iPhone Text Messages Disappeared? Here How To Retrieve!

iPhone Data Recovery / By / May 31, 2022

How To Recover Disappeared Text Messages From iPhone

Learn 6 Effective Ways To Recover Disappeared/Deleted/Missing Text Messages On iPhone!

Overview: It would be annoying to find the text messages disappeared from your iPhone. If your iPhone text SMS is also disappeared from your inbox and you want those messages back, then this guide is for you. Here we will introduce some easy and effective solutions to retrieve disappeared text messages on iPhone.

tipExpert Tip: One of the simple ways to recover deleted/disappeared text messages from iPhone is by using iOS Data Recovery tool which is a perfect iPhone Text Messages Recovery software.
 

By using iOS Data Recovery tool, one can:

  • Retrieve text messages from iPhone without backup.
  • Also retrieve other types of files like photos, videos, call logs, contacts, audios, WhatsApp messages, reminders, voice memos, and more.
  • Recover text SMS and other files that have been deleted due to accidental deletion, ROM flashing, iOS update failure, virus attacks, screen broken or not responding, forgotten screen lock passcode, etc.
  • Selectively retrieve text messages and other data from iTunes and iCloud backup.
  • Compatible with all iOS versions and iPhone models.
  • 100% safe and user-friendly tool.

Free Download Trial Version/Buy Now iPhone Data Recovery Tool To Retrieve Disappeared Text Messages From iPhone

*Trial version only scans and previews recoverable files.

*Trial version only scans and previews recoverable files.

Text messages are important data for all because here we get many important messages related to our bank, OTP, and many other precious messages. We also send or receive text messages from our friends, family, and others.

But they get disappeared or deleted from the device due to various reasons. Some of the common ones are listed below.

Additional Reading: How To Recover Text Messages After Factory Reset On iPhone

Reasons: Why Text Messages Disappeared From Your iPhone?

There are many factors that can trigger text messages/iMessages to disappear from iPhone. Here I have mentioned some of the common reasons:

  • Incomplete software update.
  • Factory reset.
  • Forgotten lock PIN/pattern/password.
  • Virus attacks.
  • Phone not responding.
  • Screen broken/cracked/smashed.
  • Not able to synchronize backup.

So, before moving to the solutions to retrieve disappeared/missing text messages, you should first follow some tips to get back disappeared text messages from inbox of your iPhone.

What To Do If iPhone Text Messages Disappeared From Inbox

You can follow some tips to fix iPhone text messages disappearing from inbox by following the below tips.

  • Force restart your iPhone.
  • Enable airplay mode.
  • Check iCloud iMessage Sync and iMessage Sync.
  • Reset all settings on iPhone.
  • Turn on and off iMessage.
  • Change message frequency.

By applying the above tips all disappeared text messages/iMessage should be back on your iPhone.

Additional Reading: How To Retrieve Text Messages From iPhone With Broken Screen

However, if they didn’t work then follow the below solutions to retrieve disappeared text messages from iPhone.

Note: All the solutions that I am going to share below will be applicable for all iPhone models such as iPhone 13/12/11/X/XS/XR/XS Max/8/7/6/5/4, and all the other models.

Solution 1: Restore Disappeared Text Messages From iPhone Using iCloud Backup

If you have created a backup of your iPhone data to iCloud then you can restore the disappeared text messages from your iPhone.

But this solution has one disadvantage. You will lose some newer data that is not present on that backup file and apps as you need to first do a factory reset.

However, follow the below steps to restore disappeared text messages from iPhone using iClould backup.

Step 1: On your iPhone, launch the Settings app.

Step 2: Hit on your name at the top.

Step 3: Choose iCloud.

Step 4: Now, scroll down and choose iCloud backup.

Step 5: Check that you have backed up your iPhone recently (just in case).

Check Recent iCloud Backup

Step 6: Now, again open the Settings app.

Step 7: Choose General > Reset.

Step 8: Select “Erase all content and Settings”.

Step 9: Then choose “Erase Now” option from the pop-up window.

Step 10: Now, you need to wait for a few minutes until your factory reset process gets completed. After this, you need to set up your iPhone.

Step 11: When you reach “Apps & Data” screen, select “Restore from iCloud Backup”.

Restore iPhone Data From iCloud Backup

Step 12: Now, sign in to iCloud using your Apple ID and password to access backups. Select the backup file that you wish to restore, you will find each backup file with the date written. Once you select the relevant backup file, it will be restored to your iPhone after a few minutes.

