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Retrieve deleted text messages

How to retrieve deleted text messages

Posted on May 15, 2022 8:23 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on May 15, 2022 2:11 PM

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.

2 replies
Question marked as Best reply

May 15, 2022 2:11 PM in response to rick0452

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.

May 15, 2022 2:08 PM in response to rick0452

Delete a message or conversation

When you delete a message or conversation, you can't get it back. So make sure that you save important information from your messages.


Retrieving isn't as easy as you think it is...


Restoring from iTunes backup is an option but you need to restore the entire iPhone (only messages restoration option does not exist) including all apps, Photos, Videos, Voice Memos, Notes on your iPhone etc...


The question is when did you backup on iTunes and when did you delete it...Read on...


Let us assume...

Date1: Backup date

Date2: Message Deletion Date

Date3: Current Date / Restoration Date


Given that --> Date1 < Date2 < Date3 

  1. Risk of restoring on Date3:
    1. You may lose data between the Date1 & Date 3
    2. By default, iTunes creates incremental backup over the existing backup such that you only will have one backup per device on iTunes
    3. If you have taken another backup between Date2 and Date3, then the messages that had been deleted on the device on Date 2 is also deleted on the backup.
    4. If point no. 3 is true the messages or lost completely.
  2. Else you have a mitigation process: Create Multiple back-ups on iTunes for the same device.




How to create Multiple Backups for the same device.

  1. On iTunes Click on Manage Backups
  2. Right Click on a Backup and Click Archive
  3. Click Backup Now.
  4. You will see a fresh backup will get created See the GIF below



  1. Restore from Backup dated Date1 (Archived)
  2. Retrieve the message and store it separately
  3. Restore from Current Backup Date3


Retrieve deleted text messages

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