How To Retrieve Deleted Text Messages On Android
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Did you accidentally delete important messages? The chances of retrieving them depend on how often you back up your data, how recently you deleted it, and the messaging app. Most Android phones use the Google Messages app. The downside to Google Messages is that it is difficult to manipulate the recycle bin, even if you’re running Android 15 or using dual SIM RCS. Your messages are lost forever after deleting them.
Samsung and other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) have alternative messaging apps with better recovery options. Whether your phone is a budget-friendly Android or a premium flagship model, here’s a step-by-step guide to recovering messages.
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Can you recover deleted text messages on Android?
Depending on your default messaging app, you can recover deleted text messages on Android. Google Messages doesn’t offer a recycle bin. Your texts are gone forever after deletion unless you back them up to the cloud.
If you use a device with a custom Android version, such as one from Samsung, your messaging app might include a recycle bin. Samsung’s custom Android skin, for instance, includes a recycle bin in its default messaging app. However, this feature is not widely adopted.
How to recover deleted SMS in Google Messages
Google Messages doesn’t have a trash bin. When you delete a message, you lose it permanently. However, it’s possible you accidentally archived the texts. Archiving a conversation removes it from the main conversation list but doesn’t delete the messages. On Android devices, archiving and unarchiving texts is easy. It also works with Google Messages on Windows, Mac, or another computer.
Unarchive texts in Google Messages on Android phones and tablets
Unarchiving text messages in Google Messages is an easy process. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Google Messages app.
- Tap your profile icon beside the search icon.
- Select Archived.
- Long press the messages you want to retrieve. Then tap the unarchive button in the upper-right corner.
Unarchive texts in Google Messages on computers
To unarchive texts in Google Messages using your personal computer, follow these steps:
- Go to Google Messages Web and follow the on-screen prompts to pair your mobile and computer devices.
- Click the menu icon in the upper-right corner. Then select Archived.
- Click Unarchive beside a message.
- Click Done.
How to recover deleted text messages on Samsung Galaxy devices
Samsung phones and tablets offer several ways to restore deleted messages outside the typical stock Android procedures. They use a custom Android skin called One UI, which includes an exclusive text manager, Samsung Messages. The device has a recycle bin that you can turn on in the Settings menu. If activated, deleted text messages go into the bin for 30 days.
When the time elapses, the app erases the message permanently. In addition to the Messages app, you can use Samsung Cloud to back up and retrieve lost messages. It’s a cloud solution like Google Drive, for storing data, including call logs, messages, and settings.
The Samsung Switch is another option, though you need to connect your phone to a PC to use it. This data transfer software backs up data on one device and transfers it to a new one. For more in-depth information on each step, check out our detailed guide on retrieving deleted texts on a Samsung device.
Recover deleted texts through your mobile carrier
Most mobile carriers keep records of your conversations but as billing statements. The statements don’t provide details on the content of text messages or display visual elements within them. Some carriers may keep the actual text, but they delete it after a few hours, or you may need a court order to get it.
TechFusion’s CEO, Alfred Demirjian, believes that law enforcement and other government agencies use forensic tools to unearth deleted data. If the deleted message contains information you can’t do without, we recommend contacting your carrier; it may be possible to retrieve it (note that the carrier could add a charge for doing this).
When you delete a text message on your Android, it isn’t immediately wiped off. The phone marks that space as available, which means new data could eventually overwrite it. If you jump on it fast, you might be able to use recovery software to get those messages back. Your success varies based on how long you waited and if new data has overwritten those texts. We use DroidKit, one of several Android data recovery tools.
DroidKit is compatible with Android 6.0 or later. Some features are unavailable on newer Android versions (Android 15). Our steps below use a Samsung phone on OneUI 6.1 (Android 14). We recommend consulting the DroidKit specifications page to determine if your device/system supports this recovery tool.
- Open DroidKit and select Deep Recovery from Device under Data Recovery.
- Go to Settings, open About Phone (Software information on OneUI), and tap Build Number seven times.
- Return to Settings, open Developer Options, and toggle on USB Debugging
- Connect your phone to the computer.
- Select Messages to scan, and click Start.
- When the scan is complete, preview the messages and choose whether to recover them to your device or your PC.
- Complete the recovery process to retrieve your text messages.
Using third-party data recovery software often requires root access, which removes critical software restrictions. This can expose the device to malware, reduce performance, and void warranties. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies even if the platform is reputable. Proceed with caution and consider safer alternatives.
DroidKit’s recovery tool doesn’t currently work with Android 15. For Android 15 device users, you must opt into other recovery software (Disc Drill and EaseUS) to recover your text messages. Still, even then, it is not guaranteed that your data can be restored. The best method for recovering lost messages on Android 15 is via the archive option (if archived instead of deleted) we’ve cited above or by using Google Drive to open your backups.
Our guides cite SMS/MMS recovery options, the older standard for text messages. The newer standard is RCS, which is enabled in Google Messages (if your carrier supports it). While recovering RCS chats is possible, you might still experience problems after you’ve restored them.
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Be aware of potential scams when downloading third-party software and understand the risks it can bring. Third-party tools often don’t provide these tools for free and still don’t always work. It is essential to take preventative measures, such as creating backups in the cloud and storing them on your computer or another device. We go over tips on how to do so in a later section.
Reach out to the sender to resend the text
If you’ve tried everything else and still can’t recover a deleted text message, contacting the sender might be your last resort. It isn’t ideal, but this can be a simple fix if you’ve exhausted other options. Just ask if they still have the text. It could save the day.
Tips to avoid permanently losing your text messages
It’s never fun when you permanently lose important text messages. Try these tips and tricks to safeguard them from accidental deletion in the future.
Archive messages instead of deleting them
Use Google Messages’ archive feature when you want to hide irrelevant or sensitive conversations from the main menu. This way, you don’t have to delete or move it to another device. Long press the messages you want to conceal to select them. Then, tap the archive button at the top of the screen. You can recover the same conversation using the previously mentioned steps.
Backup your text messages on Google Drive
Activating Google Drive backup on your Android phone safeguards your texts from permanent deletion. The app stores installed app data, media files, SMS messages, call history, device settings, and Google account data. You can also access your recent backups from other devices.
However, you must factory reset your device and restore the Google Drive backup during the setup. Also, your backups count toward your Google Drive storage. If you run out of space, consider freeing up some or subscribing to a Google One plan.
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Use third-party apps to manage text messages
Not everyone trusts a cloud backup or wants to undergo a lengthy factory reset to restore lost data. In that case, various third-party SMS apps exist on the Play Store with features for organizing, backing up, and recovering texts.
When you download any third-party app on Android, you could be permitting these apps to access your data. Always review app privacy and security practices before downloading an app.
Pulse SMS offers multiple interesting features, including theme selections, a web version for desktops, Wear OS support, web link previews, password protection, text backup and restoration, and automated replies. Its advanced features are part of the Pulse+ subscription that starts at $1 per month.
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Protect your text messages from further deletion
When you accidentally delete an important text message on your Android, it can hinder your experience with the messaging app. Fortunately, as long as you’re quick about it, our guide has several methods to recover them. Remember to regularly back up your messages to your Google account to avoid future losses. That way, you can restore them on any device. Consider printing important texts if digital recovery methods don’t prove to be reliable.
