How to Find and Retrieve Deleted Text Messages on Your Android & iPhone

6 ways to recover deleted text messages

You can recover deleted text messages directly from your phone’s messaging applications, from an external backup, from linked email accounts or devices, or using third-party data recovery software. Let’s dig deeper into all the ways to retrieve lost texts.

1. Retrieve messages via your Messages app

Retrieving deleted text messages is often easiest directly through your phone’s messaging app. On most Android devices, SMS messages are now handled by Google, which lets you restore archived texts, but not those permanently deleted. iPhones include a Recently Deleted folder that allows you to recover messages within a limited time window.

On Android

Here’s how to retrieve an archived text message on an Android device (Samsung):

1. Open the Messages app (or Google Messages). Tap your profile picture to open settings, then tap Archived.

2. Long tap the message you want to recover.

3. Tap the unarchive icon at the top of your screen.

Archived Google messages remain in the archive indefinitely — until you delete them manually. They are never automatically deleted.

On iPhone

Here’s how to restore your iPhone messages from the last 30 days:

1. Open the Messages app and Edit in the top-left corner. Tap Show Recently Deleted.

2. Select the conversations you want to restore, then select Recover > Recover Messages to confirm.

2. Restore permanently deleted messages from a backup

You can retrieve permanently deleted texts from a backup if you have an automatic backup option enabled or did a manual backup before you deleted your texts. Check that your last backup includes the date you deleted the messages. You can then restore your data from the backup. Note that this method requires a factory reset.

Using Google One

Here’s how to restore texts from Google One:

1. Open Google One, then tap Backup > Other device data.

2. Check that this feature is enabled and includes SMS and MMS messages under Backup details. If the date or time of the last backup was made before you deleted your messages, you can continue with these steps.

3. Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). Enter your PIN, pattern, or password if prompted. Your device will restart.

4. On the Welcome screen, choose Let’s Go > Copy your data (you may first need to connect to Wi-Fi). Select Backup from the cloud.

5. Sign into your Google Account and select SMS & MMS messages and any other items you want to restore > Restore.

These steps work on a Google Pixel, but may be slightly different depending on your Android OS version, model, and manufacturer.

Keep in mind that if you factory reset your phone, you will lose all your data previously stored on the device. Make sure your backup includes any other essential data you want to restore, such as apps, device settings, and photos.

Using Samsung Cloud

If you have a Samsung device and use Samsung Cloud storage for your backups, you don’t need to perform a factory reset before restoring your messages.

Here’s how to retrieve messages from Samsung Cloud:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts and back up > Back up data. Check the last backup date for your Messages. If it was made before you deleted your messages, return to the previous screen and continue.

2. Tap Restore data and choose your device. Tap Messages > Restore > Done.

Via iCloud

Restoring your iPhone texts from iCloud replaces your current data with the backup you choose, meaning any messages or data created after that backup may be lost.

Here’s how to restore your text messages from iCloud:

1. Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Check that a backup exists from before the messages were deleted and continue if so.

2. Return to Settings, tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Your iPhone will be wiped and restarted.

3. Follow the prompts to set up your iPhone (you may need to reconnect to Wi-Fi). Select Restore from iCloud Backup, then choose a backup dated before the deletion and follow the instructions.

Use iTunes or Finder backup

If you backed up your iPhone or iPad device to a computer before the messages were deleted, you may be able to restore your texts using iTunes or Finder backup files.

Here’s how to restore texts from an iTunes or Finder backup:

1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac using a Lightning-to-USB cable or USB-C.

2. On your Mac, open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (older macOS). Select your iPhone.

3. Click Restore Backup, then choose a backup created before the messages were deleted. Tap Restore, and wait for the process to finish. Click the eject icon next to your iPhone to safely disconnect the device from your Mac.

Your iPhone will be returned to the exact state it was in at the time of the backup, including messages, apps, and settings. Make sure you back up everything you need to avoid losing any important data.

