how to find deleted messages on iphone

To find and recover deleted messages on an iPhone, especially running iOS 16 or later, follow these steps:

Recover Deleted Messages Directly in the Messages App

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap Edit in the upper-left corner of the conversations list. (If you have Message Filtering enabled, this button may say Filters instead.)
3. Tap Show Recently Deleted or Recently Deleted.
4. Select the conversations or messages you want to recover.
5. Tap Recover and then confirm by tapping Recover Messages.

• This method allows recovery of messages deleted within the last 30 to 40 days.
• You can recover entire conversations including all media like photos and videos.
• After recovery, the messages return to your main inbox

Recover Messages Using iCloud Backup

If the messages are not in the Recently Deleted folder, you can restore them from an iCloud backup made before the messages were deleted:

1. Go to Settings > tap your name > iCloud > ensure Messages is turned on.
2. Check iCloud Backup to confirm you have a recent backup.
3. Go to Settings > General > Reset or Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
4. After the iPhone restarts, follow the setup prompts and choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
5. Select a backup dated before the deletion of your messages.

• Note: Restoring from backup will revert your iPhone to that backup state, potentially losing data added after the backup

Recover Messages Using a Computer Backup

If you have backed up your iPhone to a Mac or PC:

• Connect your iPhone to the computer.
• Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (older macOS or Windows).
• Select your iPhone and choose Restore Backup.
• Pick the backup made before the messages were deleted.

This will restore deleted messages along with other data from that backup

Third-Party Tools

If the above methods don't work or you want to recover messages without resetting your iPhone, third-party software like PhoneRescue for iOS can scan your device or backups to recover deleted texts selectively

. Summary:

• Use the Recently Deleted folder in the Messages app for quick recovery within 30-40 days of deletion.
• Restore from an iCloud or computer backup if messages are older or not in Recently Deleted.
• Consider third-party recovery tools if backups are unavailable or incomplete.

These options provide a comprehensive approach to find and recover deleted messages on your iPhone