Recover deleted text messages on your iPhone or iPad

In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 or later, you can recover conversations and messages you've deleted in the Messages app.

How to retrieve a deleted message or conversation

  1. In Messages, tap Edit on the conversations page. If you previously turned Message Filtering on, the Edit button doesn't appear. Instead, tap Filters on the conversations page.

  2. Tap Show Recently DeletedNo alt supplied for Image.

On the conversations page in Messages, tap Edit to find the option to show recently deleted messages.

3. Choose the conversations with the messages you want to restore, then tap Recover.

On the Recently Deleted page in Messages, tap the conversation that includes messages you want to recover.

4. Tap Recover Message or Recover [Number] Messages.

You need iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 or later to recover deleted messages and conversations. You can only recover the messages and conversations you’ve deleted within the last 30 to 40 days. If you delete a message before you update to iOS 16, iPadOS 16 or later, you can’t recover that message.

Find out how to delete a message or a Messages conversation on your iPhone

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