3. Use linked email accounts and devices

If you’ve forwarded, backed up, or synced messages to another account or device, you may be able to recover parts of the conversation by searching those platforms. This won’t restore deleted SMS messages directly, but it can help you find copies saved elsewhere.

Here’s how to search your accounts for deleted texts on an iPhone or Android:

1. Using a browser or app, log in to any accounts linked to your phone, such as Apple ID/iCloud, Google/Gmail, Microsoft, WhatsApp, Dropbox, etc.

2. Search for the contact’s name or keywords in synced messages, archived conversations, files, and emails.

3. If you find what you are looking for, forward it to your phone number, take a screenshot or copy + paste the contents into an SMS, email, or file.

4. Use third-party data recovery software

Third-party data recovery software works by scanning your device storage for damaged or hidden data that’s waiting to be overwritten. If this data includes your deleted text messages, the tool can help recover them before the storage is repurposed.

There’s no guarantee recovery software will work — if your phone’s memory is low or the message is old, your deleted texts are more likely to have been overwritten.

Software for Android data recovery

Deleted messages on Android are not immediately erased but hidden until overwritten by new data. You may be able to restore these using data recovery apps, but some work only on rooted Androids (when the manufacturer’s restrictions are removed from the device.) We never recommend rooting an Android due to significant safety concerns that may occur — it can also void your warranty.

Here are three software options that don’t require your Android to be rooted:

• iMyFone D-Back: Can also restore deleted WhatsApp messages.

• Tenorshare UltData: Lets you preview deleted messages and data before restoring.

• Dr. Fone: Is free software that’s compatible with over 6,000 Android devices.

There are plenty of other third-party apps that will help you recover messages. Just remember to only install apps from the official Google Play store that have strong reviews. Also check app permissions and privacy policies so you know what information you’re sharing and how it will be used.

Software for iPhone data recovery

Successfully recovering deleted texts on your iPhone using a third-party app will depend on how long ago the texts were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten already. Many data recovery tools let you preview recoverable items before making in-app purchases and may require a PC/Mac connection to your iPhone.

Here are some third‑party software options for recovering deleted text messages on iPhone:

• Gbyte Recovery: Recovers SMS, iMessage, and chats from messaging apps. Offers a preview before purchase and works without an iCloud or iTunes backup.

• Dr. Fone: A well‑known tool that can recover many data types from device scans, iCloud, or iTunes backups.

• iMyFone D‑Back: Lets you search and filter recovery results and retrieve messages from device or backups with preview tools.

• Tenorshare UltData: Can scan your iPhone directly for recently deleted messages without needing a backup first.

5. Manual recovery

Manual recovery involves advanced methods like accessing your device’s internal storage or retrieving messages from another person. While it may be possible to locate fragments of deleted texts on rooted or jailbroken devices (which we don’t recommend), this approach is complex, risky, and not guaranteed to work.

Check internal storage on rooted or jailbroken phone

If your Android is rooted or your iPhone is jailbroken, you can access system files that are normally hidden. Using a root-access file manager app, you can navigate directly to the SMS database file.

Here’s how to check your rooted Android storage for deleted text messages:

1. Download, install, and launch a root-enabled file manager app, such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer.

2. Find and open the SMS database by searching for the file. Depending on your device, this is probably named mmssms.db or bugle.db.

3. Search the database for deleted messages, then copy or export any messages you want to keep.

Here’s how to check your jailbroken iPhone storage for deleted text messages:

1. Download, install, and launch a file manager app, such as iFiles.

2. Navigate to /private/var/mobile/Library/SMS/ and export any database files, like sms.db, sms.db-wal or sms.db-shm, to your computer via AirDrop or USB.

3. Open the files on your computer with an SQLite viewer, then search for recently deleted texts in the WAL/SHM files.

Recover the deleted messages from the sender/receiver

Contact the sender or recipient of the text messages you’re trying to recover — messages will have been stored on both devices, at some point. If you’re lucky, the other person may still have a copy of the SMS you want to save.

