How do I retrieve deleted messages

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

In most cases, you don't.

1. The iPhone would have had to have been backed up when the messages were still on the phone
2. No new backups could have occurred after the messages were deleted

The reason for 2......backups pick up the changes that you make on the iPhone. If you delete a message on the iPhone, the next backup will also delete the message from the backup.

Even if you have a backup that might qualify, there are no guarantees that the messages can be recovered. To find out, you have to erase all the data on the phone and then restore the phone from a backup that was made when the messages were still on the phone.

Things would be tons easier if you simply ask the other person in the message to send them to you again.