iMessages/Texts dissappeared on iPhone!

Hello LarryS in NJ,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! It's my understanding that you're no longer seeing certain conversation threads on your iPhone, but you do see them on your iPad. I'd like to help.

You provided great details on your concern, which is appreciated! There's mention that you do back up both devices regularly to iTunes, which is great. It sounds like you know you have a backup that does contain the lost messages, but you are not necessarily interested in restoring from that backup.

Do you recall any changes made to your iPhone since noticing this loss of message threads? If you create new message conversations with these specific contacts, are they continuing to disappear, or do they remain within Messages with no issue?

Understanding that you do not wish to restore from a backup, being that the missing messages exist on your iPad Air 2, you could consider enabling Messages in iCloud on your iPad Air 2 first. This would allow all the existing message threads on the iPad to sync up to iCloud. Then, you can turn Messages in iCloud on in your iPhone settings, to sync and merge conversations together: Keep all your messages in iCloud - Apple Support. This would be an alternative method vs. restoring from that previous backup.

Reach back out if you have more questions.

Regards.

LarryS in NJ,

Thanks for replying with an update to this concern.

I'm very happy to hear Messages in iCloud worked out for you, and was able to merge all of your conversations and restore the missing threads onto your iPhone. Messages in iCloud is a great way to help keep all messages up to date across all of your devices.

Have a great day!