How to restore deleted text messages on Android

We’ve all been here before. All of us have, at one point or another, accidentally deleted an important text. Gloria from Chepachet, Rhode Island reached out to us with this question:

“I accidentally deleted a text message; how do I get it back on my Android phone?”

We’re sorry you accidentally deleted the text message. Recoverability depends on several factors, including your phone model, whether a backup was made, and the specific messaging app you’re using. Here are some general methods you can try. (iPhone users, follow these tips.)

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Check if the message is archived (Google Messages)

If you have an Android phone or a Google Account, you can use Google Messages as your primary text messaging platform. Here’s how to check if your message is archived within Google Messages.

WITHthe settings may differ depending on the manufacturer of your Android phone.

• Open it Google messages application
• Tap yours profile icon next to the search icon
• Choose Archived
• Long press messages you want to retrieve
• Touch unarchive button in the upper right corner

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Check Trash (Samsung Messages)

WITHthe settings may differ depending on the manufacturer of your Android phone.

If you use a Samsung smartphone, your text messages may be stored in Samsung’s OS Trash can up to 30 days. If you’re using a Samsung smartphone, here’s how to check the built-in Trash app to see if your messages are there:

• Open it Messaging app
• Touch three point menu in the upper right corner
• Choose trash can
• Choose deleted text messages you want to retrieve
• Touch Return to return them to your message list

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Use a third-party recovery app

If you don’t have a backup and your messages are permanently deleted, you can still recover them using a third-party Android data recovery app. Here you can find Kurt’s selection of data recovery software. Different applications will have different features, so be sure to pay attention to which third-party recovery solution is right for your needs.

Restoring from a backup

If you have backed up your phone to Google Drive, you may be able to restore the backup to recover deleted text messages. Note that restoring a backup may overwrite existing data on your phone. Here’s how to check if you have a Google Drive backup for your smartphone:

WITHthe settings may differ depending on the manufacturer of your Android phone.

• Open Google Drive on your smartphone or visit drive.google.com.
• On Google Drive, select storage option from the lower left corner.
• Touch backup copies to view the Android backup attached to your Google Drive.

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Kurt’s outdoor essentials

Gloria, we hope we were able to help you recover your missing Android message. Backing up your data regularly to prevent future data loss is always a good idea. If you have an Android smartphone, I highly recommend using Google Drive to back up your phone; that way, you can always access the backup within your Google account. If you can’t find your deleted messages in the trash or recycle bin on your phone, don’t panic. You can still most likely recover any deleted data using a third-party program, but check the program’s features before paying.

Have you ever experienced significant data loss? What lessons did you learn from that experience? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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