Table of Contents
Losing important data can be a nightmare for anyone. When it comes to text messages, losing them can be devastating as they might contain important information about work, family, or personal matters. However, accidents happen, and sometimes we accidentally delete our text messages on our Android phones. The good news is that you can recover your deleted text messages without spending a dime. In this blog post, we will cover the methods that you can use to recover your deleted text messages on your Android phone.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenges of Recovering Deleted Text Messages on an Android Phone
Recovering deleted text messages on an Android phone can be a bit tricky. The main reason is that when you delete text messages, they are not completely erased from your phone’s memory. Instead, they are marked as “deleted” and become invisible to the user. The memory space they occupy is then marked as “free” and can be overwritten when new data is added to the phone. This is why it is important to act quickly and follow one of the following methods as soon as possible to increase your chances of recovering your deleted text messages.
Method 1: Using Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage service provided by Google that can be used to store and manage files. It is also a great tool that you can use to recover your deleted text messages. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to Google Drive on your Android phone.
- Click on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner of the screen and select "Backups".
- Select the backup file that contains your deleted text messages.
- Click on “Restore” and confirm to restore the selected backup file.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- It is free to use.
- It can be used to recover other types of files apart from text messages.
Cons:
- Your phone must have a Google account linked to it.
- It might not have backed up your most recent text messages.
- It might not work if automatic backups are turned off.
Method 2: Using a Third-party Text Message Recovery App
There are several third-party apps available online that you can use to recover your deleted text messages. Some popular apps include FonePaw, EaseUS, and Disk Drill. Here is how to use Fonepaw app to recover deleted texts on android phone;
- Download and install FonePaw on your computer.
- Connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to enable USB debugging on your Android phone.
- Select “Messages” as the data type to scan and click on “Next”.
- Select “Scan deleted files” and click on “Start” to begin the scanning process.
- Select the deleted text messages you want to recover and click on “Recover”.
Pros:
- Can be used on almost all Android devices.
- Easy to use.
- It can recover other types of files apart from text messages.
Cons:
- Some apps might not be free to use.
- Some apps might not recover all deleted text messages.
- Some apps might contain malware that can harm your phone.
Method 3: Using Command Prompt
You can also use Command Prompt to recover deleted text messages on your Android phone. Here is how to do it:
- Connect your Android phone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Open the Command Prompt or Terminal app on your computer.
- Type “adb shell” and press enter.
- Type “su” and press enter to get superuser access.
- Type “cd /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/” and press enter.
- Type “ls -a” and press enter to list all files in the directory.
- Type “sqlite3 mmssms.db” and press enter to open the database.
- Type “.header on” and press enter to turn on the header.
- Type “.mode column” and press enter to change the output mode.
- Type “.width 30 30 30” and press enter to set the width of the columns.
- Type “SELECT * FROM sms WHERE [_id]=
” and replace with the ID number of the deleted text messages. - Press enter to retrieve the deleted text messages.
Pros:
- It is a free method.
- You can recover deleted text messages that are several months old.
- It can be used to recover other types of files apart from text messages.
Cons:
- The process is a bit technical and requires basic knowledge of programming.
- It is not a guaranteed method, and it might not recover all deleted text messages.
- If not done correctly, you might damage your device or delete more files in the process.
Method 4: Contacting Your Service Provider
In some cases, you might not be able to recover your deleted text messages using the above methods. When this happens, you can contact your service provider for help in recovering your text messages. Most service providers keep records of text messages for up to two weeks. Here is how to contact your service provider:
- Call your service provider using their customer care number.
- Explain your issue to the customer care representative and request for your text messages record.
- Provide the necessary identification information requested by the representative.
- Wait for your text messages record to be sent to your email or phone number.
Pros:
- You can recover all your deleted text messages.
- It is free to use.
- It is a guaranteed method.
Cons:
- Not all service providers keep text messages records.
- The process might take several days to complete.
- Your service provider might charge you for the service.
Why Can’t I Recover All My Deleted Text Messages?
1. The deleted text messages have been overwritten by new data on your Android phone.
2. Your phone had automatic backups turned off, making it impossible to recover your deleted text messages.
3. You did not act quickly enough, and too much time has passed since the text messages were deleted.
Additional Suggestions
To avoid losing your important text messages, it is always advisable to back them up regularly. You can use cloud services like Google Drive or third-party apps to automate the process. You can also enable automatic backups on your Android phone. This can be done by going to your phone’s settings, selecting “backup & restore”, and turning on “back up my data”.
FAQs
Q: Can I recover my text messages if my phone is not rooted?
A: Yes, you can recover your deleted text messages even if your phone is not rooted. All you need to do is use one of the third-party apps that provide the service.
Q: Can I recover my text messages if my phone has been factory reset?
A: Unfortunately, you cannot recover your deleted text messages if your phone has been factory reset. This is because the process erases all data from the phone, including deleted text messages.
Q: Can I recover text messages from a broken Android phone?
A: Yes, you can recover text messages from a broken Android phone. You will need to use a third-party software like EaseUS or Disk Drill to retrieve the text messages. However, you might need to fix your phone’s screen or internal components to enable USB debugging and make the phone accessible to the software.
Q: Is it possible to recover text messages from an Android phone that has been infected with malware?
A: Yes, it is possible to recover text messages from an Android phone that has been infected with malware. However, you will need to remove the malware first before attempting to recover the text messages. You can use an antivirus app like Avast or Norton Mobile Security to remove the malware.
Q: Is it possible to recover text messages that have been deleted years ago?
A: Yes, it is possible to recover text messages that have been deleted years ago. However, this depends on whether the text messages have been overwritten by new data on the phone or not. As mentioned earlier, it is important to act quickly and follow one of the methods as soon as possible to increase your chances of recovering your deleted text messages.
Conclusion
Losing important text messages can be devastating, but the good news is that they can be recovered. We have covered four methods that you can use to recover your deleted text messages on your Android phone. It is important to note that not all methods might work for everyone, and the success rate depends on various factors. To increase your chances of recovering your deleted text messages, it is advisable to act quickly, use a method that works for you, and avoid overwriting data on your phone.