Wondering if it’s possible to recover deleted messages from Messenger? Check what methods are available to restore lost conversations.
Deleting an important conversation from Messenger is a problem that many users have certainly encountered. Sometimes we accidentally delete messages that could have been important. Faced with such a situation, one question arises – is it possible to recover deleted messages from Messenger?
The short answer is – it depends on the circumstances. There are several options that can help you restore lost conversations, but this is not always possible. In this article, we will take a closer look at the available message recovery methods and explain what limitations may accompany these processes.
Is deleting messages from Messenger permanent?
First of all, it’s worth understanding how exactly the process of deleting messages on the Messenger platform works. The application allows you to delete messages in two different modes:
Local deletion – applies to situations when a user deletes a message or an entire conversation from their own application. In this case, the message only disappears from the given device, but is still stored on Facebook servers.
Global deletion – when a user uses the “delete for all” function, the message is permanently deleted from the conversation and is no longer available to both the sender and the recipient.
If a message is deleted locally, it is possible to restore the message, but if the message is deleted globally, it may not be possible to recover it.
Methods to recover messages from Messenger
One of the easiest ways to restore a conversation that we don’t see in Messenger is to check whether it was accidentally archived rather than deleted. Archiving is a function that allows you to hide conversations without having to permanently delete them.
How to check the archive on Messenger?
- Open the Messenger app.
- Enter the name of the person you were chatting with in the search bar.
- If the conversation has been archived, it will appear in the search results.
The archive is often the first place to look for missing messages. Many people accidentally archive conversations without realizing it.
Desktop version of Messenger and email notifications
Another method is to check if the message is still not available through other devices. If you only deleted the message on one device, it’s worth logging into Messenger from your computer or other phone to see if the conversation is still available there.
If you have activated email notifications for Messenger, some messages may have been automatically sent to your email address. This may be a way to recover conversation fragments that appeared in notifications.
Recovery using third-party software
There are also third-party programs that promise to recover deleted Messenger messages. However, it is worth being careful when using this type of solutions, because they often require access to the device’s memory, which may involve the risk of violating privacy.
Popular data recovery programs include:
- Dr.Fone,
- Tenorshare UltData,
- iMobie PhoneRescue.
This type of software can be effective if the messages have been deleted locally, but the chances of data recovery depend on whether the new files have overwritten the deleted data in the phone’s memory.
Contact Facebook support
If other methods fail, you can try contacting Facebook support, especially if the messages were critical and had legal significance. Facebook stores data on its servers, so in exceptional situations it can help you recover messages. However, this is not guaranteed and Facebook does not offer an official procedure for recovering deleted messages for private users.
Are there ways to protect messages from accidental deletion?
Regular archiving of conversations – archiving is a simple solution that allows you to hide conversations without deleting them.
Creating screenshots – if you have conversations of special importance, take screenshots that will be saved in your phone’s gallery.
Use of email notifications – turning on email notifications in Messenger can help you store some messages in your email inbox.
Recovering deleted Messenger messages isn’t always possible, but there are a few methods that may prove effective. Checking the archive, restoring a backup, using third-party software or contacting technical support are some of the options. However, it is worth remembering that the best way to avoid the problem is to properly secure conversations before they are accidentally deleted.
