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Restoring text messages

I somehow deleted one person’s text messages. How can I restore them?

iPhone XR, iOS 14

Posted on Oct 15, 2021 5:54 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Oct 15, 2021 6:00 PM

If you were using Messages in iCloud, then they are gone forever.

Use Messages in iCloud - Apple Support

If not, then you will have to restore your iPhone from a backup hat has those messages.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Be aware that restore is an all or nothing process. You cannot only restore messages (for example) and any information on your iPhone between now and when the backup was created will be lost.


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Question marked as Best reply

Oct 15, 2021 6:00 PM in response to Ripley2021

If you were using Messages in iCloud, then they are gone forever.

Use Messages in iCloud - Apple Support

If not, then you will have to restore your iPhone from a backup hat has those messages.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Be aware that restore is an all or nothing process. You cannot only restore messages (for example) and any information on your iPhone between now and when the backup was created will be lost.


Oct 15, 2021 5:57 PM in response to Ripley2021

Short answer is NO if you use iCloud for Messages. YES if you have a backup file, of your iPhone, when the text was present AND you do not use iCloud for Messages. Detailed answer is below.


Recover Deleted Texts


If iCloud is set to ON for text messages and you deleted some text messages then they are gone from iCloud so cannot retrieved!  If this is the case then it is all over and no need to read further.


 If you do not use iCloud for text messages then you can restore your iPhone from a backup on your iCloud account (if you use iCloud to back up your iPhone). Once you restore then your texts will only be as current as when the back up was created. Here is ➔ How to restore your iPhone from an iCloud back up.


The other option is to restore your iPhone from a backup that you may have created on your computer. Once again, if you restore your iPhone from a computer back up then your texts will only be as current as the day and time the backup was created. 

If you have a backup created on your computer and If you choose to restore your iPhone from your iPhone from it then here is how to do it ➔ Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


Axel F.

Restoring text messages

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