Full Guide to Retrieve Deleted Text Messages on iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8/7

SMS is an important "bridge" for informal communication. When you sort out text messages by deleting some of them to free up space on your iPhone, you might accidentally remove something valuable that you don't mean to. Next, you're to retrace the stuff you still need but often to no avail.

So, "can I recover deleted text messages from my iPhone"? The short answer is YES. Then how to retrieve deleted text messages on iPhone without effort? Fortunately, there are quite a few avenues to bring back deleted messages. And here's a brief explanation of the main solutions in this article.

Way 1: How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on iPhone from Recently Deleted

Apple comes equipped with the "Recently Deleted" feature in iOS 16 or later. (How to recover iPhone photos from the Recently Deleted folder?) If you delete your iPhone text messages after updating your phone to the latest version. And the limits are that you have to make it within 30 days, and you cannot recover individual texts in one conversation.

How to recover recently deleted messages from the Recently Deleted folder?

• Run the "Messages" app and touch "Edit" at the top left corner.
• Click "Show Recently Deleted".
• You'll see a list of text messages removed within the last 30 days.
• Choose any conversations you wish to recover.



• Click "Recover" > "Recover Messages" to retrieve the deleted conversations.
• Tap "Done", and you'll see the deleted texts on your iPhone's Messages app.

Click to Know:

• 4 Smart Methods to Transfer Messages to New iPhone 14/13/12 [Beginner's Guide]
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Way 2: How to Retrieve Deleted Text Messages on iPhone Directly

If you cannot use the "Recently Deleted" feature to locate the missing messages, or no backup is available for the restore. MobiKin Doctor for iOS, a full-fledged 3rd-party software, is certainly your best bet to turn to. In this regard, it can bring you a pleasant recovery experience whether to check deleted messages iPhone or restore them accordingly. Plus, since this tool came out, it has settled the matter for hundreds of thousands of users.

Main characteristics of MobiKin Doctor for iOS:

• Directly retrieve deleted text messages on iPhone without any backup.
• Selectively recover deleted contacts from iPhone straightforwardly.
• Restore specific files from iTunes backups without resetting.
• Apply to a broad range of iOS items, including text messages, contacts, pictures, videos, reminders, calendars, Safari history, notes, voice memos, and more.
• Compatible with almost all iOS devices, such as iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro (Max), iPhone 13/13 Pro (Max)/13 mini/12/12 Pro (Max)/12 mini, iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max, iPhone X/XR/Xs/Xs Max, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6/6S/6 Plus, iPod touch, iPad, etc.
• It won't interfere with your privacy.

Quick guide for how to get deleted messages back on iPhone with Doctor for iOS:

Step 1. Install and run this software on your computer after the free download. Pick "Recover from iOS Device" from its interface. Then, link your iPhone to the computer via USB and let the tool identify this iPhone automatically.

Step 2. After the recognition, the main screen of the program will appear. Select "Messages" before clicking "Start Scan". Shortly after that, you can view the missing iPhone text messages on this computer.

Step 3. Choose all your required texts that disappeared from your iPhone and tap "Recover to Computer" to restore all your selected items directly on this machine.

Way 3: How to Retrieve Deleted Text Messages from iPhone with iCloud Backup

Can you see deleted messages on your iPhone from iCloud? That's easy! An iCloud backup is absolutely required if you intend to restore your iPhone deleted messages from within. But please note that you may lose some significant files on the current iPhone after the restore.

How to bring back deleted messages from iCloud backup?

• Open iPhone "Settings" > "General" > "Transfer or Reset iPhone".
• Choose "Erase All Content and Settings".
• From the confirmation menu, tap on "Erase Now".
• All your iPhone has been wiped out and appear to be new device.
• Follow the on-screen guide to reach the "Apps & Data" screen.
• Select "Restore from iCloud Backup".
• Enter any passwords when required and log in to iCloud.
• Pick the most recent backup that predates the deletion of the texts to restore the iPhone from the iCloud backup.

