Retrieve deleted text 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

AprilTatum wrote:

Does anyone know how to retrieve a deleted text thread?

No, that is not possible.

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.

However, if you have a backup then you can restore from it. Hope you are aware of the restoring process which will wipe out everything on your device with that of the backup. 

If you are 100% sure that the backup that you are restoring has the data that you are looking for and are ready to wipe out your current data then you may go ahead and restore, else take a current backup and archive it. Then restore.

AprilTatum wrote:

I have tried turning my iMessage and sms off

SMS off? How did you do that?

Probably you are referring to "Send as SMS"

"Send as SMS" when enabled and when your device is not connected to the internet the iMessage will be sent automatically as an SMS assuming you have an SMS plan enabled by your carrier.