
If you've lost important iMessages from your iPhone and you have a backup, you can recover them with ease. iPhone backups are created automatically when your device is connected to a computer and synced with iTunes.
You can recover iMessages from an iPhone backup in just a few steps, and the process is relatively straightforward. Backups can be stored in various locations, including your computer and iCloud.
To recover iMessages, you'll need to access the backup file, which can be found in the iTunes backup folder on your computer. The backup folder is usually located in the iTunes folder on your computer's hard drive.
iCloud Backup and Restore
To recover iMessages from iCloud backup, you'll need to have an iCloud backup that includes the messages you want to restore. Make sure you have an iCloud backup that includes the messages you want to restore by checking your backup history in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backup.
For more insights, see: Restore Iphone with Icloud Backup
You can restore your device from an iCloud backup by erasing your device and then selecting the relevant backup that contains your messages. This method erases all your current iPhone data, so creating a backup beforehand is important.
To restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings and follow the on-screen instructions to erase your device. Then, go through the settings until you reach the screen of "Apps and data" and select "Restore from iCloud Backup" and log in to your iCloud account.
Here are the steps to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
- Follow the on-screen instructions to erase your device
- Go through the settings until you reach the screen of "Apps and data"
- Select "Restore from iCloud Backup" and log in to your iCloud account
- Select the relevant backup that contains your messages
The success of this method depends on having an iCloud backup containing the desired messages, so make sure you have a backup that includes the messages you want to restore.
Broaden your view: Messages Icloud Backup
Retrieve Messages from iTunes
You can retrieve deleted iMessages from an iTunes backup, which is a great option if you've accidentally deleted them permanently.
If you've previously backed up your iPhone with iTunes, you can use the iPhone Data Recovery software to scan the backup files and recover the deleted iMessages. This method allows you to preview every single text and conversation, so you can select only the desired iMessages to recover without overwriting any current data on your iPhone.
To recover old iMessages from an iTunes backup, initiate the iPhone Data Recovery software and select Restore from iTunes Backup File. Let it automatically detect and list all useful iTunes backups stored on your computer, then choose the backup that was created before the iMessage deletion. Click the Start button to scan everything included in that backup.
The scanning results will show you all the recoverable data, including the Messages tab. Preview the iMessages and select the ones you want to retrieve, then hit the Recover button. This way, the deleted iMessages can be recovered from iTunes backup without any data loss.
Alternatively, you can directly recover your deleted iMessages from an old iTunes backup while restoring your iPhone entirely. This method only works when you've previously backed up your iPhone with iTunes prior to iMessage deletion. Note that the process will erase your iPhone and replace all its current data with the backup files.
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Here's a step-by-step guide to restore deleted iMessages from iTunes backup:
1. Open the latest version of iTunes on your computer.
2. Plug your iPhone into computer with a USB data cable. If asked, allow it to trust this computer.
3. Click the phone icon when it shows up at the toolbar of iTunes or Finder window.
4. Go to Summary tab in iTunes (or General tab in Finder) > Backups > Restore Backup.
5. In the pop-up window, choose the most relevant backup that holds the deleted iMessages.
6. Click Restore and confirm it.
This will restore the deleted iMessages and text messages to the Messages app on your iPhone and show up in the conversation list again.
Curious to learn more? Check out: Icloud Sms Backup
Using Third-Party Tools
Using third-party tools can be a viable option if the built-in recovery methods fail. However, be cautious as some tools may be unreliable or even harmful to your device.
Before using third-party software, it's essential to do thorough research to find out its reputation, effects, and user reviews. This will help you make an informed decision and avoid potential risks.
Third-party tools usually have a lower success rate than Apple's integrated recovery methods. This means they may not be able to recover all your deleted iMessages.
If you decide to use a third-party tool, be careful about the ones that require access to your iCloud specifications. Choose tools that work directly with your device instead.
If you're looking to recover specific iMessages from an iTunes backup, consider using a tool like iPhone Data Recovery. This software can extract and preview every single text and conversation from your backup, allowing you to select only the desired iMessages to recover.
Here are some steps to follow when using iPhone Data Recovery:
- Initiate the software and select Restore from iTunes Backup File.
- Let it automatically detect and list all useful iTunes backups stored on your computer.
- Choose the iTunes backup that is created before the iMessage deletion.
- Click the Start button to scan everything included in that iTunes backup.
- From the scanning results, check the Messages tab from the left menu.
- Preview the iMessages and select the ones you want to retrieve.
- Hit the Recover button.
Preparation and Compatibility
Before we dive into recovering iMessages from backup, let's make sure we're on the same page in terms of compatibility. iPhone Backup Extractor runs on any Mac (10.11+) or PC (Windows 7 SP1 or newer).
This means you can use the tool on a wide range of devices, including older models like the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and even iPads and iPod Touch. The tool supports every iOS device out there, regardless of its age.
You can also use iPhone Backup Extractor with any version of iOS, from the very first iOS 1 to the latest iOS 18 and 17, and even beta versions.
Before You Messages

Before you start recovering deleted iMessages, it's essential to understand how the Messages app works on your iPhone. iPhone's Messages app keeps all your text messages and iMessages, and in iOS 16 and later, it has a built-in Recently Deleted folder to store all iMessages deleted in the last 30 days.
If your iMessages disappeared on iPhone or you can't find them in the Recently Deleted folder, don't worry. Permanently deleted iMessages can be restored from an iCloud backup or iTunes backup that you've previously created.
To recover deleted iMessages, you'll need to connect your iPhone via a USB cable and click the Start Scan button for a deep scanning. This may take a short while to scan the entire storage of your iPhone for all lost iMessages.
