Recovering deleted messages on Android: 7 proven methods (2026)

Deleting important messages on a smartphone is a situation familiar to many. One careless click, and correspondence with loved ones, work chats or SMS with a confirmation code disappear without a trace. Fortunately, Android provides several ways to get back your lost data, even if you didn't make backups beforehand. The effectiveness of recovery depends on the type of messages (SMS WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), the time they were deleted and the device model.

In this article we will look 7 working methods from standard system functions to professional tools. Important: the sooner you take action after removal, the higher the chances of success. Some methods require root access, others work without them. We will also tell you how to avoid data loss in the future and what hidden settings of Android 14+ allow you to restore messages even after a factory reset.

If you use Google Messages or Samsung Messages, the chances of recovery are higher thanks to the built-in synchronization with the cloud. For messengers like WhatsApp or Signal the algorithm is different - local backups play a key role here. But with Telegram The situation is more complicated: cloud chats are saved, but secret correspondences are deleted forever.

1. Restoring through Google backups

The most reliable way to recover deleted SMS is to use automatic synchronization with Google Drive. This function is available on most devices with Android 6.0+, but it needed to be enabled to delete messages.

To check for backup:

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Make sure the switch Backup to Google Drive is active.
3. Check the date of the last save in the section Application data —there should be a mention there SMS or Messages.

If there is a backup, restore it like this:

1. Reset the phone to factory settings (Settings → System → Reset).
2. When setting up for the first time after resetting, select Restore from backup.
3. Log in to the same account Googlethat was used for backup.
4. Select the most recent copy with the desired date.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting will delete all current data on the phone, including installed applications and files. If important messages were recently deleted, try other methods. to reset.

On devices Samsung (series Galaxy S23/24, A54/55 and newer) there is an additional option - Samsung Cloud. It saves SMS separately from Google Drive. To restore:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and backup → Samsung Cloud.
2. Select Recover data → Messages.
3. Confirm the restoration and wait until the process is completed.

2. Using specialized apps (without root)

If there are no backups, third-party utilities will come to the rescue. They scan the internal memory of the phone for fragments of messages that have not yet been overwritten by new files. The best apps for residual data — fragments of messages that have not yet been overwritten by new files. The best apps for Android 12-15:

• 🔍 DiskDigger - the free version searches for SMS and MMS, the paid version ($14.99) recovers multimedia files from messages.
• 📱 GT Recovery - supports WhatsApp, Viber, LINE standard SMS. Requires shutdown Play Protect to Google Play.
• 💬 SMS Backup & Restore — creates local backups, but can restore data from old copies if they are saved on a memory card.

Instructions for DiskDigger (for example Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+):

1. Download the application from Google Play or from the official website.
2. Launch and select Basic scan (for SMS is enough).
3. Wait for scanning to complete (may take 10-30 minutes).
4. Tick the required messages and click Recover.
5. Save the recovered data in the format .txt or .xml.

⚠️ Attention: Do not install recovery apps on the same memory section where the deleted messages were stored. This reduces the chances of success. Use a memory card or another. phone.

For messengers like WhatsApp or Signal suitable Dr.Fone (from Wondershare). The app works via a PC and restores:

• 💬 Deleted chats and media files.
• 📅 History of calls from instant messengers.
• 📎 Attachments (photos, videos, documents).

License cost - from $39.95, but there is a free trial version with a limit on the number of files recovered.

Disable USB debugging in the developer settings|

Install drivers for your phone model|

Charge the phone at least 50%|

Use original USB cable-->

3. WhatsApp message recovery

WhatsApp automatically creates local backups every day in 3:00 (if the option is enabled). The files are stored in a folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases under the name msgstore.db.crypt14. If you deleted messages but did not reinstall the application, the chances of recovery are high.

To return chats:

1. Delete WhatsApp via Settings → Applications.
2. Reinstall the messenger from Google Play.
3. When you first start, enter the same phone number.
4. When the request to restore appears, click Restore.

If the local backup is damaged or missing, check Google Drive:

1. Open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Make sure the correct account is specified Google.
3. Click Restoreif a fresh copy is available.

For WhatsApp Business the algorithm is similar, but backups are stored in a separate folder: /sdcard/WhatsApp Business/Databases.

⚠️ Attention: If you have changed your phone number or switched to another account Google, recovery from the cloud will not be possible. Local backups are tied to the device and are not synchronized between phones.

What to do if WhatsApp does not see the backup?

If the application does not offer to restore chats, check:

1. Folder Databases for the presence of files msgstore.db.crypt14. If they are not there, the backup is deleted.

2. Free space on the phone - at least 1 GB is needed for recovery.

3. WhatsApp version - sometimes old backups are not compatible with new versions. Try downgrading to an earlier version via an APK file.

4. Manual recovery via ADB (for experienced users)

If standard methods do not work, you can try to extract SMS via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires skills in working with the command line and USB debugging. Suitable for devices with Android 10-15.

Instructions:

1. Enable Developer mode: go to Settings → About phone and click on Build number.
2. Activate USB debugging in Settings → System → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to the PC and install ADB Tools (download from official website).
4. Open command line (Win + R → cmd) and enter:

   adb devices

   Make sure that your device is displayed in the list.

