After deleting a text message, you may want to retrieve or recover it. Unfortunately, once a text message is deleted, there is no “recycle bin” from which you may recover it. By default, once the text message is deleted, it is gone for good.

However, there are a few options for getting around the general rule of “deleted = gone for good.”

  • If you have an iPhone, you can back up your data by running iTunes on your computer. You can also back it up to your iCloud account. Then, you can restore deleted text messages by restoring from a backup in iTunes or an iCloud backup.
  • Using third-party software, you can create data back-ups for your smartphone and use to restore lost data. A few of these software programs include PhoneRescue for iPhone and Android phones, Enigma Recovery for iPhones, and dr.fone for iPhones. (Note: These software back-up programs are not free to use.)
  • See our text messaging definition related information and links.
  • Smartphone help and information.