Some may think once a message is deleted, it’s gone for good. For some cases, this may be true. If you think that your partner has been deleting messages from you, there’s a way to check and see if they have been and how to retrieve deleted messages.
However, there are still ways on how you can retrieve deleted messages, whether it’s from your end or the person you’re messaging. It may not be 100% foolproof, but it’s still worth a shot.
So whether it’s from a phone, computer, or social media platform, there are some tips and tricks about how to go about getting those deleted messages back. Depending on what device your are planning to use, this guide will be separated into those three sections.
Here are some ways to retrieve deleted messages:
1. Check your Trash/Deleted Items folder
This is the first and most obvious method. If you have accidentally deleted a message or even a whole conversation, it’s likely still in your Trash/Deleted Items folder. This is especially true for email accounts. To check this folder, simply look for it in your list of folders. If you don’t see it, it may be hidden. To unhide it, go to your account settings and look for the option to show all folders.
This method also works for social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. For Facebook, go to your settings and then click on the option for “Download a copy of your Facebook data.” This will give you the option to download all of your information, including messages. For Twitter, there is an archive feature that allows you to download all of your tweets, which will also include any direct messages.
2. Use a recovery program
If you can’t find the message you’re looking for in your Trash/Deleted Items folder, then you may need to use a recovery program. There are many different programs out there, but some of the more popular ones are Recuva and DiskDigger.
These programs work by scanning your device for any deleted files and then trying to recover them. They aren’t always successful, but it’s worth a try if you can’t find the message you’re looking for anywhere else.
3. Look for a backup
If you’ve tried all of the other methods and still can’t find the message you’re looking for, then your last resort is to look for a backup. If you regularly back up your device, then there’s a chance that the message you’re looking for is in one of those backups.
To find a backup, you’ll first need to connect your device to a computer. Once it’s connected, you should be able to access the backups that are stored on the computer. These will typically be in a folder called “iTunes” or “My Documents.”
If you still can’t find the message you’re looking for, then unfortunately it’s probably gone for good. But at least now you know that there are ways to try and retrieve deleted messages. So if you ever accidentally delete something, you’ll know how to get it back.
4. Use a data recovery service
If you’ve tried all of the other methods and still can’t find the message you’re looking for, then your last resort is to use a data recovery service. These services are designed to recover lost or deleted data from your device.
They typically work by connecting your device to a computer and then scanning it for any recoverable files. Once the scan is complete, you’ll be able to see a list of all the files that can be recovered.
These services can be expensive, so it’s only worth using one if you really need to recover a important message. But if you’ve tried everything else and still can’t find it, then a data recovery service may be your best bet.
5. Find a cached copy
If you’ve tried all of the other methods and still can’t find the message you’re looking for, then your last resort is to find a cached copy. When you visit a website, your browser saves a copy of it in a cache. This is so that the next time you visit the site, it will load faster.
You can sometimes find cached copies of websites by doing a Google search. To do this, simply go to Google and search for the site you’re looking for. Then, click on the “cached” link that appears next to the site’s listing.
This method won’t work for all sites, but it’s worth a try if you can’t find the message you’re looking for anywhere else.
6. Connect to an email server
If you’ve tried all of the other methods and still can’t find the message you’re looking for, then your last resort is to connect to an email server. This method only works if you use an email program like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail.
To do this, you’ll need to know the name of your email server. This is typically the same as your email address, but without the “@” symbol. For example, if your email address is “[email protected]”, then your email server would be “gmail.com”.
Once you know the name of your email server, you can try to connect to it by opening your email program and going to the “accounts” or “settings” page. From here, you should be able to add a new account and enter the name of your email server.
If this method doesn’t work, then unfortunately it’s probably not possible to retrieve the message you’re looking for.
Contact us for more information
If you still can’t find the message you’re looking for, hiring a private investigator may help with your case. At Spousebusters, we can help you catch a cheating spouse, track down a long-lost relative, or find out if someone is lying to you. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
