Deleting Message Threads:
- Deleting the Thread: When you delete a message thread, it's typically moved to a temporary folder called "Recently Deleted" messages. This folder allows you a chance to recover the thread if you change your mind.
- Recently Deleted Folder: Messages stay in "Recently Deleted" for a set period (which can vary depending on the device or app). After that timeframe, they are permanently erased.
Scenarios After Deleting:
- Backup After Deletion: If you create a backup after deleting the message thread, the deleted messages won't be included in the backup. This means they're gone for good.
- Restoring from Existing Backup (Note: you only have one backup per device): Restoring from a backup you made depends on the timing:
- Backup Before Deletion: If the backup was created before you deleted the thread, you will be able to restore the entire conversation when you restore the device from that backup.
- Backup After Deletion: If the backup was created after you deleted the thread, the messages will not be restored because they weren't present in the device at that time.
- Backup Before Message Arrival: Crucially, if the backup was created before the message thread even arrived on your device's message app, the backup won't contain the thread. This means restoring from that backup won't recover those messages.
Important Note:
- iCloud Messages: If you have enabled "iCloud Messages" on your device, your messages are stored in iCloud and not included in standard backups to iTunes or iCloud. These messages are synced across your Apple devices that also have iCloud Messages enabled. In this case, deleting a message thread will remove it from all your devices using iCloud Messages.
Key Points:
- Deleting a message thread doesn't mean it's permanently gone immediately. Check the "Recently Deleted" folder for a recovery window.
- Backups typically only include existing data, so deleted messages won't be included in backups created after deletion. Additionally, backups won't contain messages that hadn't arrived on the device at the time of backup creation.
- Restoring from a backup retrieves data from the specific point in time the backup was created.
By understanding these points, you can make informed decisions about deleting messages and using backups to potentially recover them.
