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The world loves to chat and iMessages is probably Apple’s most popular feature as it allows millions of users to exchange text, voice, video messages, and more. iMessages are an immaculate way to stay in touch with friends, family members, colleagues and showcase your humorous side. However, losing an important iMessage conversation due to accidental deletion can be a horrible and distressing situation. That’s where this guide comes to your rescue. We’ll show you how to recover old deleted iMessages on your Mac computer.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Recover Old Deleted iMessages on Mac
iMessage is the go-to tool for Apple product users to keep their conversations going in a seamless manner. It’s particularly useful for business professionals or people with a busy personal life, making them organized and connected at the same time. Unfortunately, a lot of users lose valuable information iMessages owing to accidental deletion, device glitches or technical issues. Fortunately, Apple provides tools to recover deleted iMessages without breaking a sweat.
This article will show you 3 of the best methods to recover old deleted iMessages on your Mac computer, as well as some bonus tips to maximize the recovery rate.
Method 1: Using Time Machine to Recover Old Deleted iMessages
Apart from its backup feature, Time Machine is very useful for recovering lost data. If you’ve been backing up your iMessage data through Time Machine, your deleted messages are probably lurking in Time Machine’s snapshot somewhere.
Here is how you can recover your old deleted iMessages using Time Machine:
1. Make sure your Mac is connected to the external hard drive or backup medium in which you have previously backed up your device.
2. Click on the “Time Machine” icon that’s located on the top-right corner of your screen or search for it using Spotlight search.
3. Select the “Enter Time Machine” option.
4. Scroll through the timeline on the right to find a date prior to losing your iMessages.
5. Locate the iMessage conversation you want to recover, then click on the Restore button to retrieve it.
Pros:
– Time Machine backup is an easy and effective way to restore iMessage conversations
– As long as you’ve been using Time Machine to backup your device, lost data will be in there
– You can fetch older versions of the same file as well
Cons:
– If you’ve not previously backed up your device you won’t be able to recover your lost iMessages
– Requires access to an external hard drive or backup medium with your backups on it
Method 2: Using iCloud to Recover Old Deleted iMessages
One of the easiest ways to restore deleted iMessages is through iCloud backup. As long as your device is set up sync your iMessages with iCloud account, you can seamlessly restore deleted messages from your iCloud backups.
Here is how you can recover your old deleted iMessages using iCloud:
1. Navigate to “System Preferences” on your Mac.
2. Select “iCloud”
3. Sign in to your iCloud account.
4. Go to “Messages” and turn on the “Messages” option.
5. Open your iMessage application and check if the deleted messages are listed.
Pros:
– Quick and easy recovery option
– Recover deleted iMessages in one click
– iCloud backup is automatically made as long as your device is synced to your iCloud account
Cons:
– Requires active iCloud account
– You need to have enabled messages to be synced to iCloud
Method 3: Using Data Recovery Software to Recover Old Deleted iMessages
There are several data recovery software programs that can help you recover iMessages on your Mac computer. These software tools can scan the device for any recoverable data and help you rebuild your lost messages. The software tools come with all the features you need, including a preview function that ensures you’re recovering exactly what you want.
Here is how you can recover your old deleted iMessages using data recovery software:
1. Choose a data recovery software program such as Disk Drill, EaseUS, or Stellar Data Recovery.
2. Install and launch the program on your Mac computer.
3. Select the drive where you previously stored your iMessages and click on “Scan.”
4. Preview the scan results and search for the iMessage conversations you want to recover.
5. Once you locate the lost iMessages, click on the “Restore” button to recover them.
Pros:
– Data recovery software programs can recover lost data beyond iMessages
– Can recover deleted messages accidently located in “trash bins”
– Less time consuming than other options
Cons:
– Not all data recovery software programs are reliable
– Quality software programs can come at a premium
– Not all deleted messages have been recoverable
What to Do If You Can’t Recover Old Deleted iMessages
If you’re unlucky and none of the above methods worked to recover your old deleted iMessages, it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. It’s always worth attempting the following to improve your chances:
1. Ensure that your device has synced with iCloud/Mac
2. Check message archives
3. Check “Deleted Messages” folder
4. Contact Apple Support Center for more assistance
Bonus Tip: Back up Your Device Regularly
Prevention is always better than cure. The easiest and the most effective way to secure your data is to ensure that backups are taken regularly. At least once a week, check that you’ve setup a backup routine on your Mac computer, and ensure that your iMessages are included in the backup. This way if you ever lose or accidentally delete an iMessage again, you know that you can retrieve them effortlessly.
5 FAQs
Q1: How can I check if my iMessages were backed up by Time Machine?
A: Open up “Time Machine” and navigate to the folder where you kept your iMessages. A mini-calendar will emerge on the right side of the screen, displaying the available backups. If your iMessages are in there, you’ll be able to see the files by scrolling through the timeline.
Q2: How much does data recovery software cost?
A: Most decent software suites start at around $40 and can go up to $200 depending on the extra features available. It’s always better to do your research and check product reviews to ensure you’re purchasing a software suite that provides value for your money.
Q3: Can I recover deleted iMessages without any software?
A: Yes, you can recover deleted iMessages without assistance from third-party software. If the iMessages are backed up using Time Machine or iCloud, simply restore the deleted messages from there.
Q4: What should I do if my iMessages aren’t showing in iCloud backup?
A: Firstly, check that you have your texts set to backup to iCloud. Secondly, try logging into your Mac via iCloud.com and see if you could retrieve the conversations from a web browser.
Q5: Can I recover partial iMessage conversations?
A: Unfortunately, no. You can only recover complete iMessage conversations.
Final Thoughts
The thought of losing important data can be scary. Luckily, there are ways to recover deleted iMessages even if you are using a Mac computer. With this guide, you have been equipped with some of the most effective methods for recovering old deleted iMessages on your Mac. If you’ve accidentally deleted an iMessage, don’t panic. Try using one of the three methods provided and don’t forget the bonus tip. Remember to back up your Mac computer regularly to avoid losing your valuable data in the future.