Further Reading:

• 10 Methods to Troubleshoot Downloading Messages from iCloud Stuck
• Full Guide on How to Back Up Text Messages from iPhone to Gmail

Way 4: How to Restore Text Messages on iPhone from iCloud.com

By logging into iCloud from the webpage and using the "iCloud Merge" feature, you'll have the opportunity to recover deleted messages on your iPhone from iCloud.com. Yet, please make sure you utilize the same Apple ID and enable "iCloud Messages".

How to find recently deleted messages on iPhone from iCloud.com?

• Open any browser on your computer.
• Log in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID and password.



• Click "Text Messages" and look for the messages to locate the ones you desire.
• Head to your iPhone and pick "Settings" > [your name] > "iCloud".
• Disable "Text Messages" and tap "Keep On My iPhone" from the popup.
• Then turn "Text Messages" back on.
• Click "Merge" and wait for a while to trigger the iPhone text message recovery.
• Finally, all the deleted messages should reappear on your iPhone.

If the "Text Messages" option isn't visible after you sign in to iCloud.com, your messages have not been backed up there. Then please skip this method.

Way 5: How to Restore Conversation on iPhone from iTunes Backup

iTunes is a decent tool to restore your lost messages to your Messages app. However, this approach won't work if you synced your iPhone with your computer after deleting your text messages on the device. Likewise, you may lose the existing files on your iPhone when the restore completes.

How to find deleted messages on iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8/7 from iTunes backup?

• Link your iPhone to a computer and run iTunes.
• After iTunes recognizes the device, click its icon from the top of the interface.
• Choose "Summary" and go to the "Backups" section.
• Click "Restore Backup". (If this button is grayed out, click the radial option that says "This Computer" on iTunes. You can change it back after finding the messages you need.)

Way 6: How to Undelete Text Messages on iPhone from Finder Backup

A Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later isn't compatible with iTunes, while Finder can make it instead. Similarly, you have to back up your iPhone/iPad to Mac with this file manager on your Mac beforehand. Learn how to see deleted messages on iPhone from the Finder backup:

• Open Finder on Mac and connect your iPhone to it via USB.
• Choose the device when it turns up on the Finder screen.
• Pick "Restore Backup".
• Select the backup you'd like to use for the restore.
• Tap "Restore" and wait for the task to complete. (Enter a password when required if it is an encrypted backup.)

Way 7: How to Get Back Deleted Messages on iPhone by Contacting Your Carrier

Your device provider is likely to temporarily maintain a record of text messages you have ever sent and received. Thus, you may have the ability to get a copy of the texts by asking for technical support from the carrier. Here's how to retrieve deleted text messages on iPhone in this way:

• When getting into "Settings" on your iPhone, tap "General".
• Proceed to "About" and find your carrier.



• Visit the carrier's website to locate the contact info.
• Contact the carrier and ask whether it can restore the deleted messages for you.

Extra: How to Keep Text Messages From Being Deleted Next Time

• Take a few seconds to determine if you really want to remove the messages before tapping the "Delete" button.
• Back up your iPhone periodically before iOS updates, factory reset, jailbreaking, etc.
• Do not plug your iPhone into a computer with malware.
• Run an antivirus program on your device.
• Keep your iPhone away from your kids or someone else.

Round Off

All this being said, you have at least seven methods to retrieve deleted text messages on your iPhone. And here is a brief summary of the approaches above:

• iPhones with iOS 16 and above offer you the chance to recover missing messages with just a few taps after they are deleted in 30 days.
• If you have an iTunes, Finder, or iCloud backup that predates the deletion of texts, you can restore lost files from within. But you'll thus risk losing your current data on your iPhone.
• By resorting to your carrier, you have the chance to reaccess your missing messages, but your privacy may thereby be compromised.
• MobiKin Doctor for iOS is capable of retrieving deleted iPhone text messages with a high success rate even if you didn't make a backup of your device.

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