If you’ve ever cleaned up your inbox or got frustrated with someone, chances are you’ve deleted a Facebook message before. But what if you need that info back? This article shows you how to recover deleted Facebook messages using different methods.
If you’re looking for a whole missing chat, and not just one message missing within the conversation, your first place to go is the archived messages.
Start by going to Facebook and clicking on the Messenger icon. From there, select “See all in Messenger”. Next, click the three-dot icon beside Chats and choose “Archived chats” from the dropdown menu. Scroll through the list to find the message you’re looking for. If you locate it, click the three-dot icon again and select “Unarchive” to move it back to your inbox. If you’ve mistaken an archived message for a deleted one, don’t worry—Facebook automatically archives group chats when you leave them.
To find archived messages in the Messenger app, you can try two methods. First, search for the names of people in the chat by following these steps:
Open the Messenger app.
Type the name of a person in the search bar.
Even if you archived it, the chat will appear below. Tap to open.
Alternatively, you can directly access archived chats by:
Opening the Messenger app.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Selecting Archive. If you want to bring back a chat to your inbox, long tap on it and choose Unarchive.
If you still can’t find the messages you’re looking for, they may have been deleted. But don’t worry, there are other things you can try.
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How to Recover Deleted Facebook Messages in Messenger on Android
If you’ve used Messenger on your Android phone, chances are you can still find the deleted chats. Android devices save cache data from almost every app you use. Here’s how to do it:
If you don’t have a file manager, download one from the Google Play Store.
Open your file manager and go to Internal Storage or SD card > Android > data > com.facebook.orca > cache > fb_temp.
In that folder, you might find chats from your recent history, including the deleted message you’re looking for.
However, if you’re using an iPhone, it’s more challenging to access Messenger backups. You might need to try a third-party iPhone data recovery tool.
How to Recover Deleted Facebook Messages from Your Backup
Facebook doesn’t keep your deleted messages. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. But if you made a backup before deleting what you need, it’s still there.
Here’s where to find your backup files. Open Facebook on your computer or phone—the steps are the same. Click your profile picture at the top right of the page. Choose Settings & privacy from the menu, then Settings.
In the Settings & privacy menu, scroll down to Download your information. Click it, and you’ll see a message to Download profile information in the Accounts Centre. Tap the Continue button.
On the Accounts Center page, you’ll find your recent backups, which might have your deleted messages. Click Download to save and view the info on your computer. The process is the same on Android and iOS.
Remember, Facebook only keeps these files for a few days after your request. If your backup is over a week old, you can’t download it.
If it’s been a while and you can’t find the backup file in your Downloads, search your computer. The file is usually named facebook-[your username in one word].zip.
How to Get Back Deleted Facebook Messages From the Other Person
This also applies to individual messages. If you chose “Remove for You” instead of “Unsend,” the other person still has a copy. The simplest way is to ask them for a screenshot or to resend it by copying and pasting.
For official reasons, like proving you were chatting with someone at a certain time, they can download their Facebook data on mobile or PC.
They can select what to download and send you only what you need.
Prevent Losing Your Facebook Messages in the Future
To avoid losing messages again, make a backup every few months. Then, you’ll always have a file to refer to. It might seem boring, but it’s a simple way to get back deleted messages in Messenger.
Follow the previous steps to reach the Download your information screen and tap Download or transfer information. Here’s how to do it on mobile:
Choose the profiles you want to back up, including Instagram messages. Tap Specific types of information, mark Messages, and tap Next.
Next, pick Download to device or Transfer to a destination like Google Drive or Dropbox. Let’s say you go with the first option and tap Next.
In the final step, set the Date Range for the information, choose an email to notify when the files are ready, select file format and quality, then tap Create files.
It might take a few minutes or days, depending on how much data you have. After the backup finishes, you’ll get an email, and you can download the file from there. If your information is important, make a habit of backing up your devices and following other data security practices.
Wondering how to get back deleted messages in Messenger? Is it doable? Sometimes, yes. But if you prefer everything to be neat and easy to find, consider this: you don’t have to delete old messages. This applies to any messaging app, not just Facebook Messenger.
Many apps have an archive feature. It keeps your main inbox tidy while still letting you find old messages later if you want. Consider using this to make sure your messages are always there when you need them.
