How to Recover Deleted SMS from iPhone

How to retrieve deleted text messages from iPhone 5/4S/4/3GS

I got a message from a random person and I wanted to delete it. So I swiped my finger across the first entry in my Messages folder and hit delete. Then I realized that I deleted the wrong one. I had deleted the entry for one of my friends who I've been texting for years now. I don't know how to get all our messages back. Is there any possible way?

There are lots of people asking for help to recover deleted messages. In fact, there's a way to recover deleted SMS directly from iPhone 5/4S/4/3GS. Also, if you've ever synced your iPhone with iTunes before, there is also another way: to recover from iTunes backup for all iPhones including iPhone 5/4S. You just need the help from an iPhone text message recovery tool.

Recover SMS from iPhone with iPhone SMS recovery software

Get an SMS recovery tool for iPhone first: Wondershare Dr.Fone (Mac), or Wondershare Dr.Fone.

Download the free trial version below to have a try. Choose the right version for your computer.

Next, let's try to recover deleted messages from iPhone with Wondershare Dr.Fone for Windows. If you're a Mac user, please read the guide here: How to recover iPhone SMS on Mac.

Part 1: Directly scan and recover SMS from iPhone

​Part 2: Scan and extract iTunes backup to recover iPhone SMS

Part 1: Directly recover deleted photos from iPhone 5/4S/4/3GS

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to the computer

First of all, connect your iPhone to the computer and run the program after installing it. An interface below will display (iPhone 4 for example). Then move to the next step.

Step 2: Enter your iPhone's system and scan it

Now, you need to get into the system before scanning, according to the steps below:

1. Hold your iPhone and click "Start" button.
2. Pressing "Power" and "Home" buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds.
3. After 10 seconds, release "Power" button, but keep holding "Home" for another 10 seconds.

After that, you'll get a message saying that you've successfully entered the system, and the software begins scanning your iPhone.

Step 3: Preview and recover iPhone messages

When the scan finishes, all found data will be listed in clear, organized categories. Choose "Messages" to preview the detailed content. Mark those you want and click "Recover" to save them on your compute with one click.

Note: Data found here includes deleted data and those still on your iPhone. If you only want back your deleted ones, you can refine the scan result by using the slide button at bottom to only display deleted items.

Note: You also can use this software to recover iPhone contacts, photos, video, notes and more, if you have such a need.

Part 2: Scan and extract iTunes backup to recover iPhone SMS

Step 1: Scan your iTunes backup for iPhone 5/4S/4/3GS

After installing and running the program, move to "Recover from iTunes Backup File" and you'll get the interface as follow. All your iTunes backup files have been found and displayed. Choose the one for your iPhone and click "Start Scan".

Step 2: Preview and recover iPhone SMS

When the scan finishes, all the content contained in the backup file will be extracted and displayed in categories as Photos & Videos, Contacts, Messages, Call History and Notes. You can preview the detailed content of any of them before you perform the SMS recovery for iPhone.

To recover deleted SMS from iPhone, you only need to check the "Messages" option and hit the "Recover" to save all the messages on your computer.

Step 3: Do backup well

To avoid losing your important SMS messages, immediate backup is very important and useful. Do remember to backup them on your computer well.

Video iPhone SMS recovery tutorial

Note: You also can use this software to recover iPhone notes, contacts, photos, video and more, if you have such a need.

If you're a German, you can read this article in German here: iPhone gelöschte bilder wiederherstellen

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