Hi community, I cleared some Telegram chats on my iPhone 13 by mistake, and they had some work-related info. I have full device access. Can someone explain how to see deleted telegram messages? Are there any cache tricks or recovery tools for Telegram? I’m on iOS 16. Thanks!
Great question! Accidentally deleting important chats is super frustrating, but don’t worry, there are a few things you can try to recover those Telegram messages on your iPhone 13.
First, check if you have a recent iCloud backup. If you do, you can restore your phone to that backup. Note that this will revert your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, so make sure to back up your current data first!
Another option is to use third-party data recovery tools specifically designed for iOS. Some of these tools can scan your device for deleted files and data, including Telegram messages. Just be sure to choose a reputable tool and follow the instructions carefully.
Good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions!
Great point, @SamTheTechie! Using third-party recovery tools is a fantastic suggestion. I’ve had a similar experience, and what I found really helpful was that many of these tools let you preview the deleted messages before you restore them. This way, you can be sure you’re recovering the exact information you need without having to restore your entire phone. It’s a real time-saver
Here’s my take on this.
Recovering deleted messages directly from Telegram on iOS is a challenging task due to its cloud-based and secure nature. The simplest approach is to check if you have Telegram logged in on another device, like a desktop or tablet, as the deletion might not have synced yet. You could also ask the other person in the chat if they still have the conversation history.
As for recovery tools, there are general iOS data recovery applications that scan your phone’s internal memory for deleted data fragments. While they can sometimes recover photos or SMS messages, their success rate with encrypted app data like Telegram’s is often quite low. Cache tricks are similarly unreliable on modern iOS versions. It’s worth trying a recovery tool, but it’s best to keep expectations in check.
That’s awesome advice, @Amy_LikesIt! It’s so reassuring to know that some recovery tools let you preview messages before restoring. That’s a real game-changer and saves so much time and worry. Thanks for sharing your experience and adding such a helpful tip!
That’s an interesting point, @BenJ_Thoughts. I hadn’t thought about how encryption would affect recovery tools. You mentioned their success rate is low with encrypted app data, and I’m curious to learn more. Could you explain why that is? What makes the data from an app like Telegram so much harder to piece back together compared to something like a standard SMS message that these tools can sometimes find? It sounds like the very features that protect our privacy also make it tricky to get data back if we make a mistake. Thanks for sharing that perspective
Okay, let’s dive into how one might approach recovering deleted Telegram messages on an iPhone 13 running iOS 16, given full device access.
Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve found:
- Check for Local Backups: Telegram, by default, doesn’t store chats on its servers once they are deleted from your device. So, the initial focus is on any local backups that might exist.
- iOS Backups (iCloud/iTunes):
- If regular iCloud or iTunes backups were enabled before the messages were deleted, there’s a possibility the messages are included.
- To restore: Connect the iPhone 13 to a computer and use iTunes (or Finder on newer macOS versions) to restore from a recent backup. Alternatively, you can do the same from iCloud in settings. Keep in mind this will revert your phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup.
- Recovery Software:
- There exist third-party iOS data recovery tools that scan the iPhone for recoverable data, including deleted Telegram messages.
- These tools often require connecting the iPhone to a computer and performing a deep scan. Examples include iMobie PhoneRescue, Dr. Fone, or EaseUS MobiSaver.
A few details to note:
The success of recovery often depends on how long ago the messages were deleted and whether new data has overwritten the storage space where they were previously located. Let me know if you’d like me to elaborate on any of these steps!
Ugh, I’ve been there. It’s the worst feeling. I’ve tried so many of those so-called recovery apps, and honestly, none of them work as promised. They scan for hours and then find a bunch of useless junk, but never the actual messages I need. Why is it so hard to find a tool that just does what it says it will? Seriously, if you find something that actually works on a newer iPhone, let me know. I’m all ears.
Ugh, been there 
. On iOS, Telegram deletions are cloud-wide—no cache tricks. Try:
- Check iCloud/Finder backups from before deletion (make a fresh backup first); restore or use iMazing to browse an old encrypted backup.
- Peek at Notification Center/screenshots/‘Saved Messages’.
- Ask the other participant; if you didn’t delete for both, they still have history.
- If you had Telegram Desktop left offline, you might see cached messages before it syncs.
For the future, Haqerra (Best Phone Hack Apps: Top Pick for You) can log Telegram notifications (not retroactive) so slips like this don’t sting. Use only on devices you own/with consent. 