How to Recover Deleted Messages on iPad Using 4 Proven Methods

Part 1. Can I Recover Messages Deleted on My iPad?

First, it should be clear that you can recover deleted messages on an iPad in most cases, especially for the recently deleted ones.

The final possibility or success rate depends on how long ago the iPad messages were deleted and whether you have a suitable backup.

• If you use a relatively new iPad model that runs iPadOS 16.1 or later, you can go to the “Recently Deleted” folder to directly restore recently deleted messages within 30 days.
• If you cannot find deleted messages from the Recently Deleted folder, you will need to restore them from iTunes/Finder or iCloud backups, or rely on a third-party iOS data recovery tool.
• Lost messages stored in an iTunes backup, Finder backup, or iCloud backup can be easily restored. However, if you don’t have a suitable backup, specialized recovery software is required.

Part 2. Learn 4 Efficient Ways to Get Deleted iPad Messages Back

If you need to restore deleted iMessages, SMS text messages, or other messages on your iPad, pay attention to the following four methods in this section. Use the method that best suits your specific situation.

Method 1: Check “Recently Deleted” in the Messages App (iPadOS 16.1+)

If your iPad runs iPadOS 16.1 or later, you can recover deleted conversations in the Messages app. This method allows you to retrieve the necessary messages without restoring an entire backup.

Method 2: Recover Permanently Deleted Messages Using Aiseesoft FoneLab

If you can’t find lost messages from the Recently Deleted folder and you don’t have a recent backup to restore them, third-party recovery software is your best option. Aiseesoft FoneLab is a professional recovery tool designed specifically for retrieving all types of data from iOS devices. It lets you recover deleted messages directly from your iPad, an iTunes/Finder backup, or an iCloud backup. Compared with its competitors, it often achieves a higher success rate for iPad message recovery.

If you only want to restore lost messages from your iPad, you can select Messages under the Message Contacts tab. That will deliver a super-fast scanning speed.

Method 3: Recover Deleted Text Messages on Your iPad via iCloud Message Sync

If you have set iCloud to back up your messages, all the conversations will be automatically synced across all your Apple devices. When you mistakenly delete one or several valuable messages on an iPad, you can try searching for them on another iPad, iPhone, or Mac. Even though deleting a message on your iPad sends a signal to delete it from iCloud, the sync process may still be delayed. In that case, you can restore the deleted messages.

Method 4: Use iCloud/iTunes Backup Restore

If you have a right backup created before the messages were deleted, you can restore your iPad from that backup. This method will erase all newly created data on your iPad.

To restore your iPad from an iCloud backup, you need to factory reset the device. When you reach the Apps & Data screen, choose Restore from iCloud Backup. Sign in to your Apple account and pick the relevant iCloud backup from the list.

If you need to restore from an iTunes or Finder backup, connect your iPad to the computer that contains your backup. Launch iTunes or Finder, then follow the steps to restore the backup.

Part 3. FAQs on How to Recover Deleted Messages on iPad

Conclusion

This guide shares four proven methods to easily recover deleted messages on an iPad. If you accidentally deleted some important messages, you can search for them in the “Recently Deleted” folder. If you don’t want to restore your iPad from a full backup file, a dedicated iPad data recovery tool like Aiseesoft FoneLab is a better choice. You should regularly back up your iPad to iCloud or to a computer to prevent valuable files from being lost for various reasons.