iPhone: recover deleted SMS messages - does it work?
If you need access to accidentally deleted SMS on your iPhone, you can usually restore it easily. There are three different methods for this, which we present here.
1. iPhone: SMS recovery with iTunes
Every time you sync your iPhone with iTunes, the content is backed up. You can take advantage of that.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer you are syncing your iPhone with.
- Open iTunes and click "Restore" in the "iPhone" section.
- Select a restore point before deleting the SMS and confirm the process.
- Your device will restart during the restore. Afterwards all messages should be available again.
2. Restore SMS messages from iCloud backup
If you have activated iCloud on your iPhone, you can also use it to restore the lost data.
- Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone and select the "General" category.
- At the bottom, tap "Reset" and then tap "All Settings".
- The iOS device then restarts. All settings and data are deleted.
- When you set up your iPhone again, you will be suggested to restore the backup.
3. iPhone: SMS recovery with PhoneRescue
- Download and install the PhoneRescue program.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable and start the software.
- Now select one of the methods offered. First, the option "Restore from iOS device" should suffice.
- Deselect all other options so that only the messages are searched.
- With the button "Start search" you will be shown all deleted messages.
- The restoration of the messages is chargeable, you can also read through the messages in the free version. With a price of 50 euros, you should therefore consider carefully whether you want to use the software.
In the next practical tip, we will show you how to back up an iPhone backup externally.