iPhone Data Recovery

Recover lost and deleted iPhone messages, photos, calls and 30+ files without backup.
Retrieve your iPhone data with a 3× success rate and speed.
Fix iOS system error, including iPhone, iPad and iPods (iOS 26 supported).
Securely and quickly back up your iPhone data with 1 click.

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Contents

Method 1. Recover from "Recently Deleted" (No Computer Needed)
Method 2. Retrieve Deleted Messages Without Overwriting (Best for No Backup)
Method 3. Recover from iCloud Backup (Requires Reset)
Method 4. Recover from iTunes Backup (Windows PC / Older Macs)
Method 5. Recover from Mac Finder (macOS Catalina & Later)
FAQs of iPhone Messages Recovery

How to Retrieve Deleted Text Messages/iMessages on iPhone - 4 Verified Ways

Q: How do you enable message backup in iCloud?

You can enable Messages in iCloud to back up your received and sent messages on your iPhone. Your devices signed in with the Apple ID will get these messages synced. You can open the Settings app, enter your Apple account, choose iCloud, locate, and easily turn on Messages.

Q: How can I retrieve permanently-deleted messages without a backup?

You should stop using your iPhone when you notice text messages are deleted permanently. Download and open the recommended Aiseesoft iPhone Data Recovery above and connect the iPhone to it. Then you can try recovering deleted messages from your iPhone.

Q: How to transfer iPhone messages to a computer for backup?

You can use iTunes to transfer your iPhone data, including text messages, contacts, pictures, videos, and others, to your computer. Besides, you can use the easy-to-use iPhone messages transfer, Aiseesoft FoneTrans , to back up iPhone messages to your Mac or Windows computer.

February 10, 2026Louisa White

Recover iOS Data

Quick Summary: How to Recover iPhone Messages in 2026

Time Limit (Within 30 Days): Check the "Recently Deleted" folder in the Messages app first.
No Data Lost: Use Aiseesoft iPhone Data Recover to retrieve deleted messages without resetting your device.
Restore From Back Up: Restore from iCloud or iTunes back up and wipe all existing data.

It’s quite a common situation that you want to retrieve deleted messages on an iPhone. While managing your text messages, you may mistakenly delete some important ones. Sometimes, your iPhone messages are lost due to a failed iOS update, app bugs, or other factors. Restoring iPhone messages is a useful feature that allows you to recover deleted or lost messages on your iPhone.

Whether it's a message from a loved one or important information, retrieving deleted messages can be a lifesaver. This post will share four simple methods to help you see and recover deleted messages on your iPhone.

Method	Best For (User Scenario)	Data Loss Risk	PC/Mac Needed?	Free?
Recently Deleted	Deleted < 30 days, iOS 16+	None	No	Yes
Aiseesoft FoneLab	Selective Recovery (Keep current data safe)	Zero (No Overwrite)	Yes	Free Scan
iCloud Backup	Full Device Restore (Wireless)	High (Wipes Device)	No	Yes
iTunes Backup	Windows Users with Backup	High (Wipes Device)	Yes (Win)	Yes
Mac Finder	Mac Users (macOS Catalina+)	High (Wipes Device)	Yes (Mac)	Yes

Method 1. Recover from "Recently Deleted" (No Computer Needed)

Best for: Quickly undeleting messages you deleted less than 30 days (iOS16 or later).

If your iPhone runs iOS 26 or later, you can handily see your deleted messages from the Recently Deleted folder. Also, you are allowed to easily find them back within one month of deletion.

After deleting messages on your iPhone, they will be moved to the Recently Deleted folder. They remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can:

Step 1:

Open the Messages app and tap Menu in the top-right corner.

Step 2:

Here you can see deleted iPhone messages in the Recently Deleted folder.

Step 3:

Choose the text messages you want to retrieve, then click Recover in the bottom-right corner.

Save Deleted iPhone Messages from Recently Deleted Folder

Method 2. Retrieve Deleted Messages Without Overwriting (Best for No Backup)

Best for: Recovering messages with no backup or selectively recover data from backup without erasing your current data.

If you have a recent backup available, you can restore your iPhone to that backup using iTunes or iCloud. This will bring back all the iOS data, including your deleted messages. If you don't have a suitable backup containing your lost messages, many third-party data recovery tools might be able to help you. These tools scan your iPhone for recoverable data and attempt to retrieve them. We introduce you to the famous Aiseesoft iPhone Data Recovery to ensure you get the most possibility to rescue your deleted messages on your iPhone.

Downloads

iPhone Messages Recovery

Check and retrieve permanently deleted text messages and iMessages on your iPhone without a backup.
Recover iPhone or iPad messages from an iCloud or iTunes backup safely.
Support all commonly used iOS data types, including messages, images, contacts, etc.
Restore iOS files from devices with all iOS versions, like iOS 26, 18, 17, and more.

Free DownloadFor Windows

100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor macOS

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Step 1:

Download this iPhone messages recovery software on your Mac or Windows PC. Connect your iPhone to it using a USB cable. Unlock your phone and tap Trust to help make the connection successfully.

