User level: Level 1 (4 points)When I retrieved 5 of 7 pinned messages that seem to have been deleted I was only able to retrieve messages going back one month. My settings are to save all messages forever. I have iOS 27.01 on an SE. Can I retrieve the messages going back before mid Sept.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Retrieve complete lost message.
Posted on Oct 20, 2026 6:35 PM
User level: Level 1 (38 points)Oct 20, 2026 7:42 PM in response to fedupw-A
My Top 3:
1)Check "Recently Deleted" Folder: Open the Messages app, tap Edit or Filters in the top-left corner, select Show Recently Deleted, and check if the messages from before mid-September are still available for recovery within the 30-day deletion window.
2)Review iCloud Backup Status: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Messages in iCloud to verify if syncing is enabled, or check the date of the last successful iCloud backup to see if an older backup predates the message loss.
3)Only if comfortable performing:
Perform a Full Device Restoration: If an older iCloud or local computer backup exists from prior to mid-September, resetting and restoring the iPhone SE from that specific backup can retrieve the lost message history.
GOOD LUCK 🍀
User level: Level 10 (233,174 points)Oct 20, 2026 7:58 PM in response to fedupw-A
If the messages were deleted, perhaps by accident, they went to your recently deleted folder, where they remained for 30 days, but once the 30 days were up, they were permanently deleted and there is no place to get them back from.
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256379946