How to Recover Accidentally Deleted iMessage Conversations on an iPhone 7

Accidentally deleted iMessage conversation on My iPhone, can you recover iMessages on iPhone? HELP. – Lily Ryon(from one of our reader)

If you’ve accidentally deleted an entire iMessage conversation or regret doing so, can you recover iMessages on your iPhone, like Lily did? Take heart – you can recover your accidentally deleted iMessage conversations. Read on to learn how to get your deleted iMessages back. In this article, we’ll use the iPhone 7 as an example, but the solution is compatible with other iPhone models as well.

iMessage is an alternative to SMS and MMS messaging for most iDevice users, known for its convenience. It is an instant messaging service developed by Apple. Unlike paid SMS, iMessage allows you to send pictures or text messages to any iOS or Mac device for free, as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection and the recipient also has an iPhone or Mac. If an iPhone user sends a message to a mobile number that is not set up with iMessage (such as a device using Android or another operating system), the message will seamlessly transition from iMessage to SMS.

Deleting messages from the iMessage app is easy—just swipe left and tap the “Delete” button. Now, let’s walk through how to recover accidentally deleted iMessages from your iPhone.

Part 1: Recover Deleted iMessages via SD iPhone Data Recovery

If you deleted your text messages but didn’t fully erase them, you can recover them from the database stored in your iPhone 7’s memory using this software.

SD iPhone Data Recovery is our pick to complete the task. This flexible app can recover various types of iPhone data beyond just text messages, including contacts, notes, photos, music, calendar events, voice memos, Safari bookmarks, and messages from instant chat apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, Kik, Viber, Line, WeChat, and more. It’s one of the most popular pieces of software with a strong reputation among many iOS users.

To use this software, simply download and install it for free on your PC or Mac.

The entire process can be summed up in three steps: Scan the iPhone, Select the iMessage Conversations, and Recover the Messages.

1. Scan the iPhone

Start the app and connect your iPhone 7 to your computer using a USB cable. Once connected, go to the Recover from iOS Devices module on the start page, and click Start Scan. The app will scan all the content on your iPhone, including various types of data. The process may take a while. Ensure your iPhone 7 remains connected during the scan, as any disconnection will interrupt the process, and you will have to start over.

2. Choose the iMessage Conversations

When the scanning process is complete, the progress bar will disappear from the top. The software will display a file directory on the left pane. Choose Messages or Message Attachments based on your needs. Preview the lost iMessage conversations on the right side of the window. Select the conversations you want to recover, then click Recover.

3. Recover Messages

The software will display the folder destination where the recovered messages will be saved on your computer. Confirm the path, or change it to a location that you can easily access. Once confirmed, you will be able to view and access your recovered iMessage conversations in that folder.

Part 2: Find Your Accidentally Deleted iMessages via Your Other iOS Devices or Mac.

iMessages on iCloud offers a convenient way to sync your iMessages across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you have other iDevices with entering the same Apple ID and have messages using iCloud enabled, you can find your deleted iMessages there. If you want to re-download the deleted messages, try to turn off messages using iCloud and then turn on the switch again. Waiting for a while for your iPhone 7 to redownloading and syncing iMessages. Go to Settings > iCloud > Messages, and toggle the switch off and on again there.

Part 3: Recover Your Deleted iMessages via iCloud Backup or iTunes Backup

If you have backed up your iPhone 7 to your computer or iCloud, you can recover your deleted messages by restoring from one of the backups. Please note that restoring will replace your current iPhone data with the data from the time of the backup. You may lose any data created after that backup date, as all content will be overwritten by the backup.

Option 2: Restore from iTunes (or Finder) Backup on Your PC or Mac

To use this method, first, turn off Find My on your iPhone 7.

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone. Tap to turn off Find My iPhone on your iPhone 7.
2. Start iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later) and plug your iPhone 7 into the computer using a USB cable.
3. Click the iPhone icon in the top left corner of the iTunes screen (or select your device in Finder) and go to the Summary page.
4. Click the Restore Backup button within the backup section. In the pop-up window, select the relevant backup and confirm the restore.
5. Keep your device connected after it restarts and wait for it to sync with your computer.

You’re done! We hope you successfully recover your valuable iMessages on your iPhone 7.

Bonus Tips:

1. How to Avoid Losing Messages on Your iPhone

Make sure to back up your iPhone 7 regularly using your preferred method to avoid data loss. Read our guide on how to back up your iPhone 7. No matter which method you choose, the best one is the one that works for you.

2. Ensure Your iMessages Aren’t Set to Delete Automatically

The Messages app allows users to select how long messages are retained. Some people may have set messages to be kept for only 30 days, after which they are automatically deleted. To change the message retention period, go to Settings > Messages. Scroll down to the Message History section, tap Keep Messages, and select 1 Year or Forever based on your preference.