How to recover a deleted imessage conversation in Big Sur

I very much appreciate the time and effort to help me sort this. Here are my configurations: iPhone: AppleID>iCloud>Apps using iCloud> Messages On; Messages>Sync this iPhone> on; iCloud>Manage Account Storage>Messages>4.6 GB (I thought this meant my messages are actually stored in iCloud but now realize this is not a backup mechanism). MBP: System Preferences>Apple ID>Apps on this Mac using iCloud> Messages is not an option to select/check from the list; Open Messages>Preferences>iMessage>Enable Messages in iCloud is checked.

P. Phillips - I can't find how to forward an entire conversation from my iPhone to my MBP. I am able to forward an individual message but not an entire conversation. Tap/hold on the conversation that is still on my iPhone drop down includes Pin, Mark as Unread, Hide Alert and Delete, not forward. Using iPhone>Messages>Filters>Recently Deleted, I can recover a conversation but I've learned hear this an option with Big Sur on my MBP unfortunately.

Steve626: I questioned that as well since the conversation I deleted on my MBP is still on my iPhone. It shouldn't be if iCloud is turned on both devices (see above) but it is still on my iPhone. As noted above, I could forward every message within the conversation but I don't think that is feasible. There does not appear to be a way to forward the entire conversation (see above).

I do have a Time Machine backup and a SuperDuper backup that is bootable but I can't find the library where the specific conversation is stored to restore it. The Message application does not appear in the Time Machine or Super Duper backups.

I came here for help to avoid the expense to use Apple Support so if I've exhausted all possibilities, I may be forced to pay for a solution or to learn there is none. I VERY MUCH appreciate all of your efforts to help me. Thank you!

Thank you Steve . . . I have spent days wracking my brain, following links provided here and reading the Apple documents and trying suggestions from Google searches. I don't want to restore the Message library because many equally important conversations will be lost since my last backup. I don't think you can restore just one conversation, even if you could find it in the library. I looked but don't understand the complex content in the folder to find the specific conversation.

I believe you and others here are correct. The Message conversation on my MBP OS Big Sur is not recoverable. As I noted above, both devices are configured for iCloud so is there any chance I can move the desired conversation from my iPhone to my MBP through iCloud? It's still on my iPhone even though I deleted from my MBP (still don't understand why, but I'm glad I still have it). Is there any way to make this work? Thanks again for your help.

Thank you again Steve for hanging in there and trying to help.  I have walked through each step outlined in “Set up iCloud for Messages on all your devices - Apple Support” as you suggested.  Both devices are properly configured.  Text messages are received on both my iPhone and MBP.

Like you, I have wondered about unchecking “Enable Messages in iCloud” on my MBP and then rechecking it, hoping the iPhone Messages will populate to the MBP.   If it’s the other way around,  I’ll loose the Message conversation that’s still on my iPhone.

This is a puzzler.  I wonder if I upgrade to Ventura what will happen.  I didn’t upgrade due to features on Ventura I wasn’t interested in using.  I also wait until new OS are testing and the bugs are worked out.   So maybe it’s time?  Your take o pros and cons?  

Thanks again for problem solving and the suggestions.  I apologize that this is incredible long but I hope the information helps you and others who might find this a challenge.  Here’s some additional information.  

First:  I set up a new account on my MBP so all preferences would be at default.  I logged in to Apple ID and configured Messages in iCloud.  It took a while but all of my text messages downloaded EXCEPT the one I’m trying to recover. But it clearly sync’d the new account with iCloud.  Question:  Could I test the uncheck “Enable Messages in iCloud” option in this new account or would it have the same effect as my administrator account, both using the same AppleID for Messages?