Additional Reading: How Can I Retrieve Text Messages From a Dead iPhone?

Solution 2: Restore Disappeared Text Messages From iCloud.com

If you don’t want to factory reset your iPhone but you wish to restore text messages/iMessages stored on iCloud then you can recover them by signing into iCloud.com.

Here are the steps to retrieve lost/disappeared text messages on iPhone using iCloud.com.

Step 1: Firstly, you need to login to iCloud.com using your Apple ID and password.

Step 2: Then go to Text Messages and find one that you wish to restore. You will only get the Text Messages option if you have enabled backups for your text messages.

Step 3: Next, turn off Messages backup by going to Settings > your Apple ID profile and then on iCloud settings. Now, you will be able to view the data that is backing up on iCloud.

Step 5: Tap on Messages there to disable text messages backup off.

 

Step 6: Now, you will be asked to download your text messages or iMessages. Choose Disable and Download Messages from pop-up message. This will download all the existing text SMS including the disappeared messages from your iPhone.

Note: This method will only work if your iPhone has not been backed up to iCloud recently. If they are not then you won’t recover deleted texts because they will no longer be available on iCloud.com and replaced with the new text messages you received on your smartphone.

Additional Reading: iPhone Deleting Messages By Itself? Here Is The Real Fix!

Solution 3: Restore Disappeared Text Messages/iMessage From iPhone Via iTunes Backup

If you have backed up your iPhone to iTunes before text messages disappeared from your device then you can restore disappeared/deleted text SMS/iMessages.

Below, learn how to restore disappeared text messages from iTunes to your iPhone.

Step 1: On Mac with macOS Catalina or later, launch Finder. And launch iTunes on Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier or on PC.

Step 2: Now, with the help of USB cable connect your iPhone to your computer. If you get a prompt for your device passcode or to Trust This computer then simply follow the onscreen instructions.

Step 3: When your iPhone displays in Finder windows or iTunes then choose your iPhone.

Step 4: Now, choose Restore Backup.

Restore iOS From iTunes Backup

Step 5: Next, select the desired backup file by looking at its date.

Step 6: Click on Restore and then you need to wait for a few minutes to complete the restoration process. If you are asked to enter the password for your encrypted backup then simply enter it.

Step 7: Keep your iPhone connected after it restarts and wait for it to sync with your PC. Once the sync process gets completed then you can disconnect.

Additional Reading: [2 Methods] How To Recover Messages From iTunes Backup

Solution 4: Ask The Person To Send Disappeared Text Messages Again

Another way to get messages back that disappeared on iPhone is by asking someone to send the messages again. Call them or text them and tell them that you have deleted or those messages have disappeared from your device and you need them. They will forward messages to you.

But this method will only work if the messages are of your contact, you can’t get the texts back from others to whom you can’t get the option to text and call.

Solution 5: Contact Your Carrier To Retrieve Disappeared Text Messages From iPhone

Your carrier provider might keep a record of texts you send for a limited time. So, if the deleted or disappeared messages are very important then you should call your carrier provider to get back the text messages.

Remember that it will only work for text messages (green bubble messages), not iMessages (blue bubble messages). Each iMessages is encrypted on your iPhone and not decrypted unless the message reaches to the recipient. So, your carrier will not help you to rescue those iMessages.

To recover the text messages you need to prove your identity and or you need to get permission from the person to whom you have sent text messages.

Additional Reading: What To Do When iMessage Doesn’t Say “Delivered”

Solution 6: Recover Disappeared Text Messages From iPhone Using iOS Data Recovery Tool

If the above solutions didn’t help you to get back disappeared text messages or you don’t want to restore text messages from iCloud or iTunes backup as they delete the current data from the device then in this situation, you are highly suggested to try iOS Data Recovery tool to retrieve deleted/disappeared text messages from iPhone without backup.

*Trial version only scans and previews recoverable files.

*Trial version only scans and previews recoverable files.

Besides, recovering disappeared/missing/deleted text messages it also retrieves other data types such as photos, contacts, voice memos, Safari’s bookmarks, video, calendar, WhatsApp messages, voice mails, and still more.

You can extract the lost, missing, disappeared, or deleted text messages/iMessages from iPhone in various scenarios such as accidental deletion, factory reset, ROM flashing, forgotten screen lock PIN/pattern/password, iOS update failure, jailbreaking, virus or malware infection, etc.

