Have you accidentally deleted one or more messages on your Android device and want them back? We understand your frustration; it happens to everyone.
The question is, can you recover deleted text messages on Android? Let's find out.
In this article
Can You Recover Deleted Android Text Messages?
Yes, luckily, you can recover deleted Android text messages. However, the method you use to recover your deleted messages may depend on how the texts got deleted or the messaging app you're using.
If you deleted the messages accidentally, there's a good chance that the messages can be recovered from the Trash or Recycle Bin folder in the app you're using.
On the other hand, if the messages got deleted during a factory reset or a system update, it might be harder to get your messages back. The best solutions for this scenario are premade backups, which safely store your messages in a different location, or recovery apps specially designed to help you recover deleted files.
Sometimes, the messaging app will determine whether you can recover your messages quickly or through extra steps.
Most messaging apps have folders containing deleted messages, so you don't have to worry about accidental deletion. In addition, they usually have archives that allow you to save important messages and avoid them getting deleted.
When it comes to Android SMS text messages, they usually, but not always, have backup options available. It will depend on the phone you're using. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, and Facebook Messenger all provide backup options of their own.
So, if you're using a messaging app that doesn't have its own backups, you can recover deleted messages from a Google Drive backup made beforehand or by using a recovery app like Dr. Fone.
What to Do After Deleting Text Messages on Android
Before recovering your deleted text messages, follow these steps to prevent losing them forever.
Act Quickly
Once you realize your text messages are gone, the critical step is to stay calm and act quickly.
First things first: stop texting. The more messages you send and receive, the higher the chances of overwriting your deleted messages.
Check your Recycle Bin and all your backups. If you can't find the deleted text messages, download and install a data recovery tool.
Avoid Data Overwrites
When you delete text messages, it is crucial to avoid overwriting them. Deleted messages free up storage space, which becomes available for new data.
Any activity on your phone, including texting, automatic syncing, app updates and installations, may result in data overwriting.
So, using your phone only to recover your text messages is paramount. Turn on Airplane mode to minimize any unnecessary activity on your phone.
How to Retrieve Erased Text Messages on Android
The following proven methods will help you retrieve deleted text messages on Android.
Use the Trash or Recycle Bin Folder
Retrieving deleted messages is straightforward if the loss occurred recently. Most Android phones have a Recycle Bin or Trash folder within the text messaging app. You only need to follow these steps:
- Go to Messages on your Android phone.
- Find the Settings menu on either side of your screen. It may look like three dots or horizontal lines.
- Once you access the Settings, tap the Recycle Bin folder. It may be Bin or Trash on your device. You will find all messages you have deleted in the last 30 days.
- Choose the messages you'd like to retrieve and tap Restore.
Restore Messages Using a Data Recovery Tool
An excellent way to recover deleted messages from Android is to use a data recovery tool. Finding and choosing the best recovery tool can take time, so look no further since there is Wondershare Dr. Fone Android Data Recovery.
Wondershare Dr. Fone Android Data Recovery is what it sounds like—software that enables you to retrieve lost data quickly and efficiently.
It supports 1,000+ file formats, from photos and videos to text messages. What's excellent about Wondershare Dr. Fone is that it will recover your text messages no matter how they have abandoned your phone.
All you have to do to get your messages back is to download the software and follow these steps:
- Launch Wondershare Dr. Fone on your PC.
- Click Toolbox in the left sidebar and select Data Recovery.
- Connect your Android phone to your computer with a USB cable. You'll see a screen displaying your phone.
- Wondershare Dr.Fone will ask you to select the type of file you want to recover. Tick the Messages checkbox.
- Click Start Scan and wait for Wondershare Dr. Fone to finish the process.
- Once the scan is complete, the software will display deleted messages available for recovery. Choose the messages you want to retrieve and click Recover.
Unarchive Messages
Another way to extract deleted text messages from android is to unarchive them.
Newer Android devices allow you to archive your conversations by swiping them or selecting them and tapping Archive. If you've done so in the past, you can get your text messages back.
You only have to follow these steps:
- Go to Messages on your Android phone.
- Tap the three dots or horizontal lines (depending on your device) to access the Settings.
- Tap Archived to find all your archived messages and conversations.
- Choose the messages you want to recover and tap Unarchive. They will reappear among the rest of your texts.
Recover Deleted Messages From Google Drive
When we experience data loss, the fact that we have backed up our files somewhere often slips our minds. Your messages may not be on your phone, but you might find them in your Google Drive backup.
So, check your Google Drive like so:
- Open Google Drive on your Android.
- Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner.
- Tap Backups to access backed-up messages.
- Preview and select the messages you need and tap Restore.
Helpful Tips to Avoid Permanently Losing Text Messages on Android
If you worry about losing your text messages again or want to prepare for the worst-case scenario, implement the following tips to ensure all your messages are safe and retrievable.
Automatic Backups
Most, if not all, Android phones have a built-in backup solution for your files, including messages. To ensure you can find your messages whenever you need, turn on automatic backups on your device.
Messaging Apps With Backups
Do you use the default text messaging app on your Android? You might want to switch your texting to a messaging app with backups like WhatsApp. Find and enable cloud backups in the Settings section of your messaging app.
Archive Messages
Some Android phones allow you to archive messages that are important to you. If this option is available on your device, use it because it's an excellent way to highlight and preserve meaningful conversations that you might want to return to later.
Message Cleanup
A fantastic way to avoid accidentally deleting messages is to delete them beforehand. It may sound counterintuitive; the best way not to delete messages is to delete them. However, keeping your messages neat and organized reduces your chances of accidentally erasing them.
So, simply delete and clean up unimportant messages, ensuring you double-check and ask yourself if you'll need them so they don't pile up. When you have too many messages on your phone, sorting through them is challenging, and deleting most of them without reading them first can be tempting.
Conclusion
Although deleting your messages can be troublesome, you can recover them quickly.
As soon as you realize that you've lost text messages that are important to you, begin searching for them. They may be in your messages' Recycle Bin, where they'll remain for some time before permanent deletion.
Check all of your archives and backups. If you've archived or backed up your text messages at some point in the past, you can rest assured that they're easily recoverable.
If you haven't created a backup anywhere and can't find the messages in the Recycle Bin, you can always count on data recovery tools like Wondershare's Dr. Fone. You'll only have to connect your device and let the software do the rest.
To prevent losing your text messages in the future, back them up or put them in the archive. In addition, it's excellent practice to keep your text messages neat and organized by regularly deleting those you don't need to avoid clutter and confusion.
So, the next time something like this happens, you'll know what to do!
