Losing important text messages on your iPhone can be frustrating. Whether you accidentally deleted a conversation or your phone stopped working, not having access to those messages can make you feel like valuable information is gone forever.
The good news is, there are a few ways to try and recover deleted or lost iPhone messages 100% free. With the right tools and techniques, you may be able to get those texts back without having to pay anything.
Can You Recover Deleted iPhone Messages for Free?
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted iPhone messages for free using the right methods. Here are some ways you can get deleted texts back at no cost:
- Recover from iCloud backup – If you have iCloud backup enabled, you may be able to restore deleted messages from your most recent backup.
- Use data recovery software – There are free data recovery apps that can scan your iPhone and find deleted texts that haven’t been fully overwritten.
- Recover from iTunes backup – Connect your iPhone to iTunes and restore from a previous backup to access deleted messages.
As long as the messages haven’t been permanently deleted from your iPhone’s storage, there are free DIY ways to get them back. Act quickly though, as the longer you wait the lower the chances of recovery.
Can I Recover Lost iPhone Messages Without Backup?
It is possible in some cases to recover lost iPhone messages without a backup. Here are some potential options:
- Phone data recovery apps – Some free software like iMyFone D-Back and EaseUS MobiSaver can scan your iPhone and recover lost data even without a backup.
- iCloud web interface – If you have iCloud enabled, you may be able to view and recover some recently deleted iMessages through the iCloud website.
- iTunes sync – Connecting your iPhone to iTunes and doing a sync can sometimes recover lost text messages if you haven’t done a backup.
However, having an iCloud or iTunes backup provides the best chance for recovering lost iPhone messages. Without one, your options are more limited.
How to Recover Deleted iPhone Messages from iCloud
If you have iCloud backups enabled, you can recover deleted iPhone messages from your most recent backup. Here are the steps:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups and select your device.
- Tap Restore to Device and confirm. This will erase your iPhone data and restore the iCloud backup.
- Once the restore is complete, your deleted messages should be back on your iPhone.
This process will overwrite any data on your iPhone, so be sure you want to fully restore from the iCloud backup first. But it’s an easy free way to get deleted texts back.
How to Recover Lost iPhone Messages from iTunes
Similarly, you can recover lost iPhone messages by restoring from an iTunes backup:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed.
- In iTunes, select your Device > Summary and click Restore Backup.
- Select the backup you want to restore from. Click Restore to initiate.
- iTunes will restore your data and settings from the backup, including any lost messages.
As with an iCloud restore, this will overwrite your current iPhone data. Make sure you want to erase your device before restoring the iTunes backup.
Can You Recover Deleted Messages on iPhone Without Computer?
In some cases, yes you can recover deleted iPhone messages without a computer. Here are a couple options:
- iCloud web interface – Go to iCloud.com, log in, and see if recently deleted messages are available to recover and restore.
- iPhone data recovery apps – Apps like iMyFone D-Back have iOS versions that can scan your iPhone directly and recover deleted texts.
- Undelete on device – If you quickly realize you deleted a message, you may be able to shake your iPhone undo the deletion on the spot.
However, using a computer with either iTunes or iCloud gives you the most reliable way to recover deleted iPhone messages. But in a pinch, you have some computer-free options.
Can You Recover Permanently Deleted iPhone Messages?
If a message is permanently deleted from your iPhone, unfortunately there is no way to recover it. Here are some cases where iPhone messages are permanently deleted:
- You force delete a conversation thread by swiping left and tapping Delete.
- You erase your entire iPhone back to factory settings.
- You don’t have a backup and the messages are overwritten by new data.
Once iPhone storage is overwritten by new data, those original deleted messages are gone for good. So make sure to recover deleted texts quickly before permanent data erasure.
Top 5 Free iPhone Message Recovery Apps
To give you some options, here are 5 of the best free iOS apps for recovering deleted or lost iPhone messages:
| App | Key Features |
|---|---|
| iMyFone D-Back | Recovers 35+ data types, easy to use, no iTunes backup required for iOS recovery |
| EaseUS MobiSaver | Free version can scan and preview recoverable data, sort messages easily |
| iMazing | Exports images and attachments from iPhone backup, 30-day free trial |
| Dr.Fone | Recovers data directly from iOS devices, free trial version available |
| PhoneRescue | Intuitive interface, suitable for beginners, 24-hour free trial |
These free tools provide a quick and easy way to recover recently deleted iPhone messages. Just install on your computer, connect your device, and scan for any recoverable data.
Can You Recover Deleted Messages on iPhone After Upgrading?
It depends on a few factors, but you may be able to recover deleted messages on your iPhone even after upgrading iOS versions. Here’s what to know:
- Recent upgrade – If you just upgraded iOS and quickly realize messages are missing, they may still be recoverable from a backup or with data recovery software before being permanently overwritten.
- iCloud backup – Upgrading iOS does not affect your iCloud backup, so you can restore deleted texts from your most recent iCloud backup.
- iTunes backup – Similarly, iTunes backups made before upgrading iOS remain accessible for recovering deleted iPhone messages.
However, if you do not have a viable backup, upgrading iOS can make permanent recovery of deleted messages impossible. So backup regularly before upgrading!
Should I Use Paid Software to Recover iPhone Messages?
While free options are available, you may want to use paid software for the best iPhone message recovery results. Here are some potential benefits:
- More data types – Paid recovery apps can restore more than just messages, like contacts, notes, media files, and more.
- Better scan results – Advanced paid tools may be better at finding recoverable data from your iPhone storage.
- Easier to use – Paid software often has more intuitive interfaces, guides, and support resources.
- Direct iOS recovery – Some paid apps can recover iPhone data directly, without needing a backup.
Apps like iMyFone iBypasser, FonePaw iOS Data Recovery, and Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone have enhanced paid versions to restore as much lost iPhone data as possible. The cost may be warranted for valuable or irreplaceable messages.
Can You Recover Deleted Messages on iPhone Using iCloud Web Interface?
Yes, in some cases you can recover recently deleted iPhone messages using the iCloud website:
- Go to www.icloud.com and login to your account.
- Click on the Messages icon.
- Look for a Recently Deleted section – this is where newly deleted texts may appear.
- Select any message threads you want to recover.
- Click Restore to move the threads back to your messages. They will sync back to your iPhone.
However, the iCloud web interface only allows you to restore deleted messages for a limited time. So act fast if you see conversations in Recently Deleted to recover them through iCloud.
What iPhone Data Can Be Recovered for Free?
Here are some of the key types of iPhone data you may be able to recover for free using the right software and techniques:
- Text messages – Deleted SMS/MMS messages can often be recovered, especially with a backup.
- Contacts – Lost contacts can be restored from an iCloud or iTunes backup.
- Call history – Deleted call logs may be retrievable from device data or backups.
- Notes – Accidentally deleted notes can be recovered in some cases.
- Photos – Software can restore camera roll photos unless fully overwritten.
- App data – Some application data and settings can be extracted from device and cloud backups.
So beyond just text messages, you can potentially recover quite a bit of lost or deleted iPhone data for free if you act quickly and use the right recovery methods.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted iPhone messages doesn’t have to be an expensive or frustrating process. As long as your messages have not been permanently overwritten, free DIY methods like iCloud restore, iTunes restore, and iPhone data recovery apps can help get those texts back.
Act fast when you realize messages are missing, don’t overwrite your iPhone storage, and regularly backup your device. With a few simple tools and techniques, you can recover lost and deleted messages 100% free and avoid having to pay for expensive recovery services.
