Use built-in methods to restore deleted and archived messages on Android
Did you know that you can restore deleted text messages on some Android phones without using a third-party app? As long as you use Messages by Google or the default Samsung Galaxy Messages app, recovering deleted text messages is easy. This wikiHow article shows you how to get your deleted texts back on any Android and offers tips to avoid losing texts in the future.
Things You Should Know
- If you have a Samsung Galaxy and use the default messaging app, you can recover deleted texts easily.
- Tap the three-dot menu, tap "Trash," and long-tap your message to recover it.
- You can recover archived texts using a similar method for the Messages by Google app.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Using a Samsung Galaxy
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Open Messages. It's the default messaging app on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
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Tap â‹® . This three-dot menu icon is near the top right corner of your screen and will drop down a menu.Advertisement
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Tap Trash or Recycle Bin . You'll see either wording depending on your region.
- A list of all the text threads you've deleted and individually deleted messages will appear here.
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Long-tap on the message you want to restore. If you tap on it too quickly, you'll see the message in a new window.
- Once you long-tap a message, you'll see it highlighted to indicate that it is selected. You can tap more messages to restore them as well.
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Tap the Restore icon. It looks like a curved arrow pointing in a counterclockwise motion and is in the lower-left corner of your screen.
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Section 2 of 4:
Using Messages by Google
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Open Messages. It's the messaging app from Google, so it's usually the default one for many non-Samsung Androids, including the Pixel.
- This method only recovers archived messages. Deleted messages are permanently gone.
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Tap the menu icon ( ☰ or ⋮ ). Depending on your device, you'll see either the three-dot or three-lined menu icon in the top left corner or top right corner of your screen.
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Tap Archived . You'll see this near the middle of the menu.
- All your deleted text messages will appear.
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Press and hold to select your message. The message will open in a new window if you simply tap it. Go back to the list view and long-tap it.
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Tap the Restore icon. It looks like a folder with an upwards-pointing arrow in it. [1] X Research source
- The message will again appear in your conversation!
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