How To Retrieve Deleted Text Messages on ANY Android - Easy Tutorial, by YourSixStudios on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Open your Messages app and tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Look for a Trash or Recycle Bin option, which many Samsung and custom messaging apps keep for about 30 days.
Select the messages you want back and tap Restore. This is the fastest route and needs no backup, computer or account.
If you use Google Messages, tap your profile icon and choose Archived. Long-press any conversation you find there and tap Unarchive to move it back to your main inbox.
Check whether a backup exists before deleting anything else. On most phones go to Settings, then Google or Accounts and backup, and confirm the last SMS backup date.
To restore a Google Drive or Google One backup, first copy off any photos and files you want to keep. Then go to Settings, System, Reset options, Erase all data (factory reset).
During setup, sign in with the same Google account you used for the backup and choose to restore your SMS messages when prompted.
On Samsung phones, open Settings, then Accounts and backup, then Samsung Cloud, and restore messages selectively without wiping the phone.
If the Trash is empty and no backup exists, install a recovery tool such as Dr.Fone, DroidKit or UltData on a computer. Connect the phone by USB, enable USB debugging in Developer options, then scan.
Preview the scan results and restore only the messages you need. Success depends on how long ago you deleted them and whether new data has overwritten that space.
Stop the losses repeating: turn on automatic Google or Samsung backups, or install SMS Backup & Restore to save texts to cloud storage on a schedule.
Tips and common mistakes
Avoid installing apps, taking photos or downloading large files right after deleting texts, as new data can overwrite the recoverable space.
Archiving a conversation hides it without deleting anything, so use archive instead of delete when you just want a clean inbox.
A factory reset wipes everything on the phone, so back up photos, contacts and files first even if you only want the messages back.
Recovery apps that promise deep scans may ask for root access, which voids warranties and can leave the phone unstable.
Questions
How long do deleted texts stay in the Trash folder?
On most Samsung and custom messaging apps, deleted messages sit in Trash or Recycle Bin for around 30 days before they are removed for good. Check there first, since restoring takes seconds.
Can I get deleted texts back without a factory reset?
Yes, if the messages are in the Trash folder, archived, or stored in Samsung Cloud, which allows a selective restore. A full Google backup restore normally requires resetting the phone during setup.
Do recovery apps always work?
No. They can only find messages whose storage space has not been reused, so results drop sharply the longer you wait and the more you use the phone. Try them as soon as you notice the loss.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
