How do i restore my deleted messages

You cannot undo the deletion to restore deleted texts on your Android smartphone.  |  Photo Credit: Getty Images

Even with the excessive usage of WhatsApp to send and receive messages, we’ve all been through that gut-wrenching moment when you delete a text message only to realise that you really needed it. And now that it’s gone, how do you get it back? Does your Android phone have a recycle bin? Nope. Then? What can you do to recover deleted text messages on your Android phone, and what to do to keep it from happening again?

Unlike your computer, which has a trash can or recycle bin that holds all deleted files for some time before deleting them, your Android device doesn’t have one, neither can you undo the deletion to restore deleted texts once you confirm the action.

Like deleted files hidden in a computer’s hard drive waiting for retrieval or replacement, your Android device keeps everything you delete including text messages long enough before space is needed to save more data.

Your best bet, other than requesting the sender to resend the message, is to put your device in Airplane mode and find an SMS recovery app to help you the deleted messages on your Android before they’re overwritten.

Recover deleted text messages with Android SMS recovery software

Connect Android to Windows

First of all, launch Android Data Recovery on a computer. Connect your phone to a computer with a USB cable. The programme will automatically detect your Android phone.

Choose to restore text messages

Once the computer and the phone are connected, the programme will prompt you to choose what kind of data you would like to recover from your Android device. In this case, choose "Messages" and click "Next".

Install FonePaw App

The programme will then scan your Android phone for deleted messages. Install the FonePaw app on your phone. Enable install via USB and tap on Install when you see a pop-up on your Android phone.

Permission to scan deleted messages

Once the app is installed, you can give permission to Android Data Recovery to access your deleted data. Tap Allow when FonePaw asks you to allow its access to read messages on your phone. After you have granted all permissions, click Scan Authorized Files to scan the deleted messages.

Recover text messages from Android

The programme will first perform a standard scan on your phone. If you are still unable to see your deleted message, click Deep Scan to find more.

Deep scan for recovery

After the deep scan, deleted messages will be displayed in red font. If you want to look at the deleted SMS only, just tap "Only display the deleted items" to turn it on. Click the text messages you want to restore and then press the "Recover" button.

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In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later, you can recover conversations and messages you deleted in the Messages app.

Delete a single message

1. Within a conversation, touch and hold the message bubble to open an options menu.
2. Tap More
   
   .
3. Tap the Trash button
   
   , then tap Delete Message.

To keep your messages for a certain amount of time, go to Settings, tap Messages, then tap Keep Messages. Then select how long you want to keep your messages.

When you delete a message, the message only disappears from your Messages thread, not from your contacts' threads. To remove a message that you accidentally sent from everyone's threads, use undo send.

If you use Messages in iCloud and delete a message, photo, or conversation on one device, it’s removed from all of your devices.

Delete a conversation

1. Touch and hold the conversation to open an options menu.
2. Tap Delete
   
   .
3. Tap Delete once more to confirm.

As long as the conversation isn't pinned, you can also swipe left over the conversation, tap Delete, then tap Delete again to confirm.

To delete more than one conversation, open Messages and tap Edit in the upper-left corner. Tap Select Messages, then tap the circle next to the conversations and tap Delete in the bottom-right corner.

Retrieve a deleted message or conversation

1. In Messages, tap Edit.
2. Tap Show Recently Deleted
   
   .
3. Choose the conversations with the messages you want to restore, then tap Recover.
4. Tap Recover Message or Recover [Number] Messages.

You need iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later to recover deleted messages and conversations. You can only recover messages and conversations that you deleted within the last 30 to 40 days.

iPadOS 16.1 coming in October

Published Date: September 12, 2022

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