Second, my partner and I share the same Apple ID.  We configured his phone so Messages are NOT on in iCloud so he can delete them at will on his device but not mine.   He gets all of my messages through our Apple ID AND my iPhone.  I looked at his iPhone recently deleted conversations and there was the conversation in his deleted list that I want to recover on my MBP.  I was able to restored it on his phone, all 120 messages in the conversation.  Messages is ON in his Messages settings.   So it would appear the full conversation is in iCloud under our Apple ID and can be retrieved on iOS, evidently not OS Big Sur.

Now to the interaction you suggested between Messages on my MBP and my iPhone (where the desire message still is populated). I can’t fully test this on my partner’s MBP because as I stated above he does not use Messages in iCloud.  All devices share the same Apple ID.   Message sent from my MBP:  message populated on all devices.  Same conversation deleted from my iPhone:  Deleted conversation on my iPhone and MBP but none of my partner’s devices (remember, he does not have Message in iCloud).  Message sent from my iPhone:  message populated on all devices.  Same conversation deleted on my iPhone:  same, result.  

Now my MBP:  Conversation deleted.  Did NOT delete from my iPhone.  This is what happened with the conversation if deleted by mistake.   Now my iPhone:  Conversation deleted.  Deleted from iPhone and MBP.  So the sync mechanism initiated by my MBP to deleted a conversation isn’t syncing to my iPhone.

On my partner’s MBP, I created a new account, logged in to AppleID and the set Messages to Enable Message in iCloud.  Messages took a while to download but unfortunatley, the desired message is NOT there.  Right now it is only on my iPhone.  Why?

My situation may be rare (like being a dinosaur).  When we started with Mac’s, they advised using the same Apple ID for a number of reasons, but perhaps that is a problem now with Messages and other apps.

OK, this is a Apple developer puzzle?  Botton line, sometimes the chase is more exciting than the catch.  I enjoy a challenge but this is off the charts.  The deleted conversation is still on my iPhone so I can refer back to the 120 messages in the conversation.  If you want to call it quits, I totally understand.  Thanks for helping me try to figure this out.  I hope others find it interesting and challenging.  Regards, Rod

Thank you again for brainstorming this situation.  I checked all the settings - all were as they are supposed to be.  I began working the situations you described and stopped to ask “why am I doing this?”  I started forwarding the 120 messages, which is doable if I absolutely have to have them on my MBP.  I'm not sure if the meta data, dates, etc., will be original or when I forwarded the message.  So again, is it worth it?

To my knowledge, there are three problems I can’t solve.  1)  A deleted conversation cannot be restored on my MBP using Big Sur;  2) sync is not fully operational between my MBP and iPhone.  Conversations deleted on my MBP are not deleted on my iPhone even though iCloud is configured on both.   Conversations deleted from my iPhone are not deleted on my MBP.  As you point out, this shouldn't be happening.   I’ll have to delete conversations from my phone to be in sync.  

Regarding the illusive conversation, I can access it on my iPhone when I need the data, just not on my MBP where I prefer to use the data.   Since I know my iPhone can restore the conversation we’ve been chasing, I think I’ll take the risk and uncheck iCloud on my MBP, restart and toggle it back on and see what happens.  If the sync includes the desired conversation, we’re all good.  If it does not, hopefully I can restore it from my phone.  In the future, you can be sure I'll be careful not to delete a conversation I want to keep!

Finally, I'll upgrade to Monterey and see if all is well.

I’ll wait for your response before proceeding with unchecking iCloud on my Mac.

Both phone where the desired conversation continues to exist are updated to the latest iOS. It is on neither of our MBPs. Circumstances have interrupted me but I will work on the suggestions Steve made soon and respond. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

I apologize to those who tried to help me resolve this for not responding sooner. Health and other issues have gotten in the way so I am not pursing this matter at this time. I have retrieved the desired text conversation and will use extreme caution in the future when deleting entire conversations. Again, thanks everyone for helping! Rod

Sorry, forgot to add. The Data Recovery link in iCloud includes Restore Files, Bookmarks, Contacts and Calendars, not iMessage. Hmmmm . . .

Thanks! Yes, all devices are listed with green buttons.