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How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Your iPhone

Text messages include a lot of information, such as important promotions, essential links, and more. Losing these messages can be stressful. If you find yourself in a situation where you deleted text messages on your iOS device, don't panic. In this post, you can explore different methods and tools that can help you get iPhone SMS recovery, ensuring that you don't lose valuable conversations in various situations.

Part 1: How to Recover Recently Deleted SMS on iPhone

The Recently Deleted folder is an easy way to recover recently deleted SMS messages on iPhone for free. Of course, this option is only available for messages deleted within the past 30 days. Make sure that you have updated to the latest version of iOS.

Recently Deleted

Step 1. Open the Messages app from your home screen.

Step 2. Tap the Edit or Filter button at the top.

Step 3. Choose Recently Deleted from the context menu.

Step 4. View all recently deleted SMS on your iPhone.

Step 5. Select the desired chats and tap Recover [number] Messages.

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Text on iPhone Using iCloud

iCloud is Apple's cloud service that lets users expand their storage. Whether you sync or back up SMS to iCloud, you can recover or restore deleted text messages on your iPhone.

How to Recover Deleted Text on iPhone

Recover sms iCloud

Step 1. If you have synced messages to iCloud, go to Settings.

Step 2. Tap on your profile, then choose iCloud.

Step 3. Tap Messages under the APPS USING ICLOUD heading.

Step 4. Toggle off Use on this iPhone or Sync this iPhone.

Step 5. When prompted, tap Disable and Download Messages.

How to Restore Deleted SMS on iPhone

Step 1. If you have backed up SMS to iCloud, run Settings.

Erase iPhone

Step 2. Go to General, and Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings, then tap Continue.

Step 4. Enter your Apple ID password.

Step 5. When your iPhone restarts, set it up as a new device.

Step 6. Connect to a Wi-Fi.

Restore from iCloud Backup

Step 7. Choose the From iCloud Backup option from the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.

Step 8. Enter your Apple ID credentials and select the most recent backup.

Step 9. When it is done, complete the setup.

Part 3: How to Recover Deleted iPhone SMS from Backup

If you have backed up your iPhone to a computer, iTunes and Finder are the apps to restore deleted iPhone text messages. Remember that the backup will overwrite the current data on your device.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 2. Open Finder on macOS Catalina and later. On Windows and macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes.

Finder Restore Backup

Step 3. Click the Phone button and go to Summary in iTunes, or click your phone name and go to General in Finder.

Choose Backup

Step 4. Click Restore Backup, select the correct backup, and click Restore button. You may need to enter the password if you have ever encrypted the iPhone backup.

Part 4: Top 2 iPhone SMS Recovery Tools

Top 1: Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery

Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery is one of the most powerful iPhone SMS recovery software. It is able to scan your memory and look for deleted text messages. Moreover, it comes with an intuitive interface.

Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery Trustpilot Reviewed

Downloaded by over 1,000,000 users

  • Recover deleted SMS on your iPhone without backup.
  • Extract SMS from iTunes or iCloud backup.
  • Support texts and attachments.
  • Compatible with the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS.
Free Download

Secure Download

Free Download

Secure Download

iPhone Data Recovery

Here are the steps to recover deleted SMS on your iPhone without a backup:

Step 1. Scan your iPhone

Launch the iPhone SMS recovery software after installing it on your computer. Plug your iPhone into your computer with a Lightning cable. Choose Recover from iOS Device and click Start Scan.

Start Scan

Step 2. Preview SMS

After scanning, select Messages and Message Attachments on the sidebar. Select Show Deleted Only from the dropdown option and preview the deleted SMS.

Preview SMS

Step 3. Retrieve deleted SMS

Select the messages and attachments you wish to retrieve. Click the Recover button, set an output folder, and hit Recover.

Recover Button

Top 2: 3uTools

3uTools is a free iPhone SMS recovery software for PCs. It lets you open an iTunes backup and quickly retrieve deleted text messages. Bear in mind that it cannot restore SMS to your iPhone.

Main Features of 3uTools SMS Recovery Software

  • 1.Completely free.
  • 2.Recover SMS from iTunes backup.
  • 3.View deleted text messages.
  • 4.Export SMS in 3u or PDF format.

Here are the steps to retrieve SMS using 3uTools:

Step 1. Install 3uTools on your PC and open it.

Step 2. Link your iPhone to your PC with a USB cable.

Backup 3uTools

Step 3. Go to Toolbox, choose Backup/Restore, and click Backups Management.

Step 4. Select the right backup and click View Now.

Step 5. Choose Messages and preview chats.

View SMS 3uTools

Step 6. Select the desired chats, click Export, and pick a format.

Conclusion

Now, you should learn the iPhone SMS recovery software and features. The Recently Deleted folder is a quick way to recover your SMS messages deleted within the past 30 days. You can also try iCloud and computer backup to restore your lost SMS. We also shared SMS recovery software, such as Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery.

iPhone Data Recovery Icon Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery

Recover deleted or lost data from iOS Devices, iTunes, and iCloud backup.

Free Download

Secure Download

Free Download

Secure Download

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Dorothy Collins
Dorothy Collins

Expertise: Recover Data · Transfer Data · Clear Data · Back up Data

Dorothy Collins is a senior editor at Apeaksoft, specializing in data recovery and digital data management. She has years of experience testing file recovery and backup tools. She writes guides on recovering lost data, protecting files, and transferring data.