How to Access Deleted Text Messages on iPhone (2025 Updated)

Losing important text messages on your iPhone can be incredibly frustrating. Whether it's a critical work conversation, a sentimental message, or something you simply need for your records, it’s natural to want those messages back. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can try to recover deleted text messages on your iPhone.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through some practical methods to recover deleted texts—whether it’s from your own device or from someone else’s phone using a phone monitoring app.

1. Restore from iCloud Backup

If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, there's a good chance you can recover deleted text messages by restoring a previous backup that contains them. iCloud automatically backs up your phone's data—including messages—so if the messages were deleted after the last backup, you can restore them easily.

(alt text: Restore Data from iCloud Backup)

How to restore from iCloud backup:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone and tap on your Apple ID.
2. Tap iCloud and then select iCloud Backup to check the date of your most recent backup.
3. To restore, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
4. During the setup process, choose Restore from iCloud Backup and select the backup that contains the deleted messages.

Note: Restoring from a backup will overwrite your current data, so make sure you back up your current information first if you don't want to lose anything new.

2. Use iTunes or Finder Backup

If you have been backing up your iPhone to iTunes (for older macOS or Windows) or Finder (for macOS Catalina and later), you can use these backups to recover deleted messages. This method works similarly to iCloud backup but offers a more manual approach through your computer.

How to restore from iTunes or Finder:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder if you're using macOS Catalina or later).
2. Select your device and click on Restore Backup.
3. Choose a backup from before the text messages were deleted and click Restore.

Note: Like iCloud, this method will overwrite the current data on your iPhone with the data from the backup, so you may want to back up your current data before proceeding.

3. Use Third-Party Data Recovery Tools

If you don't have a recent backup or your backup doesn’t contain the deleted messages, third-party data recovery tools are another option. These tools are designed to scan your iPhone for remnants of deleted files, including text messages that haven’t been overwritten by new data.

Popular data recovery tools include:

• Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (iOS)
• Tenorshare UltData
• iMobie PhoneRescue

These tools typically allow you to preview and selectively recover deleted messages. They can be downloaded to your computer, and after connecting your iPhone, you can scan for recoverable messages and other lost data.

Note: While these tools are effective, they are often paid and may not always guarantee a full recovery, depending on how much time has passed since the messages were deleted and how much new data has been added to the device.

What If You Want to Read Other People’s Deleted Messages?

If you're looking to access someone else's deleted text messages, whether it's a spouse, child, or employee, the methods we covered above will only work for recovering messages from your own device. But what if you need to monitor someone else’s phone activity—discreetly and ethically?

That’s where SpyX, a powerful phone monitoring app, comes in. Click here to visit the website.

How SpyX Can Help You Read Other People's Deleted Messages on iPhone

While recovering deleted messages from your own iPhone is possible through the methods above, SpyX takes things a step further by allowing you to access another person’s deleted text messages. SpyX is an advanced phone monitoring tool designed to discreetly track someone else’s phone activity, including reading deleted text messages.

Features of SpyX:

• Deleted Message Access: SpyX allows you to view deleted messages from both SMS and popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and more. Even if a message is deleted from the phone, SpyX can often retrieve it from the device’s internal storage.
• Real-Time Monitoring: SpyX gives you access to all incoming and outgoing texts, call logs, social media messages, and even location data. This gives you complete visibility into the phone’s activity.
• Social Media Monitoring: In addition to text messages, SpyX tracks activity on social media apps, providing an even more comprehensive picture of the person’s communication.
• Location Tracking: SpyX provides accurate real-time GPS location tracking, so you can know where the person is at any given moment.
• Keylogger: SpyX also has a keylogger feature, capturing every keystroke typed on the target phone. This helps you see what they’re typing in messages, emails, or any other apps.

SpyX is ideal for parents wanting to ensure their children's safety, employers monitoring company-issued phones, or partners who want to verify the authenticity of communication.

When Should You Use SpyX to Read Text Messages?

Whether you're a parent wanting to keep your kids safe online or a partner looking to track your husband's texts for peace of mind, SpyX offers a discreet solution.

How to Read Deleted Messages on Someone Else's iPhone with SpyX

As one of the most popular and reliable phone monitoring apps, SpyX allows you to access messages that have been deleted from their phone, along with other monitoring features like call logs, location tracking, and social media activity.

Here's how you can use SpyX to monitor deleted messages:

1. Sign Up for SpyX: Start by creating an account on the SpyX website. Use a valid email and choose a secure password. Select a subscription plan that fits your needs.
2. Connect the Target iPhone: For iPhone monitoring, you don't need physical access to the phone. Simply enter the target device's iCloud Apple ID and password into your SpyX account. This will allow SpyX to sync with the iCloud backup and monitor the phone remotely.
3. Start Monitoring: Once connected, SpyX will begin syncing data from the target device. The app works in the background, ensuring your monitoring is discreet. You can track real-time activities, including text messages, calls, and location data.
4. Access Deleted Messages: After syncing, go to the Messages section in your SpyX dashboard. SpyX will display all text messages, including deleted ones, with full details like sender information, message content, and timestamps. Even if the messages have been deleted from the target phone, SpyX retrieves them from the iCloud backup.

With SpyX, you can discreetly read deleted messages without needing physical access, giving you full insight into phone activity.

Final Thoughts:

Recovering deleted text messages on your iPhone is possible through various methods like iCloud backups, iTunes, or third-party recovery tools. However, if you need to access deleted messages on someone else's phone—whether it’s for monitoring a child’s safety, verifying communication in a relationship, or tracking employee activity—SpyX is the ideal tool. It allows you to monitor text messages, calls, social media activity, and more, all remotely, without physical access. SpyX offers a comprehensive and discreet way to monitor phone activity, ensuring full visibility into your target phone’s data.

FAQs

Can I recover deleted text messages from my iPhone without a backup?

Yes, if you don’t have a backup, you can use third-party data recovery tools like Dr.Fone, Tenorshare, or iMobie PhoneRescue. These tools scan your iPhone for deleted data and allow you to recover deleted messages that have not yet been overwritten by new data, even without an iCloud or iTunes backup.

How does SpyX help in reading deleted messages?

SpyX allows you to monitor someone else’s iPhone remotely by syncing with their iCloud account. Even if messages have been deleted from the device, SpyX can retrieve them from the device’s internal storage or iCloud backup. You’ll have full access to both deleted and existing messages, including details like timestamps and sender information.

Do I need physical access to the target iPhone to use SpyX?

No, SpyX eliminates the need for physical access to the target phone. By entering the target iPhone’s iCloud Apple ID and password, you can monitor all phone activities remotely, including deleted messages, call logs, and location data. This makes it a highly discreet tool for iPhone monitoring.

Is SpyX legal to use?

Using SpyX is legal when monitoring your own device, your children, or employees with their consent. If you’re tracking a spouse or partner, it’s essential to get their consent. Be sure to check local laws and regulations regarding phone monitoring, as the legality can vary by region and situation.

What other features does SpyX offer besides reading deleted messages?

Besides accessing deleted text messages, SpyX offers real-time location tracking, call log monitoring, social media activity tracking, and keylogging. You can see what’s being typed in messages or emails, track the phone’s movements, and gain insight into apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram, all in stealth mode.