Our smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, keeping us connected in various ways. From voice calls to video calls, and from character-limited text messages to expressive ones with emojis and personal handwriting, our phones have evolved to cater to our communication needs. However, one thing remains constant – the permanence of deleting things. But fear not, iPhone users, as there are ways to recover those deleted text messages.
iPhone software has advanced to include folders where discarded items slowly fade away over a period of 30 days. Fortunately, one such folder exists for text messages. So, if you accidentally delete a text message on your iPhone, there’s no need to panic. Here are a few methods to recover those precious messages.
Method 1: Show Recently Deleted
One way to retrieve deleted text messages is by tapping and holding “Edit” in the upper left corner of your screen. A dropdown menu will appear, and you should select “Show Recently Deleted.” This will take you to a folder that displays messages you discarded within the last 30 days. From here, you can choose to recover or permanently erase any message you find. Simply locate the message you’re looking for, select it, and tap “Recover” in the bottom right corner to send it back to your main inbox.
Method 2: Message Filtering
Another method involves using message filtering. To enable this feature, go to your iPhone’s Settings, tap on “Messages,” and scroll down to toggle on “Filter Unknown Senders.” Once activated, tap on “Filters” in the upper left corner and select “Recently Deleted.” This will redirect you to an inbox that showcases messages you discarded within the last 30 days. Similar to the previous method, you can recover or permanently erase any message you find here.
But what if the message you’re searching for is older than 30 days? Don’t worry; there’s still hope!
Method 3: Check Other Apple Devices
If you have another Apple device, such as an iPad or computer, connected to your account, there’s a chance that the deleted message may still reside in the inbox of that device. So, be sure to check those devices as well for any traces of the lost message.
Message History on iPhone
It’s important to note that all the text, gifs, emojis, and videos you send are stored on your iPhone. While this can be convenient, it can also lead to storage issues, preventing you from taking pictures or downloading software updates. To avoid this problem, it’s a good practice to regularly delete old messages.
To adjust how long your phone stores messages in text threads, follow these steps:
1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on “Messages.”
3. Scroll down to “Message History.”
4. Tap on “Keep Messages.”
5. Select your preferred duration – options include 30 days, one year, or forever.
By setting a specific duration for message storage, you can ensure that your iPhone doesn’t become cluttered with unnecessary messages, allowing you to make the most of your device’s storage capacity.
In conclusion, while deleting text messages may seem like a permanent action, iPhone users have several methods at their disposal to recover those lost messages. Whether it’s through the “Show Recently Deleted” folder, message filtering, or checking other connected Apple devices, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to retrieve those important texts. Additionally, managing your message history and adjusting the duration of message storage can help optimize your iPhone’s storage capacity. So, next time you accidentally delete a text message, remember that all hope is not lost – your cherished words may still be within reach.