How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Android?

In today’s digital world, smartphones have become the hub of communication. We can easily connect to anyone across the world via calls, text messages, or video conferencing using our smartphones. But sometimes instances occur when an important text message gets deleted from your Android device. Such an unexpected loss can put you in trouble, but don’t panic. The good news is that there are several built-in or third-party recovery methods available that you can try to recover deleted text messages on Android phones. 

This guide will walk you through various techniques, ranging from simple to advanced, that you can try to learn how to recover deleted text messages on Android. Keep reading this article to know more!

Common Reasons for Message Deletion on Android

Understanding the exact cause of text message deletion on your Android device helps you identify the exact Android data recovery workaround and avoid future data loss. Below are the most common reasons why text messages get deleted from your Android phone:

Accidental Deletion

It is one of the most common reasons for the deletion of any text or media files from your device. You might have accidentally deleted a message or entire conversation thread while managing the inbox or clearing the device space.

System Updates and Bugs

There may be a risk of data corruption or loss if the software update process is not executed smoothly. Even bugs in your Android OS or the messaging app can result in unexpected message deletions.

Factory Reset

Performing a factory data reset deletes all content from your phone, including SMS. It is important to create a proper backup of your device before proceeding with the reset.

App Malfunction or Crash

Messaging applications can malfunction or crash, especially if they’re outdated or incompatible with your current OS version, causing the deletion of message history.

Precautionary Measures Before You Recover Deleted Text Messages on Android

Now that you are familiar with some common reasons for the deletion of text messages on your Android smartphone, it’s important to immediately act on the recovery solutions. Before that, here are some precautions that you can consider for a smooth and hassle-free recovery:

• Immediately stop using your phone: Continuous usage of the phone may overwrite the deleted messages and can complicate the recovery process.
• Enable Airplane mode: This prevents your phone from syncing or updating, further protecting your deleted data.
• Avoid restarting your phone and even clearing its cache. 

How to Recover Lost Text Messages on Android? [Quick Recovery Solutions]

It’s time to proceed with the quick recovery methods to recover deleted text messages on Android. Let’s begin:

Method 01: Check Google Cloud Backup (If Enabled)

If you have enabled Google Cloud Backup on your Android device, your deleted text messages might be stored there. Even some latest Android phones come with the automatic backup option with Google, which allows you to restore lost or deleted texts and even media files. All you have to do is:

Steps to check Google Backup:

• Launch the Settings application on your phone. 
• Go to Google > Backup. 
• Check if SMS messages were included in the backup.

If there is a backup: 

• Factory reset your phone (For this, go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory data reset).

• While setting up your phone, select the option to restore via Google backup.
• Complete the setup and check if your deleted messages reappear on your device.

Note: When you factory reset your Android device, it erases all existing data, so make sure to back up your current files before resetting.

Method 02: Check Android Messages App (Google Messages)

If you are using Google Messages as your default SMS app, it may sync messages across devices, especially when the Chat feature is enabled on your device. Here’s how to recover lost text messages using this method:

• Launch Google Messages. 
• Now, click on the three-dot menu. Go to Settings > Chat Features.
• If enabled, some messages may be stored in the cloud.
• You can also visit messages.google.com/web to see if messages were synced.

Method 03: Use Third-Party Android Data Recovery Software

Don’t have any backup or still wondering any quick approach to recover lost text messages on Android?  It’s time to use a third-party software for Android data recovery such as Stellar Data Recovery for Android to restore your lost messages. It is a versatile Android data recovery tool which allows you to recover deleted photos, videos, text messages, contacts and WhatsApp chats in a few simple clicks. 

Whether your files are deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, or any other reason, this software is a perfect one-stop solution for all these data losses. It even allows you to recover lost files from an Android device without rooting it. Just download the Stellar Data Recovery for Android software on your Windows PC or laptop from its official website and then follow the steps below to recover your lost files:

Step 1: Connect your Android device to that PC/laptop and then launch the software. Click on Recover Android Data from the left pane of the homepage and then tap the Next button to continue.

Step 2: Launch the Settings app on your Android device and enable USB debugging. Follow the steps in the screenshots below to enable USB debugging.

Step 3: Now, click the Scan button to initiate the scanning process and wait till it completes.

Step 4: After the scan is completed, preview the recoverable files and click the Save button to save the recovered data at the desired location. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I recover deleted text messages on Android without rooting it?

Yes, third-party Android data recovery tools such as Stellar Data Recovery for Android allow you to recover lost files from your phone without rooting it. 

How long does it take to recover deleted text messages on Android?

There’s no fixed time. It depends on several factors, such as whether the deleted messages were overwritten or not, how long ago the texts were deleted, etc. Once the memory is overwritten by new data, recovery becomes quite complex.

Is it safe to recover lost text messages using third-party Android data recovery software?

Yes, some professional tools like Stellar Data Recovery for Android are 100% safe and secure. It is important to carefully go through the features of these tools, as some of them may compromise your privacy or device security.

Conclusion

Accidental deletion of text messages on Android can feel like a nightmare, especially if it holds valuable information. Luckily, there are several backup solutions as well as third-party Android data recovery software tools, such as Stellar Data Recovery for Android, which you can try to restore lost or deleted text messages easily. Moreover, enable automatic backups and stay cautious when managing your data. A few proactive steps today can save you a lot of stress in the future.