Easily Recover Deleted Texts on Android without an App

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Use built-in methods to restore deleted and archived messages on Android

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: October 9, 2023

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Using a Samsung Galaxy

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Using Messages by Google

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Other Tricks

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Avoid Losing Texts

Did you know that you can restore deleted text messages on some Android phones without using a third-party app? As long as you use Messages by Google or the default Samsung Galaxy Messages app, recovering deleted text messages is easy. This wikiHow article shows you how to get your deleted texts back on any Android and offers tips to avoid losing texts in the future.

Things You Should Know

If you have a Samsung Galaxy and use the default messaging app, you can recover deleted texts easily.
Tap the three-dot menu, tap "Trash," and long-tap your message to recover it.
You can recover archived texts using a similar method for the Messages by Google app.

Section 1 of 4:

Using a Samsung Galaxy

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It's the default messaging app on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
This three-dot menu icon is near the top right corner of your screen and will drop down a menu.

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3
Tap Trash or Recycle Bin. You'll see either wording depending on your region.
- A list of all the text threads you've deleted and individually deleted messages will appear here.
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Long-tap on the message you want to restore. If you tap on it too quickly, you'll see the message in a new window.
- Once you long-tap a message, you'll see it highlighted to indicate that it is selected. You can tap more messages to restore them as well.
It looks like a curved arrow pointing in a counterclockwise motion and is in the lower-left corner of your screen.

Section 2 of 4:

Using Messages by Google

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1
Open Messages. It's the messaging app from Google, so it's usually the default one for many non-Samsung Androids, including the Pixel.
- This method only recovers archived messages. Deleted messages are permanently gone.
Depending on your device, you'll see either the three-dot or three-lined menu icon in the top left corner or top right corner of your screen.
3
Tap Archived. You'll see this near the middle of the menu.
- All your deleted text messages will appear.
The message will open in a new window if you simply tap it. Go back to the list view and long-tap it.
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Tap the Restore icon. It looks like a folder with an upwards-pointing arrow in it.^{[1]
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- The message will again appear in your conversation!

Section 3 of 4:

Other Tricks

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If you signed up through your carrier to have your text messages backed up, you could recover your deleted messages. However, if you don't pay extra for this service or your carrier doesn't offer it, you most likely cannot recover deleted messages.
You can try this if nothing else works. It's not the most ideal plan, but the other person can re-send the text message that you accidentally deleted.

Section 4 of 4:

Avoid Losing Texts

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Lots of services offer these two different features. Archiving will not delete the text, but hide it from your view. Deletion, in this case, is generally a permanent action that you want to avoid.
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Back up with Google Drive. Chances are high that if you have an Android phone, you have a Google account. Set up Google Drive to back up your texts so you'll never lose one again. To do this, open your phone's Settings, go to Google > Backup, and make sure the toggle next to "Backup by Google One" is on.
- Each Google One backup includes compatible apps, photos & videos, SMS messages, call history, device settings, and Google account data.
You also have the option to use 3rd party apps to make sure you never lose deleted texts! Apps like WhatsApp, Pulse, and more offer to back up your texts. You can also sign up for free backup services like SMS Backup & Restore.