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I am trying to retrieve old text messages on my iPhone. Does anyone know of a way to do that.

Is there a way that I can retrieve old deleted text messages?

iPhone 11 Pro, iOS 16

Posted on Jan 15, 2023 7:07 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 15, 2023 10:14 PM

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. You can double check by opening Settings ➡️ Apple ID (Your Name at Top) ➡️ iCloud ➡️ Messages: If this switch is set to ON, then you are using iCloud for Messages.


 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.

1 reply
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 15, 2023 10:14 PM in response to Cudyjudy23

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. You can double check by opening Settings ➡️ Apple ID (Your Name at Top) ➡️ iCloud ➡️ Messages: If this switch is set to ON, then you are using iCloud for Messages.


 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.

I am trying to retrieve old text messages on my iPhone. Does anyone know of a way to do that.

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