howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-recover-deleted-messages-on-an-iphone/ · Checked October 2026 · iPhone 17e · iOS 27.0.1

In this guide

Tap the filter button
Tap Recently Deleted
Find the conversation
Select it and tap Recover
Tap Recover Messages
Find it back in Messages
If you do not see this option
If this does not work
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

In Messages, tap the filter button at the top right and choose Recently Deleted. Tap the conversation, tap Recover, then Recover Messages. Ours said 30 Days, with a note that deletion may take up to 40 days.

Device: iPhone
Shown on: iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)
App: Messages
Path: Messages › Filter › Recently Deleted › Recover
Real screenshots: 6 of 6 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Tap the filter button
The filter button is at the top right of the Messages list.
Done
Tap Recently Deleted
Recently Deleted is under Messages and Spam, above Manage Filtering.
Done
Find the conversation
Each shows the days left: ours said 30 Days and 2 Messages. The note says deletion may take up to 40 days.
Done
Select it and tap Recover
Tap the conversation so it has a tick, then tap Recover at the bottom left. Recover All does every one.
Done
Tap Recover Messages
Ours said These messages will be recovered, with Recover 2 Messages.
Done
Find it back in Messages
The conversation is back in the main list.
Done

If you do not see this option

Deleted it just now? Ours confirmed: This conversation will be deleted from all your devices, then said deleted messages are moved to Recently Deleted.
Older than 30 days? Apple says you can recover messages for up to 30 days. Source: Recover deleted messages in Messages on iPhone

If this does not work

No Recently Deleted in the menu? Tap the filter button at the top right of the main list, not inside a chat.
Gone from your other devices too? Apple says with Messages in iCloud, recovering on the iPhone recovers it on all your devices. Source: Recover deleted messages in Messages on iPhone

About this guide

Deleted conversations wait in Recently Deleted for about 30 days before they go for good.

The screenshots are from our iPhone 17e with iOS 27.0.1, in Dark mode. We deleted and recovered a test chat sent to our own account; its name is blurred.