It’s common for our Messages app to be cluttered with conversations, alerts, and spam. Clearing it out is essential, but sometimes we accidentally delete important messages. Fortunately, there are ways to recover deleted text messages on Android phones. In this guide, we’ll show you how to restore those lost messages.

Restoring Deleted Texts in Google Messages

Although Google Messages doesn’t have a built-in recovery feature, you can avoid permanent deletion by archiving messages instead. This method keeps unwanted messages out of sight while allowing for future recovery.

1. To archive, swipe the message left or right, and it will be moved to your Archive.
2. To recover archived messages, select the three horizontal lines in the top-left of Messages, then choose “Archived.”
3. To unarchive a message, open it, tap the three dots in the top-right corner, and select “Unarchive.”
4. To unarchive multiple messages, long-press the first conversation in the Archived screen, select all conversations, and then click the Unarchive icon in the top-right.

Recovering Deleted Texts on Samsung Phones

Samsung’s Messages app has an in-app Recycle Bin for recovering deleted messages.

1. From your Messages app, choose the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select “Recycle bin.”
2. Choose the message you want to restore, then select “Edit” > “Restore all.”
3. To restore multiple messages, choose “Edit,” tick the messages, and then select “Restore all.”

Using Google Drive to Recover Deleted Texts

Google Drive can help recover data, but restoring SMS and MMS messages requires a full factory reset.

1. Google Drive is useful when transferring old data to a new device after losing your phone.
2. To recover texts, you’ll need to factory reset your phone and restore from a backup during the initial setup.

Contacting Your Carrier for Text Recovery

Some carriers offer backup and sync options, like AT&T’s Messages Backup & Sync and Verizon’s Message+. However, deleted messages are usually removed from the cloud once syncing occurs. In dire situations, you can try reaching out to your carrier to see if they can restore a backup of your messages, but this is not guaranteed.

In summary, the best practice is to archive messages rather than delete them. This method allows for easy recovery and ensures important messages are never lost.