5. Download SMS in format .xml:

   adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db

6. Use the app SQLite Browser to open the file mmssms.db and export messages.

For Samsung the path to the SMS database may be different:

adb pull /data/data/com.samsung.android.messaging/databases

⚠️ Attention: On Android 12+ access to /data/data/ restricted. If the command does not work, you will need root or special utilities like Magisk.

5. Recovery using root access

If your phone has root access (for example, through Magisk or SuperSU), the chances of recovery increase. Root allows you to scan system partitions where standard apps do not have access.

The best utilities for root users:

• 🛠️ Titanium Backup —recovers SMS, application settings and even game data.
• 🔧 Root Explorer —search manually files mmssms.db or telephony.db in /data/data/.
• 📊 Undeleter Recover Files & Data - scans deep layers of memory.

Instructions for Undeleter:

1. Install the application and provide root access.
2. Select Deep scanning (lesson from 30 minutes to 2 hours).
3. After completion, mark Messages (SMS/MMS) in the results.
4. Save the recovered data to .txt or .csv.

On devices with MIUI 14/15 (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra) the path to SMS can be encrypted. In this case, only specialized software like EaseUS MobiSaverthat supports decryption of Xiaomi databases will help..

6. Contacting your telecom operator

In rare cases, you can restore SMS through your mobile operator. This works if the messages were recently deleted (usually before 72 hours), and the operator stores correspondence logs. The service is paid and not available from all providers.

How to request restoration:

1. Call operator support (numbers: MTS — *111#, Beeline — *102#, MegaFon — *105#).
2. Check whether the SMS recovery service is provided. no. Tele2 And Yota There is no such option.
3. If the service is available, provide your passport details and phone number.
4. Pay the commission (from 300 to 1000 rubles depending on the operator).
5. Wait for an SMS or email with an archive of messages (usually in the format .pdf or .xlsx).

Recovery conditions for popular operators (2026):

Operator	Max recovery period	Cost	Issue format
MTS	72 hours	500 rub.	PDF with time stamps
Beeline	48 hours	350 rub.	XLSX (Excel)
MegaFon	24 hours	1000 rub.	TXT + screenshots SberMobile data-i="257">7. Prevention: how to avoid losing messages in the future
SberMobile	No service	—	—

⚠️ Attention: Operators do not restore MMS and messages from instant messengers. They may also refuse if the number has been reissued or blocked.

7. Prevention: How to avoid losing messages in the future

To avoid looking for recovery methods, set up automatic backup. Here are proven methods:

• ☁️ Google Messages: enable synchronization in Settings → Backup and reset → Automatic recovery.
• 📱 Samsung Messages: activate Samsung Cloud in your account settings.
• 💬 WhatsApp: check the frequency backups to Settings → Chat → Backup (optimally - daily).
• 📎 Local copies: use SMS Backup & Restore to save messages to a memory card.

For Android 14+ there is a hidden function - Message Archiving:

1. Open Settings → Google → Services on the device → Archiving messages.
2. Enable the option Save SMS in Google Drive.
3. Set the archiving period (recommended Daily).

If you often clear memory, exclude message folders from optimization:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → [Your messenger] → Memory.
2. Click Clear cachebut do not touch Clear data.
3. Add instant messengers to exceptions. Settings → Battery → Battery optimization add instant messengers to exceptions.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to restore messages after resetting to factory settings?

Yes, but only if synchronization with Google Drive or Samsung Cloudwas enabled before the reset. In this case, select the option Restore from backup.

If there are no backups, the chances are minimal. apps like DiskDigger will not help - resetting completely clears the partition /datawhere SMS are stored.

How to recover deleted messages in Telegram?

In Telegram there are two types of chats:

• Cloud — are saved on servers and restored when you log into your account again.
• Secret — are deleted forever when you clear the history on both devices.

For cloud chats: log out of your account and come back again. Messages will be returned if you or the interlocutor have not deleted them.

Will recovery apps help if more than a month has passed?

The more time has passed, the lower the chances. After a month of active use of the phone 90% of the deleted data is overwritten with new files.

An exception is if you immediately after deletion created a memory image (Nandroid backup) via TWRP or OrangeFox. In this case, recovery is possible even after years.

Is it possible to restore messages on a phone with a damaged screen?

Yes, if the phone turns on and is detected by the PC. Connect the device via USB, use ADB or apps like Dr.Fone to extract data.

If the screen does not respond, but the phone turns on, try connecting the mouse via an OTG cable and controlling it.

As a last resort, contact a service center - technicians can connect to the motherboard and extract the data directly.

Why WhatsApp does not recover messages from Google Drive?

The reasons may be as follows:

• You are logged in from a different phone number.
• Account Google not the one that was used for backup.
• There is not enough space on the phone (you need at least 1.5 GB of free space).
• The WhatsApp version is outdated - update the application.

Try to manually download the backup from Google Drive (folder WhatsApp/Backups) and place it in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases, then reinstall the messenger.