Deleted? Not anymore!

Dec 26 / Admin

Apple now supports recovery of deleted messages

In the Messages app , you can recover deleted messages on your iPhone.

You can restore messages you deleted for up to 30 days.
Starting with iOS 16, Apple has unveiled an incredibly straightforward method for retrieving recently deleted messages. This feature extends to the latest iOS 17 as well. The only requirement is that your device must be updated to either iOS 16 or iOS 17 before deleting the text messages you wish to recover. With these versions, you have the ability to recover deleted text messages within a 30-day window after deletion (with a maximum of 40 days, subject to the discretion of Apple's algorithms). Below is a step-by-step guide from iphonelife.com on locating and effortlessly recovering deleted messages in the Messages app on your iPhone:


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01

Open up iMessage

Open the Messages app and tap Edit in the top left corner. (If you have Filter Unknown Senders enabled in Settings, tap Filters in the top corner instead.)
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02

Go to "Edit"

From the menu that appears, tap Show Recently Deleted. If you don't see this option, then you don't have any retrievable recently deleted texts. (If you tapped Filters in the step above, tap the Recently Deleted folder.)
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03

Show Recently Deleted

You'll see a list of conversations deleted within the last 30 days, with the number of days remaining listed on the left. Select at least one conversation you want to recover. 
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04

Recover

Tap Recover to retrieve the deleted conversations. You cannot recover individual texts, so this will restore all texts within the conversation.
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05

Recover

Tap Recover Messages to restore your deleted messages.
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06

Finish

Tap Done in the top right corner to return to your main messages screen. (If you have Filter Unknown Senders enabled, tap Filters to return to the folders view.)
Keep in mind that recovering deleted messages in this way could alter the date/ time stamps on the device. It is important that if you need to recover deleted messages in this way that you thoroughly document your process and why you chose to recover the evidence in this manner in your reports.

Apple's "How To" User Guide

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