settings in CarPlay
- Get started with accessibility features
- Turn on accessibility features for setup
- Change Siri accessibility settings
- Open features with Accessibility Shortcut
- - Overview
  - Use Guided Access
- Use built-in privacy and security protections
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
- Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
- Use a private network address
- Use Advanced Data Protection
- Use Lockdown Mode
- Use Stolen Device Protection
- Receive warnings about sensitive content
- Use Contact Key Verification
- Turn iPhone on or off
- Force restart iPhone
- Update iOS
- Back up iPhone
- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
- Restore all content from a backup
- Restore purchased and deleted items
- Sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone
- Erase iPhone
- Install or remove configuration profiles
- Important safety information
- Important handling information
- Find more resources for software and service
- FCC compliance statement
- ISED Canada compliance statement
- Ultra Wideband information
- Class 1 Laser information
- Apple and the environment
- Disposal and recycling information
- Unauthorized modification of iOS
Copyright

In the Messages app , you can recover deleted messages on your iPhone.

You can restore messages you deleted for up to 30 days.

Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
In the Messages conversation list, do one of the following:
- Tap Edit in the top-left corner, then tap Show Recently Deleted.
- Tap Filters in the top-left corner, then tap Recently Deleted.
If you’re in a conversation, tap to return to the conversation list.
Select the conversations whose messages you want to restore, then tap Recover.
Tap Recover Messages.

If you use Messages in iCloud, recovering a message or conversation on your iPhone recovers it on all your devices where Messages in iCloud is on. See Keep your messages up to date with iCloud in the iCloud User Guide.

Deleting and recovering messages changes only your own Messages conversations, not those of your recipients.

Once you recover a blocked conversation whose participants haven’t all turned on iMessage, incoming messages will no longer be automatically deleted.

Note: Any message that you delete from a conversation using Undo Send is permanently deleted. Audio messages that expire before being saved aren’t recoverable. See Send and receive audio messages in Messages on iPhone.

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FAQs

Recover deleted messages on iPhone? ›

You can only recover messages and conversations that you deleted within the last 30 to 40 days. If you delete a message before you update to iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or later, you can't recover that message.

Read On ›

Can you recover deleted text messages on an iPhone? ›

Discover More Details ›

How do I retrieve deleted text messages? ›

What Are My Options for Recovering Deleted Texts on Android?

Open the Messages app on your phone,
Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner,
Select Archived,
Long tap the message you want to recover,
Tap the up-arrow icon at the top.
If you activated Google Drive backup, you will find the deleted messages.

Mar 20, 2024

How can I recover deleted text messages without backup? ›

Here are the steps to recover permanently deleted text messages without backup on an Android device: Download and Install Data Recovery Software The first step is to download and install a reputable Android data recovery and scanning software. Some top options are PhoneRescue, EaseUS MobiSaver or DiskDigger.

See Details ›

Can you recover deleted texts on iPhone without backup? ›

Yes, you can recover deleted messages on your iPhone without backup. If your iPhone runs iOS 16, you can open the Message app and show recently deleted messages. This option is quite like recycle bin. If you cannot find this option on your iPhone, you should try a third-party recovery tool.

Find Out More ›

How to find hidden text messages on iPhone? ›

1️⃣How to Find Hidden Messages on iPhone or iPad

Look for the "Filters" option. ...
Tap on "Unknown Senders." It will display all the text messages that are coming from phone numbers not saved in your contacts. ...
Tap the switch next to "Filter Unknown Senders" to turn it off. ...
Tap "Edit."

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Feb 27, 2024

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How to find deleted messages on iPhone without iCloud? ›

Way 1. Find Deleted Text Messages on iPhone without iCloud by Restoring the iTunes Backup

Simply connect your iPhone to the computer and then launch iTunes.
Click on the device icon once it shows up in iTunes.
In the Backups option, click "Restore Backup" to choose the most relevant backup and then click "Restore".

Jan 15, 2024

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How to see recently deleted apps on iPhone? ›

How to find deleted apps on your iPhone

Open the App Store on your iPhone.
Tap on your photo in the upper right corner.
Tap 'Purchased'.
You will see the apps that are currently on your phone with an 'Open' button next to them. Apps that you've deleted will be identified by a cloud with an arrow pointing down.

Feb 27, 2024

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Is there a code to retrieve deleted messages? ›

There is no specific phone number or code to recover deleted messages on most mobile devices. Once messages are deleted, they are typically not recoverable through a direct dialing process. However, some messaging apps offer built-in features or backup options for recovering messages.

How far back can text messages be retrieved? ›

In the United States, there is no set time limit for how far back text messages can be subpoenaed from phone companies or iPhones by the FBI. The government can subpoena past records going back as far as they exist. Most phone companies keep records for 1-2 years.

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Can you recover deleted text free messages? ›

You can only make this request 2 times per 12-month period. Deleted communication will NOT be included in the information request and cannot be recovered.

Read The Full Story ›

How to recover deleted texts from iPhone? ›

You can restore messages you deleted for up to 30 days.

Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
In the Messages conversation list, do one of the following: Tap Edit in the top-left corner, then tap Show Recently Deleted. ...
Select the conversations whose messages you want to restore, then tap Recover.
Tap Recover Messages.

See Details ›

Is there a way to retrieve deleted text messages? ›

This option requires you to have Google Drive backups enabled on your device already. If so, all you need to do is navigate to your phone's Settings app, choose “System,” then “Backup,” to locate your backed-up data. The other way to restore your data in this case is to initiate a factory reset.

Get More Info Here ›

How to recover messages from iCloud? ›

On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup and sign in to iCloud with your Apple® ID. Go to Choose backup and select from the list of iCloud backups. Each one should have a date and size. Choose the last backup before you deleted the text messages to recover them.

How to find old messages on iPhone? ›

How to Look Up Old Messages on an iPhone With the Search Bar

Go to the Messages app.
Find the Search bar on the main screen with all the conversation threads. ...
Type the words you remember in the search bar, or use your voice with a tap on the mic.

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Dec 8, 2023