Here are some options to recover deleted iMessages:
- Recover deleted iMessages from an iCloud backup
- Restore deleted iMessages from an iTunes backup
- Use a powerful iPhone data recovery tool to recover deleted iMessages without backup
Before choosing an option, consider the following:
- If you've previously backed up your iPhone with iTunes prior to iMessage deletion, you can directly recover your deleted iMessages from an old iTunes backup while restoring your iPhone entirely.
- If you've turned on iCloud for all iMessages, you can reset your iPhone and recover all the data stored on the iCloud.
- If you don't mind the data loss, you can restore your iPhone entirely from a previous iTunes backup.
Remember, it's always a good idea to regularly back up your iPhone to prevent losing important data.
Compatibility

iPhone Backup Extractor is a versatile tool that can run on a variety of devices. It supports both Macs and PCs.
You can use it on any Mac running 10.11 or later, or any PC with Windows 7 SP1 or a newer version.
The software supports every iOS device, from the latest iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models to older iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices.
It's also compatible with every iOS version, including iOS 18, 17, and all earlier versions, dating back to iOS 1.
This means you can use iPhone Backup Extractor to access and manage your backups, no matter what device or iOS version you're using.
Restore Lost Messages
If you've accidentally deleted iMessages on your iPhone, don't worry, you can still recover them. You can find deleted iMessages in the Recently Deleted folder in the Messages app on iOS 16 or later. If you can't find them there, you can recover them from an iCloud backup or iTunes backup.
To recover deleted iMessages from an iCloud backup, make sure you have a previous iCloud backup that contains the lost iMessages. Go to the Settings app, tap your Apple ID, and then tap iCloud. Ensure the Messages app is enabled and select iCloud Backup to list all recent backups. Choose the backup created before you deleted your iMessages.
Alternatively, you can retrieve permanently deleted iMessages from an iTunes backup. You can restore your iPhone entirely from an old iTunes backup, but this will erase your current data. Or, you can use a powerful backup extractor tool like iPhone Data Recovery to recover specific iMessages from an iTunes backup without data loss.
Here are the steps to recover deleted iMessages from an iTunes backup:
- Initiate iPhone Data Recovery software and select Restore from iTunes Backup File.
- Choose the iTunes backup created before the iMessage deletion.
- Click the Start button to scan everything included in that backup.
- From the scanning results, preview the iMessages and select the ones you want to retrieve.
- Hit the Recover button.
By following these steps, you can recover your deleted iMessages from an iTunes backup without any data loss.
Finding and Restoring Messages
Finding and Restoring Messages is a straightforward process, especially with the built-in Recently Deleted folder in iOS 16 and later. This folder stores all iMessages deleted in the last 30 days, making it easy to retrieve deleted iMessages after accidental removal.
To access the Recently Deleted folder, open the Messages app on your iPhone and tap on "Edit" in the top-right corner. Then, tap on "Show All" in the top-left corner, and scroll down to find the Recently Deleted folder.
If your iMessages have disappeared on iPhone or you cannot find them in the Recently Deleted folder, you can try restoring them from an iCloud backup or iTunes backup that you've previously created.
To restore deleted iMessages from an iCloud backup, ensure there's a previous iCloud backup that contains the lost iMessages. Then, follow these steps:
- Head to the Settings app and tap your Apple ID > iCloud.
- Tap Show All in Apps Using iCloud part and ensure the Messages is enabled.
- Select iCloud Backup, all recent iCloud backups will be listed.
- Ensure there's an iCloud backup created before you delete your iMessages.
Alternatively, you can directly recover deleted iMessages from an old iTunes backup while restoring your iPhone entirely. This method only works when you've previously backed up your iPhone with iTunes prior to iMessage deletion.
Here are the steps to restore deleted iMessages from iTunes backup:
- Open the latest version of iTunes on your computer.
- Plug your iPhone into computer with a USB data cable. If asked, allow it to trust this computer.
- Click the phone icon when it shows up at the toolbar of iTunes or Finder window.
- Go to Summary tab in iTunes (or General tab in Finder) > Backups > Restore Backup.
- In the pop-up window, choose the most relevant backup that holds the deleted iMessages.
- Click Restore and confirm it.
If you're looking to recover specific iMessages from an iTunes backup without restoring the entire device, you can use a powerful backup extractor tool like iPhone Data Recovery. This tool allows you to scan the iTunes backup files, preview every single text and conversation, and select only the desired iMessages to recover without overwriting any current data on your iPhone.
Curious to learn more? Check out: Why Are Data Backups Important
iCloud
If you've deleted an iMessage and want to recover it, you can try restoring from an iCloud backup. Make sure you have an iCloud backup that includes the messages you want to restore.
You can check if you have a suitable backup by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backup on your iPhone or iPad.
This method erases all your current iPhone data, so creating a backup beforehand is essential. The success of this method depends on having an iCloud backup containing the desired messages.
To restore from an iCloud backup, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, and follow the on-screen instructions to erase your device. Then, select "Restore from iCloud Backup" and log in to your iCloud account.
If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud and have Messages in iCloud disabled, you can restore deleted iMessages from an earlier iCloud backup. However, if you use Messages in iCloud, your messages aren't included in iCloud backups, so this method won't work in that case.
Expand your knowledge: Icloud Restore Imessages
Before proceeding, consider whether the backup is old enough to contain the deleted messages. Restoring from a backup will replace all current data on your iPhone with the data from the backup, so any new data created after the backup will be lost.
To check the date and time of your last backup, choose your current device from the list to see its backup information. If the backup predates the deletion, you can proceed to restore your iPhone from this backup.
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