Instructions apply to iOS 11 and later.
You have 30 to 40 days from deleting a text to recover it.
From the conversations screen in Messages, selectFilters.
If you don’t have Message Filtering on, selectEdit.
choose the bubble next to a conversation to select it.
ChooseRecoverto return the text to your conversations screen.
Alternatively, selectRecover Allto restore every text on the page.
To check whether the feature is enabled:
Open theSettingsapp, tap your name, then tapiCloud.
Turn on theMessagestoggle switch.
If you have Messages in iCloud enabled but have manually deleted a message, it’s most likely lost.
Items may include newer text messages, photos, videos, notes, and more.
Begin by checking when the latest iCloud backup took place.
To check when the latest iCloud backup took place:
Go toSettings, tapyour name, then tapiCloud.
If theiCloud Backuptoggle switch is on, select theOnbutton to view when the last backup took place.
If iCloud Backup isn’t on, the gear cannot be restored using this method.
If the most recent iCloud backup was before you deleted the texts,restore your iPhone from the backup.
The process is the same on iPad and iPhone.
This would overwrite the old backup with a newer backup that doesn’t contain the messages.
This method only works on pre-Catalina (10.15) devices.
Begin by checking when your latest iTunes backups took place.
To check when your latest iTunes backup took place:
OpeniTuneson a Mac or PC.
In the menu bar, selectPreferences.
In theGeneral Preferenceswindow, select theDevicestab.
If the iPhone was backed up with iTunes, all backups currently on your gear are listed.
Note the different date options available.
Restore your iPhone from the backupif you have one that contains the messages you want to recover.
bring up the folder with the random string of text.
TheDate Modifiedcolumn indicates the most recent backup.
Two of the most popular options for iPhone data recovery includeEaseUS MobiSaverandGihosoft iPhone Data Recovery.
However, if you are in a bind, they’re a viable last effort.
