Recovering deleted messages in Messenger can be tricky, but it is possible in some cases. Here are some quick answers to common questions about recovering deleted Messenger messages:
Is it possible to recover deleted Messenger messages?
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted Messenger messages in some cases, but not guaranteed. The ability to recover deleted messages depends on if they were stored in a local backup.
How are deleted Messenger messages stored?
When you delete a Messenger conversation or message, it is not immediately erased from Facebook’s servers. Deleted messages may remain on Facebook’s servers for up to 90 days before being permanently deleted.
When are deleted Messenger messages unrecoverable?
Deleted Messenger messages are unrecoverable if:
- The message was deleted over 90 days ago
- The message was never backed up to your device
- You have cleared your message history in the app
If none of these apply, the message may still be recoverable from a backup.
How can I recover recently deleted Messenger messages?
If you deleted a Messenger message within the last few days, you may be able to recover it from a local backup on your device:
- On Android, messages may be recoverable from a Google Drive backup
- On iPhone, messages may be recoverable by restoring an iCloud backup
- On desktop, messages are stored locally in the app data folder
Check your device backups and restore to a time shortly before the message was deleted to retrieve it.
Can I recover deleted Messenger messages without a backup?
Without a backup, recovering deleted Messenger messages is very difficult. Some third-party tools claim to be able to recover messages without backups, but it is unlikely they can recover anything deleted more than a few days ago.
What’s the best way to recover deleted Facebook messages?
The best way to recover deleted Facebook messages is to:
- Stop using Messenger immediately after deletion
- Restore your device to the most recent automatic backup
- Use a file recovery tool to scan for and restore messenger data files
This gives you the best chance of finding deleted message data that has not been overwritten.
Can Facebook recover deleted messages for me?
No, Facebook does not provide a way to recover deleted Messenger messages for users. The ability to restore deleted messages relies entirely on backups stored on your own devices.
How can I prevent Messenger message loss in the future?
To avoid losing Messenger messages permanently:
- Ensure messages are frequently backed up to your device storage and cloud
- Avoid clearing message history or logging out of Messenger
- Use a third party backup tool to export your Messenger conversations
Regular backups let you restore deleted and lost messages from multiple points in time.
Conclusion
While recovering deleted Facebook Messenger messages is not always possible, you can improve your chances by regularly backing up your device and avoiding actions that clear message history. Backups provide the only reliable way to restore messages that have been deleted from both your device and Facebook’s servers. Taking prompt action as soon as you notice a deletion also raises your odds of message recovery success.
More Information
Can You Recover Deleted Facebook Messages on Android?
Yes, it’s possible to recover deleted Facebook messages on Android by restoring a backup:
- Google Drive – Android backups may include Messenger data
- Local phone backup – Use recovery software to extract messages from a phone backup
- SD card backup – Messenger files may be restored from an SD card backup
Without an existing backup, Android message recovery is very difficult.
How to Recover Deleted Facebook Messages on iPhone
For iPhones, the best way to recover deleted Facebook messages is:
- Backup your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes
- Delete the Messenger app and reinstall it to clear cache
- Restore your phone backup from before the message was deleted
This should restore the deleted messages as long as they were backed up.
Can You Recover Deleted Facebook Messages on Computer?
On Windows and Mac computers, deleted Facebook messages may be recoverable from:
- Cached copies stored locally in the Messenger data folder
- Your computer backup – like Time Machine on Mac
- Using data recovery software to find residual files
But success depends on the messages still existing unsaved locally or in a backup.
How to Back Up Messenger Messages
To prevent permanent data loss, regularly back up Messenger conversations:
- Enable phone backups to iCloud or Google Drive
- Use apps like iMazing to export chat history
- Back up computer message files or use Messenger online
- Print or screenshot important message threads
Multiple backups give you redundancy to restore from if messages are deleted.
Summary
While possible in some cases, recovering deleted Facebook Messenger messages is challenging and inconsistent. Preventing permanent data loss requires regularly backing up your messages both locally and to the cloud. With backups in place, you can roll back to a time before critical messages were deleted. But without backups, retrieving deleted Messenger conversations is extremely difficult if not impossible in most cases.