Tech How to restore deleted text messages on Android Here are multiple methods to restore deleted messages on Android smartphone Published December 30, 2024 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': How to factory reset your Android Tech expert Kurt Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data. We've all been here before. All of us have, at one point or another, accidentally deleted an important text. Gloria, from Chepachet, Rhode Island, reached out to us with this question:"I accidentally deleted a text message; how can I get it back on my Android phone?"Were sorry to hear that youve accidentally deleted a text message. The ability to recover it depends on several factors, including your phone model, whether a backup was made and the specific messaging app youre using. Here are some general methods you can try.(iPhone users, follow these tips.) A man texting on his phone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Check if the message was archived (Google Messages)If you have an Android-based phone or a Google account, you may use Google Messages as your primary platform for text messages. Here's how to check if your message was archived within Google Messages.Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturer.Open theGoogle Messages appTap yourprofile icon beside the search iconSelectArchivedLong press the messages you want to retrieveTap theunarchive button in the upper-right corner Google messages app (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Check the Recycle Bin (Samsung Messages)Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturer.If you are using a Samsung-based smartphone, your text messages can be stored in the Samsung OS'sRecycle Binfor up to 30 days. If you are using a Samsung smartphone, here's how to check the built-in recycling bin app to see if your messages are in there:Open the Messages appTap thethree-dot menu in the upper-right cornerChoose theRecycle binChoose thedeleted text messages you want to retrieveTapRestore to get them back to your messages list Samsung messages app (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Use a third-party recovery appIf you dont have a backup and your messages are permanently deleted, you might still have a chance to recover them using a third-party Android data recovery app.You can find Kurts picks for data recovery software here. Different apps will have different features, so be sure to pay close attention to which third-party recovery solution is the right one for your needs.Restore from a backup Google Drive on Android (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If youve backed up your phone to Google Drive, you may be able to restore your backup to recover the deleted text messages. Please note that restoring a backup might overwrite the existing data on your phone. Here's how to check and see if you have a Google Drive backup for your smartphone:Settings may vary depending on your Android phones manufacturer.OpenGoogle Drive on your smartphone or visit drive.google.com.On Google Drive, select thestorage option from the bottom left corner.Tap onbackups to view any Android backups attached to your Google Drive.Kurt's key takeawaysGloria, hopefully, we were able to help you restore the missing Android message. Regularly backing up your data to prevent future data loss is always a good idea. If you have an Android smartphone, I strongly recommend using Google Drive to back up your phone; that way, you can always access the backup within your Google account. If you can't find your deleted messages in your phone's trash bin or recycling bin, don't panic. You can still most likely get any deleted data back with a third-party program, but check any program's features before paying.Have you ever experienced significant data loss? What lessons did you learn from that experience? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.