1. Simply identify the contact and reach out via call, text, or email.

2. Explain that you need a copy of the message.

3. If they forward a copy of the message or share a screenshot with you, save it somewhere safe.

If you don’t feel safe or comfortable contacting the sender or recipient — for example, if you are trying to collect evidence of wrongdoing or the text contains sensitive information — this method is best avoided.

6. Contact your phone service provider

Depending on your carrier and local laws, your service provider may keep limited records of your text messages. However, most carriers only store metadata — not the message content — and are usually unable to recover deleted texts.

Here’s how to recover text messages via your phone service provider:

1. Gather account details: Have your phone number, account information, and identification ready.

2. Contact customer support: Call your carrier’s support line or visit their website for guidance.

3. Explain your request: Clearly state that you need to recover deleted text messages and provide the approximate dates.

4. Follow their instructions: The provider may ask for verification or direct you to an online portal to access message records.

5. Receive recovered messages: If available, the provider may give you access to message records, though this typically includes only metadata rather than the content of your texts.

Prevent your text messages from being permanently deleted

To avoid losing important text messages, consider archiving messages, enabling backups, taking screenshots of important texts, or using secure messaging apps.

Archive your conversations

Unlike deleting texts permanently from a chat history, archiving a conversation only hides the text in temporary storage until you chat again.

• To archive texts in Google Messages: Open Messages, then Swipe right or left (depending on your phone model) on the conversation you want to archive. On some Androids, you then need to tap the archive symbol to confirm.

• To recover archived texts in Google Messages: Open Messages and tap your profile icon or the settings icon. Select Archived, tap and hold a conversation, then tap the unarchive icon.

iPhones don’t have a traditional archive feature for SMS or iMessages.

Enable backups

A backup is a copy of your data taken at a specific moment in time. To ensure you can retrieve deleted messages and other data using a backup, set up automatic file backups on your device.

Using Google

1. Open Settings > System > Backup > Turn on.

2. Tap the data you want to backup (text messages are included in the option Other device data), then tap Confirm.

3. Tap Back up now to immediately create a backup.

Using Samsung Cloud

1. Open Settings > Accounts and backup > Samsung Cloud.

2. Tap the three vertical dots > Settings > Sync and auto backup settings > Auto back up.

3. Toggle on Messages and any other data you want to back up automatically to Samsung Cloud.

Using iCloud

1. Open Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup.

2. Toggle iCloud Backup on, then tap Back Up Now to create an immediate backup.

Take screenshots of text messages

A simple way to save important texts is to take a screenshot and store it in your phone gallery or cloud storage. This allows you to refer back to the information in the message in the future, without worrying about saving the text itself.

Here’s how to take a screenshot of a text:

1. Open the text you want to save and perform the following action:

1. iPhone: Quickly press the side button + volume up button (or Home + side button on older models.)

2. Android: Quickly press the power button + volume down button (though this differs depending on your device manufacturer.)

2. The screen will signal that a screenshot has been taken. This will be saved to your Gallery or Photos app.

Use secure messaging apps

Consider using a third-party messaging app as your primary texting service. Many secure messaging apps offer features for organizing, backing up, and recovering texts. You can usually choose whether to store your messages locally, using internal device storage, or in the cloud.

Here are some secure messaging apps to store your text messages:

• WhatsApp: Encrypted chats with cloud backup options via Google Drive or iCloud.

• Telegram: Cloud-synced chats with secret chats offering end-to-end encryption.

• Viber: Secure messaging with encrypted chats and backup to cloud storage.

• Signal: End-to-end encryption with optional message backup to encrypted storage.

Choose the most appropriate app for your needs. Make sure it’s made by a trusted developer and is secured with end-to-end encryption. Encryption helps protect your messages from interception, breaches, and unauthorized access.

Protect your device with Avast

Recovering text messages can be risky, especially if you’re using third-party tools or have a rooted or jailbroken phone. And when you’re desperate to retrieve your lost SMS, protecting your device against malware, scams, and other threats offers ultimate peace of mind.

Download Avast Free Antivirus, an award-winning threat-detection engine, to run regular malware scans, help spot malicious apps before you install them, and identify vulnerabilities.