how to restore deleted iMessages on mac

I think your answer is in here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5378830?answerId=24516973022#24516973022

I've just done this myself on El Capitan. After following the instructions and not getting anywhere, I figured out that you also have to restore com.apple.iChat. So my updated instructions are:

Firstly, you need a Time Machine backup. Time Machine is brilliant and I highly recommend everybody to have this device. If you don't have, and you have shared iMessages on your other iOS devices those deleted messages are probably there still.

In iMessage, use Preferences -> Accounts, and sign out of everything. Next, ctrl click iMessages and select Quit (two finger tap).

Open Finder, use Option -> Go (option then shows extra hidden menu option) and select Library.

Rename Messages (Message-old), and go in to Containers and rename com.apple.iChat in the same way.

Go back up and enter Time Machine (Top right side, with the clock rewinding). Pick a suitable date and restore Messages. Go back in to Containers and do the same for com.apple.iChat.

Once done, log out. Give a moment. Log back in. Open iMessages and sign in again. And for me, that was it. All done. You of course will now have lost any messages from the time the backup was made, but I'm guessing those old messages were more important.

You can only restore the whole message database, not individual messages or conversations. This procedure will replace the database with an earlier version, so you'll lose all later changes.

Sign out of iMessage and all other IM accounts, if any. Quit Messages. Hold down the option key and select

Go ▹ Library

from the Finder menu bar. A folder window will open.

Restore the subfolder named "Messages" from a backup that predates the unwanted changes, then log out and log back in.

If you're running OS X 10.9 or later, delete the subfolder Containers/com.apple.iChat.

If you don't have a backup, the archive can't be restored.

Hi - I was looking for solutions to the problem and this was one of the first links on google.

For sierra.

1. Sign out of messages
2. close messages (command + Q)
3. from finder enter the hidden library folder (hold option go->library)
4. restore "messages"
5. restore containers/com.apple.iChat (they don't seem to backup at the same time, so try to get close!)
6. Restart your mac
7. Start and sign into imessages

This worked for me.

Hi there,

I tried following your suggestion after accidentally deleting a conversation, but when I start iMessage again it just brings up a blank window. I restored the Messages folder from Time Machine and I can see it still has a chat.db size of 28.6MB, but nothing is showing in the iMessage window. I'm running 10.11.2 on an iMac.

Any suggestions on how to get my iMessage conversations back on my Mac - am I missing something?

Many thanks.

Eddie.

How do i restore the subfolder?

How do i restore the subfolder?

So I am eager to try this but I am failing to figure out what you are meaning when you say restore lol I apologize.

Where do you "restore" messages?

HOW TO RESTORE THAT SUBFOLDER, PLEASE!?

Thank you so much Linc! I double-clicked on a message file and it restored the whole conversation! One question- is there a way to restore deleted conversations on an iPhone?

Nice advice--followed directions and not only did the deleted conversation NOT come back, all my other conversations are now gone too. EXCELLENT!!!!!

Thanks much, man! I think your answer should be elevated to the "Solved" status for Sierra.