I was texting a friend when I accidentally deleted an important message. I panicked. My first thought was, “Is it gone forever?” If you’ve ever been in this situation, you know the frustration. Text messages hold everything—reminders, addresses, even conversations that matter. Losing them feels like losing a piece of your day.
I started looking for ways to get it back. The good news? Recovering deleted texts on an iPhone is possible. The bad news? It depends on a few things. Let me walk you through the steps that worked for me. You might just find your lost messages too.
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Oops! I Deleted a Text—Can I Get It Back?
Losing a message feels frustrating, but there’s hope. iPhones keep deleted texts for 30 days before removing them forever.
Here’s how to check the Recently Deleted folder:
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap Edit in the top-left corner.
- Select Show Recently Deleted from the options.
- Choose the texts you want to bring back.
- Tap Recover, and they will return to your chat list.
If the message isn’t there, it may have been erased permanently. But don’t worry—there are other ways to recover it.
Didn’t Back Up? Here’s How to Retrieve Those Texts
No backup? No problem. Some tools can help recover lost messages directly from your iPhone.
Use a trusted recovery tool like PhoneRescue for iOS:
- Download and install the software on your computer.
- Connect your iPhone using a USB cable.
- Follow the on-screen steps to scan for deleted messages.
- Select the messages you want and restore them.
Be careful when choosing software. Some tools may not be safe or effective. Always check reviews before downloading anything.
I Have an iPhone 11 or 13—Do I Recover Texts Differently?
Good news! If you have an iPhone 11 or 13, the recovery steps are the same.
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap Edit and select Show Recently Deleted.
- Pick the messages you want to restore.
- Tap Recover to bring them back.
Make sure your phone is running the latest iOS update. Newer versions improve recovery options and help prevent future message loss.
Read more: My iPhone Journey: Tips, Tricks, and Essential Features
I Never Want to Lose My Messages Again—What Should I Do?
Losing messages once is bad enough. I made sure it never happened again by setting up backups.
iCloud Backup
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap [Your Name], then go to iCloud.
- Toggle on Messages to sync texts automatically.
iTunes/Finder Backup
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Open iTunes (on Windows/macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later).
- Select your device and click Back Up Now.
Backing up regularly means I’ll never have to stress over lost messages again.
Read more: How I Recovered Deleted Photos from My iPhone in Minutes
My Messages Are Nowhere to Be Found—What Next?
If nothing worked, I knew I had to act fast. Some options were still left.
Contact My Cellular Provider
- Some phone companies keep message records.
- I called customer support to check if they could recover them.
Professional Data Recovery Services
- If all else failed, I considered expert help.
- Some companies specialize in retrieving lost phone data.
Waiting too long lowers the chances of getting texts back. Acting quickly made all the difference for me.
I Got My Messages Back—You Can Too!
Losing texts felt frustrating, but I found ways to recover them. Whether through the Recently Deleted folder, backups, or recovery tools, there’s always hope. I also set up regular backups to avoid this mess again. If you’re stuck, act fast. The sooner you try, the better your chances of getting them back!