Accidentally deleted a message on your iPhone and now you’re scrambling to get it back? Fear not! With a few simple steps, you can quickly check and retrieve recently deleted messages on your iPhone. Let’s dive in and get those messages back where they belong – in your inbox!
Step by Step Tutorial to Check Recently Deleted Messages on iPhone
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s understand what we’re about to do. The following steps will guide you through the process of accessing your recently deleted messages and restoring them to your inbox if you wish to do so.
Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
Open the Messages app like you normally would when sending a text.
Step 2: Tap on the “Edit” option in the top left corner.
You’ll find the “Edit” option right next to your conversations. Tap on it to proceed.
Step 3: Select the “Show Recently Deleted” option.
After tapping “Edit,” you’ll see several options appear. Choose “Show Recently Deleted” to view messages that have been deleted within the last 30 days.
Step 4: Browse through the list of recently deleted messages.
Here you’ll see all the messages you’ve deleted in the past month. Take a moment to find the one(s) you’re looking for.
Step 5: To restore a message, swipe it from right to left and tap “Recover.”
Found that precious lost message? Swipe it, tap “Recover,” and it’ll pop right back into your inbox.
After completing the above steps, your recently deleted messages will be restored to your inbox, as if they were never deleted in the first place. Now, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that important message isn’t gone forever!
Tips for Managing Messages on iPhone
- Regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer to prevent permanent data loss.
- To free up space without losing messages, try deleting only attachments or media in conversations.
- Use the search function in Messages to quickly find specific texts.
- Consider using a third-party app for message recovery if you’ve surpassed the 30-day window for recently deleted messages.
- Be mindful of the messages you delete, as once they’re gone beyond 30 days, they’re typically unrecoverable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover messages that were deleted more than 30 days ago?
Messages deleted more than 30 days ago are usually not recoverable through the iPhone’s native features.
Is there a way to permanently delete messages?
Yes, after 30 days, messages are permanently deleted or if you manually select “Delete” after swiping a message in the “Recently Deleted” folder.
Can I recover deleted messages if I don’t have an iCloud backup?
If the messages were deleted within the last 30 days, you can recover them using the steps provided without needing an iCloud backup.
Will restoring my iPhone from an iCloud backup recover deleted messages?
If the backup was made before the messages were deleted, restoring from that backup should recover them.
Do these steps work for all types of messages, including iMessage and SMS?
Yes, the steps apply to all messages, whether iMessage or SMS, as long as they were deleted within the last 30 days.
Summary
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap on “Edit.”
- Select “Show Recently Deleted.”
- Browse and find your message.
- Swipe and tap “Recover” to restore.
Conclusion
Losing messages on your iPhone can be quite frustrating, especially if they hold sentimental value or important information. However, with the built-in feature to check and recover recently deleted messages, you’re only a few taps away from getting those messages back. Just remember, the key is to act quickly since you only have a 30-day window before they’re permanently erased. It’s also a good practice to regularly back up your iPhone to avoid any future panic when messages go missing. So, go ahead and give these steps a try the next time you find yourself in a message mishap – your texts are waiting to be recovered!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.