How to recover deleted imessages without backup reddit

Thanks for the help everybody! I actually figured it out without needing the backup (which I didn't have anyway lol). If anyone comes across this post in the future and needs this info, here are the steps: download iExplorer (which is free), go to backup, click on backup explorer, go to 'home', if you need messages go to 'SMS' and for contacts 'addressbook', drag the folder to the desktop, open it with textedit (for mac idk for pc), and search for the message or contact. there will be lots of weird symbols and number so search for what you need.

My iMessages are, unfortunately, synced to iCloud.

I have an iPhone 12 running ios 15.5, M1 MacBook Air running Monterey 12.4 and a 4th Gen iPad Air with 15.3.1. Add into the mix that I have Time Capsule running backups regularly on my Air. My iPhone backs up to iCloud.

Meant to delete a different iMessage thread but accidentally deleted the thread with my daughter instead.

Even if I was to restore my Air backup from Time Capsule, would iMessages just sync to iCloud and delete the thread again? Is there a place in Finder that would have my stored iMessages? Even if I could get part of it back from before syncing with iCloud, that would still be better than nothing.

Any way I can get this thread back? So many years of great conversations and memories!

If you had iCloud sync for messages enabled, check iPad/Mac/spare iPhone/iPod (if you have any) Messages app, you may be lucky and it didn't sync after messages were deleted. But turn off internet connection on them first!!!

If you find anything, use iMazing to print them in PDF from a local backup with all additional data (contact details, timestamps, etc.), it should be enough for the court.

level 2

I don’t recall ever making a backup, if the last backup was a while ago, will I lose other stuff?

level 1

Yes or do you have a mac? Maybe you may have them there, if f the iMessage was signed in with the same iCloud like in your iPhone.

level 2

We have a Mac but it’s very slow and old. I have an iPad, will that help?

level 2

Would this actually work?

level 1

Too everyone: I checked settings and iCloud was enabled, but iMessage wasn’t selected for it. Thanks for the help, and taking the time out of your day to comment. It looks like there’s no way to get it back.

level 2

How’d you make out? I just did the same thing.

level 1

You mean even after iOS warns you specifically deleting the conversion is irrevocable?

level 2

No, it just said “delete conversation?” And I said yes because I thought it would delete one text message :/

level 1

Check iTunes > Preferences > Devices tab, do you see any backup of your phone? Also, do you need this conversation on your phone or just a PDF with this thread will be OK?

I have a mac and an iphone 8. Is there anyway that i can restore a set of messages with someone if i deleted them a while ago or is it impossible? I dont think i have a backup and i dont really wanna have to back my phone up to a version from months ago. Thanks

level 1

If you haven’t turned on iCloud syncing for iMessages, deleting a message on one device will not delete it on other devices. So if you deleted a message on your iPhone, it should still be there on your iMac, and vice versa.

level 2

I deleted it on mac as well sorry if i wasnt clear about that

level 1

Only if you have a backup with these messages, doesn't matter Finder or iCloud. Then you can restore it to another device and sync deleted messages through iCloud. If not -- no chance.

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Q&A related to Apple hardware, software, and services. Welcome to r/AppleHelp!

I've been trying to recover some deleted iMessage convos from my iPhone X from about a year ago, but my phone automatically backs up, so the backup containing these messages has long since been overwritten. I've looked at data recovery services like UltData and Fonelab, but I figured out pretty quickly that they're for the most part scams or otherwise untrustworthy. Is there anything else I can try?

Running IOS 15.6 on iPhone X

Can a deleted Imessage be recovered?

How do I recover deleted iMessages without my iPhone backup?

Are deleted iMessages gone forever?