Step 2:

Ensure you select the Recover from iOS Device option. Click Start Scan to begin scanning existing and deleted iPhone data, including text messages, attachments, pictures, contacts, call history, notes, and more.

Step 3:

Once the scanning process is complete, all iOS files are listed in the specific data types on the left, such as messages, contacts, photos, memos, etc. Click Messages to see deleted messages on this iPhone.

Step 4:

Your deleted text messages will be shown in red. Click Show All and select Show Deleted Only to find your deleted or lost messages. Choose the messages you want to retrieve and click the Recover button.

Retrieve Deleted Text Messages iPhone without Backup

It's essential to stop using your iPhone once you realize that some important messages are accidentally deleted. You should prevent any new data from overwriting the deleted messages. The success of message recovery may vary depending on factors like available iPhone storage space and the time passed since the messages were deleted. You also can use this tool to get your disappeared contacts back for your iPhone.

Method 3. Recover from iCloud Backup (Requires Reset)

Best for: A complete wireless restore that erases your entire device with an old backup.

If you have iCloud backup enabled and your deleted messages were synced to a recent backup, you can restore your iPhone to find your messages.

Step 1:

To retrieve deleted iPhone text messages using iCloud, you should first bring the iOS device back to the factory condition. To do that, go to Settings, tap General, and choose Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Erase All Content and Settings to reach the Erase This iPhone screen. Tap Continue and enter your passcode to confirm.

Step 2:

Set up your iPhone by following the on-screen prompts. Connect it to a stable and good Wi-Fi network. Complete the initialization process until you reach the Apps & Data screen. Select the Restore from iCloud Backup option.

Restore from iCloud Backup to Retrieve Deleted Messages

Step 3:

Sign in to your iCloud account. Ensure you use the same Apple ID associated with the previous iCloud backup containing your messages. After signing in, you will be prompted to select a backup to restore from. Choose the most recent backup that contains your deleted messages and proceed.

Step 4:

Wait for your iPhone to complete the restoration process. It may take some time, depending on the backup size and your internet connection speed. After that, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. Your iPhone will start restoring text messages from the iCloud backup.

Step 5:

When the process is finished, open the Messages app and check if these deleted messages have been successfully recovered. You should see your conversations and all associated files.

Method 4. Recover from iTunes Backup (Windows PC / Older Macs)

Best for: Restoring a full backup on a Windows PC or an older Mac(macOS Mojave and earlier), which also erases the device.

If your Mac runs macOS Catalina or higher, you can also use Finder to recover text messages on your iPhone.

Step 1:

Launch Finder on your Mac and connect your iPhone with a Lightning USB cable. When connected, choose your device under the Locations section. You may need to tap Trust and enter your passcode to continue.

Step 2:

Click the Restore Backup button and select the latest backup from the drop-down menu. Click the Restore button to start the restoring process.

Method 5. Recover from Mac Finder (macOS Catalina & Later)

Best for: Restoring a full backup on macOS Catalina or newer, which also erases the device.

Yes. You can choose to retrieve deleted iPhone messages from iTunes if you have a suitable backup.

Step 1:

Open iTunes and ensure it is updated to the latest version. Connect your iPhone and make it connect successfully.

Step 2:

When your iOS device is recognized, click your iPhone button and go to Summary. Click the Restore Backup button and choose the iTunes backup that contains the iPhone messages you have permanently deleted. Select the ones you want to restore and click Restore. Then, wait for the process to complete.

Find Deleted Messages on iPhone from Backup iTunes Backup

After the restoration process, your iPhone will restart automatically, and you should be able to get your deleted messages back on the iPhone. It's worth noting that restoring from an iTunes backup will overwrite all the contents on your iPhone with the backup data. Therefore, ensuring you have a recent backup before initiating the restoration process is important.

FAQs of iPhone Text Messages Recovery

How do you enable message backup in iCloud?

You can enable Messages in iCloud to back up your received and sent messages on your iPhone. Your devices signed in with the Apple ID will get these messages synced. You can open the Settings app, enter your Apple account, choose iCloud, locate, and easily turn on Messages.

How can I retrieve permanently-deleted messages without a backup?

You should stop using your iPhone when you notice text messages are deleted permanently. Download and open the recommended Aiseesoft iPhone Data Recovery above and connect the iPhone to it. Then you can try recovering deleted messages from your iPhone.

How to transfer iPhone messages to a computer for backup?

You can use iTunes to transfer your iPhone data, including text messages, contacts, pictures, videos, and others, to your computer. Besides, you can use the easy-to-use iPhone messages transfer, Aiseesoft FoneTrans, to back up iPhone messages to your Mac or Windows computer.

Conclusion

Retrieving deleted messages on iPhone is necessary for various situations, ranging from accidental deletion to hardware malfunctions and data loss during updates to legal requirements. This post shares four effective methods to recover your iPhone text messages. You can follow these steps to find your lost or deleted messages and have them back on your iPhone in no time. Remember to regularly back up your iPhone to avoid any data loss in the future. If you need any more assistance, feel free to ask.