Restore deleted iPhone messages | How to recover deleted texts from iPhone

We show you three ways to restore text messages and iMessages you deleted from your iPhone

By Matt Egan | 29 Jul 16

Intro 1
iCloud 2
iTunes 3
3rd-party app 4
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Step 1 of 4: Restore deleted iPhone messages

There are three ways to recover deleted texts from an iPhone: using iCloud, using iTunes, and using a third-party app. We'll guide you step-by-step through each method in an effort to restore your iPhone messages. See also: iOS 10 release date

As a good housekeeper you've deleted all your old text messages, and then realised that you do - in fact - need some or all of your old messages. Well fear not. You can recover deleted text messages from your iPhone. Indeed, it's possible you can do so without having recourse to anything more difficult than restoring from backup. And at worst you may be able to get those messages back using a third-party app. (See also: Have I been blocked in iOS.)

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Step 2 of 4: Restore deleted iPhone messages

If you have ever backed up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes you should be able to restore your iPhone text messages from the backup.

Unfortunately, iCloud doesn't back up texts in all territories, and for all phone operators. My iPhone on O2 falls into this category. So the following may not work. You'll need only to go to step 2 to find out.

1. Login to https://icloud.com with your Apple ID and password
2. Click on Text Messages (if it isn't there your messages haven't been backed up).
3. If it is there searched the messages to find the ones you need.
4. Now go to your iPhone and choose Settings, iCloud on your iPhone.
5. Turn off Text Messages (or ensure it is turned off). I know this sounds counter intuitive but stay with it.
6. You'll see a pop-up. Select: 'Keep on My iPhone'.
7. Now turn back on text messages.
8. Tap 'Merge', and wait. After a few minutes the deleted text messages should appear back on your iPhone.

Step 3 of 4: Restore deleted iPhone messages

Don't worry if the previous methods didn't work. We have two further options to try. First let's try recovering deleted text messages via an iTunes backup. (See also: How to send group texts from Android and iPhone.)

Unless you disabled the automatic sync option in iTunes, you should have created a backup everytime you synched with your PC or Mac.

1. Connect your iPhone to the PC with which you sync it. iTunes should open (if not, open it manually).
2. You should see your iPhone appear. Select it.
3. Now choose 'Restore backup'.
4. All the data you previously backed up will now replace the data on your phone. It will take a few minutes. As long as you haven't backed up subsequent to deleting those text messages, they should now appear on your phone handset.

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Step 4 of 4: Restore deleted iPhone messages

If neither of the options above has worked, it is time to go nuclear. Well, not nuclear exactly but it may cost you a couple of quid, and there is no guarantee it will work.

We've never used any of these, but a there are some third-party apps appear to have a good online reputation: PhoneRescue by iMobie, WonderShare Dr.Fone for iOS and Tenorshare iPhone Data Recovery. Because even after you have 'deleted' messages they remain on your handset until overwritten, you should be able to recover deleted messages using these utilities (and others) - but there are no guarantees. (See also: How to block a number on an iPhone.)