The best part about iPhone Text Messages Recovery tool is that it restore iTunes or iCloud backup without data loss. And you also get the option to entirely or selectively restore iTunes or iCloud backup.

Note: Don’t add any new data to your iPhone once you found that your text messages are disappeared from your iPhone. If you will do this, then it will overwrite the existing data.

Below follow the steps to recover disappeared text messages from iPhone without backup using iPhone Data Recovery tool.

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Steps To Retrieve Disappeared Text Messages From iPhone

Step 1: Connect iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch To Computer

First download, install and launch iOS Data Recovery on your computer.

Connect your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) to your computer with the help of USB cable. Then launch iOS Data Recovery and click on “Data Recovery” option.

Once the software detects your iOS device, it will display the following windows as shown in the screenshot below.

Tip: Disable automatic iTunes sync before connecting iOS device to computer. Launch iTunes > Preferences > Devices, check “Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically”.

Step 2: Scan Your iOS Device To Find Deleted Data On It

Click on “Start Scan”. This will start scanning your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to find delete or lost files.

Step 3: Preview And Recover Data

Once the scan process gets complete, you can then preview the recoverable files within the preview screen of the software. Select the files that you want back and then click on “Recover” button to save data on your computer or to your device.

Tip: For Recovering Data

By default the recovered data are saved to computer. However, for text messages, iMessages, contacts, notes, when you click on “Recover” button, a dialogue box pop-up asking you to “Recover to Computer” or “Recover to Device“. If you want to save those recovered data on your device then click on “Recover to Device”.

*Trial version only scans and previews recoverable files.

*Trial version only scans and previews recoverable files.

Bonus Tip: Backup iPhone Text Messages To Handle Such Messages Disappeared Scenarios

You must always backup your iPhone text messages with other data as they can be disappeared from your device. You can create a backup of text messages/ iMessages to iTunes or iCloud.

But the best way to backup iPhone text messages is to use iOS Phone Backup tool. It allows you to backup multiple data types. And at the time of restoration, you will not lose the recent files that are not backed up which iCloud or iTunes don’t provide. Also, you can selectively backup and restore data.

You can also face the disappearing of text messages if you have changed the messages history option in Settings, where you get 3 options to keep text messages – 30 days, 1 year, and forever.

So, if you have selected 30 days or 1 year option then the text messages will be disappeared automatically after the given time. So, you need to check it and set it to forever.

Related Frequently Asked Question [FAQs]

Question 1 – How Do I Recover Deleted Text Messages On My iPhone For Free?

Answer 1 – You can easily recover deleted/disappeared text messages on iPhone for free by restoring it from iCloud or iTunes backup. You can also contact your cell provider or ask someone on send the deleted messages again.

Question 2 – Where Are Text Messages On iPhone?

Answer 2 – The text messages are available in the Message app. You can open the message of anyone by searching on your Message app on iPhone.

You can also send or receive iMessages on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. Hence when you lost data from your iPhone then you should check another device to get the messages back.

If you have turned on iCloud messages then iMessages/text messages can be stored on iCloud. You can view them from iCloud backup.

Question 3 – How To Find Old Text Messages On iPhone?

Answer 3 – You can find the old text messages on iPhone in 3 ways. They are listed below.

Steps To Find Old Messages With Scrolling

Step 1: Run the Message app and enter the text messages that you wish to see old message.

Step 2: Now, touch the location of time at the top left corner of the screen or network at the top right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Next, you can view the old message quickly from beginning of the conversation.

Steps To Find Old Text Conversations On iPhone Without Scrolling (Using Spotlight Search)

Step 1: Bring the Spotlight Search by swiping down on the Home screen with your finger.

Step 2: Now, hit the search bar and enter the keywords/phone number and then preview the result list.

Step 3: Select one data or message to find the old message.

Steps To Find Old Text Messages In Message App

Step 1: Run the Message app and hit on All Messages.

Step 2: Now, swipe down with your finger to expose the search box.

Step 3: Next, enter the phone number/keywords in the search box and then you will get the results list.

Wrap Up

So, this article is totally about how to retrieve disappeared text messages from iPhone. If you have a backup of disappeared/missing messages to iCloud or iTunes then restore it from there but remember that this will erase the data that is not available on that backup file and you can’t only restore deleted/disappeared text messages.

If you don’t have backup of disappeared texts then you can try iPhone Data Recovery software to get back disappeared text messages from iPhone. You can also use this tool to restore iCloud or iTunes backup without data loss.

 
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