Q: My iPad 2 was restored to factory setting and I want to get back all of my old text messages.  Any idea how to to this?

Did you make a backup to iTunes on your computer or to iCloud before bringing your iPad into Apple?

Bill iphone account wrote:

 

I want the text messages back, they are on my iphone6 and my computer in iMessage, not on my iPad 2, but I don't want the slow iPad and the crashing to return!

Take a look at this:

Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support

I don't use continuity so I am not 100% sure if old text messages will appear on the iPad or just the new ones after enabling continuity.

Contnuity is a new iOS feature that IS NOT AVAILABLE to older iPad models.

I am not a big text messager.

Is there a way to email all those text messages to your iPad? Either from your computer OR from your iPhone?

Is that even an option?

Can you just resend these text messages from your iPhone back to your iPad?

That is all I have on this.

Hopefully, someone with more knowledge in this area can be of assitance to you.

Good Luck!

Thanks. I didn't check on the system requirements and OP's iPad version. The original post makes me think Bill somehow was using continuity before he restored to factory ("and I want to get back all of my old text messages").

Sorry, but unless you want to send them all back to yourself from the computer or the phone, there is no way to get them back. As far as I know, you would have to copy and paste and then email them. They are not going to appear in the messages app again.

Demo wrote:

 

Even if Continuity worked on your iPad, the old messages would not sync to the iPad. Only Messges moving forward after setting up Continuity would sync.

That confirms my doubt.