
Retrieving unsent text messages on your iPhone can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, it's not impossible.
If you've accidentally deleted an unsent text message, you can try restoring your iPhone from a backup, but only if you've been regularly backing up your device, which is a good habit to get into.
Most iPhone users don't realize that their iPhone automatically saves deleted text messages for up to 30 days in the "Recently Deleted" folder, where you can recover them if you act quickly.
To access the "Recently Deleted" folder, go to the Messages app, tap "Edit", and then tap "Show Deleted Messages" to see a list of deleted conversations, including unsent text messages.
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Understanding Messages
Unsent messages can be frustrating to lose, but understanding what they are can help you better grasp how to retrieve them. Unsent messages refer to text messages that were either drafts, failed messages, or deleted messages.
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Drafts are messages you started typing but didn't send, while failed messages are texts that failed to send due to connectivity issues. Deleted messages are messages that were removed before being sent. Knowing the type of unsent message you're dealing with can help you approach the retrieval process.
Here are the different types of unsent messages:
What Are Messages?
Messages are a fundamental way we communicate with others, and it's essential to understand what they are.
A message can be a simple text, an image, or even a video sent to someone via their phone or computer.
You can check your messages on your phone's Messages app, which stores conversations and allows you to send and receive messages.
There are three types of unsent messages: drafts, failed messages, and deleted messages.
Drafts are messages you started typing but didn't send, failed messages are texts that failed to send due to connectivity issues, and deleted messages are messages you removed before sending.

If you're looking for a specific unsent message, you can check the Messages app for drafts.
To do this, open the Messages app, look for any conversations that display "Draft" or an unfinished message, and tap the conversation to continue typing and send it.
Here are the three types of unsent messages in a nutshell:
- Drafts: Messages you started typing but didn’t send.
- Failed Messages: Texts that failed to send due to connectivity issues.
- Deleted Messages: Messages that were removed before being sent.
Can You See Messages?
You can see unsent messages on your iPhone if they were saved as drafts. This means that if you started typing a message but didn't send it, you might still be able to view and edit it.
Apple's iOS doesn't have a direct feature to retrieve unsent messages unless they were saved as drafts. However, there are a few workarounds to check for unsent or deleted messages.
If you were using apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram, drafts are often saved automatically. This means that if you started typing a message on one of these apps but didn't send it, you might still be able to view it.
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Unsent messages can refer to three types of messages: drafts, failed messages, and deleted messages. Drafts are messages you started typing but didn't send. Failed messages are texts that failed to send due to connectivity issues. Deleted messages are messages that were removed before being sent.
Here are the different types of unsent messages:
- Drafts: Messages you started typing but didn't send.
- Failed Messages: Texts that failed to send due to connectivity issues.
- Deleted Messages: Messages that were removed before being sent.
To check if your unsent message is still there, open the Messages app and look for any conversations that display "Draft" or an unfinished message. If you find one, you can tap the conversation to continue typing and send it.
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Viewing and Retrieving Messages
If you're trying to retrieve unsent text messages on your iPhone, the first thing to do is check the Messages app for drafts. iPhone does not automatically save drafts in the Messages app, but you can still check if your unsent message is there.
To do this, open the Messages app and look for any conversations that display "Draft" or an unfinished message. If you find one, tap the conversation to continue typing and send it.
If you're using iOS 16 or later, you won't be able to see unsent messages. This option was only available in iOS 15 and earlier.
However, if you're using an earlier version of iOS, you might be able to recover your unsent message. Look for a red exclamation mark next to the conversation, which indicates a problem with message delivery.
The unsent message will typically be at the bottom of the conversation and might say "Not Delivered" underneath it. You'll also notice that it doesn't have a timestamp like the other messages.
If you're still unable to find your unsent message, it might be sitting in your drafts. Check the conversation and see if your message is there. If it is, you'll be able to view and edit it before deciding to send or delete.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you check message drafts:
- Open the Messages app.
- Look for any conversations that display "Draft" or an unfinished message.
- Tap the conversation to continue typing and send it.
Locating and Checking Messages
You can check the Messages app for drafts to see if your unsent message is still there. Open the Messages app and look for any conversations that display "Draft" or an unfinished message.
The Messages app doesn't automatically save drafts, but you can still check if your unsent message is there. To do this, open the Messages app and look for any conversations with a "Draft" or unfinished message.
If you see a conversation with a "Draft" or unfinished message, tap it to continue typing and send it. This will allow you to view and edit your unsent message.
The unsent message will typically be at the bottom of the conversation. It might say "Not Delivered" underneath it, and you'll see that it doesn't have a timestamp like the other messages.
Here are the steps to check your unsent message:
- Open the Messages app.
- Look for any conversations with a "Draft" or unfinished message.
- Tap the conversation to view and edit your unsent message.
You can also check your notification history to see if the unsent message is there. Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Notification Center and see if the message is visible.
iMessage Specifics
iMessages are stored on your iPhone, not on the recipient's device, which is why you can't retrieve them from their phone.
iMessage data is stored in the Messages app, specifically in the "iMessage" folder, which can be accessed by going to Settings > Messages > Turn on iMessage.
You can also check your iMessage settings by going to Settings > Messages, where you'll find options to turn iMessage on or off, as well as adjust other settings like SMS/MMS.
If you've enabled iCloud Backup, your iMessage data will be backed up to iCloud, allowing you to recover unsent messages from a previous backup.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You're having trouble finding that one text message you know you sent but never got around to sending. Don't worry, it's easy to retrieve unsent text messages on your iPhone.
You can check your draft messages by going to the Messages app, tapping on the "Compose" icon, and then selecting "Drafts" from the bottom menu.
If you're still having trouble, try checking your "Recently Deleted" folder, where deleted messages are stored for 30 days before being permanently erased.
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To access the "Recently Deleted" folder, go to the Messages app, tap on the "Edit" button, and then select "Show Recently Deleted" from the top menu.
If you've already deleted your unsent message, you can restore it by going to the "Recently Deleted" folder and tapping on the "Edit" button, then selecting the message you want to restore and tapping "Restore Message".
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