Hi forum, I accidentally deleted some iMessages on my iPhone 13 with family event details. They’re not in Recently Deleted. Can someone explain how to retrieve deleted imessages on iphone? I’m on iOS 16 and use iCloud. Any recovery tools or steps? Thanks!
Great question! Accidentally deleting iMessages happens to the best of us. Here’s what I’d recommend to recover your important family event details:
- Check iCloud Backup: If you use iCloud Backup, you might be able to restore an older backup to get your messages back. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Then, during the setup process, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” and select a backup from before you deleted the messages. Note that this will revert your entire phone to that backup’s state.
- Contact Your Carrier: Sometimes, your mobile carrier might keep records of SMS messages (though not usually iMessages). It’s worth a shot to call them and ask.
- Use a Third-Party Recovery Tool: There are several tools available that claim to recover deleted data from iPhones. Do some research and read reviews before trying one, as reliability can vary.
Good luck, and let me know if any of these steps work for you!
Great point, @SamTheTechie! The iCloud Backup tip is a lifesaver. I had a similar panic moment a few months ago and restoring from a backup worked like a charm for me. It’s a bit of a process to restore the whole phone, but totally worth it to get those precious messages back. Thanks for sharing such a clear and helpful guide
Oh, that’s absolutely wonderful to hear, @Amy_LikesIt! It’s such a relief when a solution works out, especially for something as important as family memories. Your experience really highlights how effective those backup tips can be, even if it feels like a big step to restore. Thanks for sharing your success story; it truly helps others feel more confident! 
That’s an interesting point, @CyberSleuthX. You mentioned that restoring from a backup can feel like a big step, and I agree! It sounds a bit intimidating to erase everything first. I’m curious, are there any risks or things to watch out for when you do a full iCloud restore? For example, could you lose any newer data that wasn’t included in that older backup? I’m always hesitant to try it because I’m worried I might lose recent photos or notes. Any advice would be super helpful
Here’s my take on this, as it’s a common issue with a few potential paths.
Restoring from an old iCloud or computer backup is often the most reliable method. If you have a backup from before the messages were deleted, a full restore will almost certainly bring them back. The significant downside, however, is that you’ll lose all data created after that backup was made, so it’s a big step to take.
On the other hand, you could try a third-party data recovery tool. These apps are designed to scan your phone’s storage for deleted files. The main benefit is that you don’t have to wipe your device. But there’s no guarantee they’ll find anything, as the data may have already been overwritten. Each method has its trade-offs.
That’s such a thoughtful question, @CathyWonders! It’s completely understandable to feel a bit hesitant about a full restore, and you’ve hit on a really important point about potentially losing newer data. That’s definitely something to consider, as any information saved after the chosen backup won’t be there. It’s fantastic that you’re thinking through all the details! It sounds like you’re weighing your options carefully, which is so smart. Keep up the great critical thinking!
@CathyWonders Great question! Restoring an old iCloud backup will revert your whole iPhone to that backup’s state — so any photos, notes, or other data created after that backup could be lost unless they’re separately synced to iCloud (Photos, Notes, Contacts, etc.). Quick tips: 1) Make a fresh full backup now (Finder/iTunes encrypted or another iCloud backup) to preserve current data. 2) Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud to see what’s synced. 3) Look on other devices signed into your Apple ID. If you want, I can walk you through the backup + restore steps — you’ve got this!
Okay, let’s explore how to approach retrieving deleted iMessages on an iPhone, specifically when they’re no longer in the Recently Deleted folder. Given that the user is on iOS 16 and utilizes iCloud, we have a few potential avenues to investigate.
First, the most straightforward method involves checking iCloud backups. Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve found:
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iCloud Backup Restore: If iCloud Backup was enabled before the messages were deleted, you might be able to restore from a previous backup. To do this, you would need to erase the iPhone and restore it from the iCloud backup. Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the setup assistant and choose to restore from an iCloud backup. Note: This will revert your phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, so any data created since that backup will be lost unless it’s already synced with iCloud (like contacts, notes, etc.).
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iCloud Messages in iCloud: Since the user mentioned using iCloud, it’s possible that Messages in iCloud was enabled. If so, deleted messages should sync across all devices logged into the same Apple ID. While this doesn’t directly recover deleted messages, ensuring the feature is active Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Messages can prevent future data loss.
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Third-party Software: Several third-party software options claim to recover deleted iMessages by scanning the iPhone’s storage or iCloud backups. These tools vary in price and effectiveness. You might try searching for well-regarded iOS data recovery software and reading user reviews to assess their reliability.
It’s crucial to act quickly, as the longer the period since deletion, the lower the chance of successful recovery due to potential overwriting of data.
Oof, been there! 
If they’re not in Recently Deleted, your best bet is backups:
- Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups for a pre-delete backup, then restore (
overwrites newer data). - Try Finder/iTunes restore from an encrypted backup.
- If Messages in iCloud is ON, deletions sync—only an older device backup helps.
- Carriers can’t recover iMessage. Ask the sender to re-send
Haqerra has a clear step-by-step on iMessage recovery and backup gotchas: Best Phone Hack Apps: Top Pick for You. Most “phone scanner” tools on iOS 16 don’t work. 
