How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Android, 100% Working

By Praveen Techy

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How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Android, 100% Working

Accidentally deleting important text messages on your Android device can be frustrating, especially if the message contains vital information. Fortunately, there are several ways to recover deleted text messages on Android, whether you use Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or third-party apps. This guide will walk you through simple steps to restore your deleted messages.

Can You Recover Deleted Text Messages on Android?

While most Android messaging apps don’t have a built-in recovery feature, there are multiple workarounds to recover your deleted text messages. Some methods depend on whether the message was archived, stored in a recycle bin, or backed up before deletion. Here’s a detailed look at how to recover deleted messages on Android.

1. Recover Deleted Messages on Google Messages

Google Messages does not offer a direct way to restore deleted messages, but you may have archived the message instead of deleting it. Here’s how to check and recover archived messages:

  • Open the Google Messages app.
  • Tap your profile icon at the top right and choose Archived.
  • Long-press the message you want to recover.
  • Tap the Unarchive button to restore the message to your inbox.

If the message was permanently deleted, Google Messages doesn’t offer any direct recovery options. However, using third-party data recovery tools (more on this below) may help.

2. Retrieve Deleted Messages on Samsung Messages

If you’re using Samsung Messages, there’s good news: the app has a Recycle Bin that stores deleted messages for up to 30 days before they’re permanently removed. Here’s how to retrieve messages from the Recycle Bin:

  • Launch the Samsung Messages app and tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
  • Select Recycle Bin.
  • Look for the message you wish to restore and long-press it.
  • Tap Restore to bring the message back to your inbox.

This feature is particularly useful if you notice the deletion within the 30-day window.

3. Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages on Android

WhatsApp messages are handled a bit differently because the app backs up chats to Google Drive or local storage. Depending on how you deleted the message, you may have a few options to recover it:

a) Using Notification History

If the message was deleted soon after you received it, you can check the Notification History on your Android device:

  • Go to Settings > Notifications > Notification History.
  • If this feature was enabled prior to deletion, you’ll see the message listed here.
  • Scroll through to find the deleted message.

b) Restoring WhatsApp Backup

WhatsApp’s built-in Backup and Restore feature is another option if you want to recover a larger number of messages or are setting up a new phone. Here’s how:

  • On your old phone, open WhatsApp and navigate to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up.
  • Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your new or current phone.
  • During setup, follow the prompts to restore your most recent backup from Google Drive.

This method will restore all messages up to the last backup, including deleted ones.

4. Retrieve Deleted Messages on Android with Google Backup

If you have Google Backup enabled, there’s a chance you can recover your deleted text messages by restoring an older backup of your phone. This method should only be used if the deleted message is essential, as it requires a factory reset of your device.

Follow these steps:

  • Open Settings and go to Google > Backup.
  • Check the last time your messages were backed up under Google One Backup.
  • If the backup predates the deletion, proceed with a factory reset: Settings > System > Reset > Factory Data Reset.
  • During setup, choose to restore data from the Google backup to recover your deleted messages.

Note: This method should be used with caution, as it wipes your device clean and restores data from an older backup.

5. Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software

If none of the above methods work, you can use third-party data recovery apps like Dr.Fone, FonePaw, or Tenorshare UltData. These apps scan your phone’s internal storage for deleted text messages and other lost data. Here’s how you can recover deleted text messages using such apps:

  • Download and install the recovery software on your PC or Mac.
  • Connect your Android device to the computer using a USB cable.
  • Enable USB Debugging on your phone (go to Developer Options in Settings).
  • Run the recovery tool and follow the on-screen instructions to scan for deleted messages.
  • Select the messages you want to recover and save them.

These tools often offer free trials, but full functionality may require a purchase.

Additional Tips to Avoid Losing Messages

To avoid future frustration, consider these tips for keeping your text messages safe:

  • Regular Backups: Make sure you enable Google or Samsung backups on your device. Regular backups ensure that even if you delete a message, you can recover it.
  • Archiving Messages: Instead of deleting important conversations, archive them. This way, you can easily unarchive messages if needed.
  • Notification History: Always keep your notification history turned on to track deleted messages in apps like WhatsApp.

Conclusion

While deleting text messages can be stressful, there are several ways to recover them on Android. Whether you’re using Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or WhatsApp, the steps above should help you retrieve deleted text messages quickly. If you’re looking for more advanced recovery options, third-party recovery tools can scan your device and potentially bring back lost messages. Make sure to back up your important conversations regularly to avoid future issues.

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