Recover Deleted Messages on Facebook Messenger–for iOS and Android

facebook messenger app

It is not uncommon for Facebook users to delete their messages by mistake. If you happen to delete your important messages on Facebook, Instagram, Kik, Snapchat or other social media apps, you will want to know how to recover deleted Facebook messages. In this article, we will be showing you how to find deleted messages on Facebook. If you do use Facebook Messenger on your iPhone or Android device, read on to learn how to recover deleted messages on Facebook Messenger.

Can We Recover Deleted Messages from Facebook Messenger?

After you delete your Facebook messages on Messenger, you won’t have the ability to see them. This can make you doubt whether it is actually possible to recover the deleted messages. The good news, however, is that the answer to the question “can you recover deleted Facebook messages?” is a yes.

There are various solutions you can use after losing your Facebook messages by mistake. We will be outlining these solutions in the next section. By the time you reach the end of this article, you should know how to recover deleted messages on Facebook Messenger.

How to Recover Facebook Messages from iPhone?

1.    How to Find Deleted Messages on Facebook by Finding the Archived Messages

If you have archived some messages on your iPhone Facebook Messenger and you would like to view these messages again, you can access the messages very easily. All you will need to do is follow the steps we have outlined below:

Step 1: Launch Messenger on your iPhone.

Step 2: At the top of the screen, locate the search bar and tap on it. Enter the name of the person whose archived messages you would like to view.

Step 3: From the search results, locate the name of the person whose archived messages you intend to view and tap on his or her icon. This will give you access to the archived Facebook messages.

Note: The steps outlined above can help you view archived messages on an Android device. All you will need to do is launch the Facebook Messenger application on your Android smartphone.

2.    How to Recover Deleted Messages on Messenger Via Facebook Messenger Contacts

If you recently deleted a couple of messages by mistake on your Facebook Messenger, you can always get these messages back by contacting the people who had sent them. All you will have to do is message the Facebook contacts and ask them to resend the deleted messages. To send your Facebook Messenger contacts a message, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open Facebook Messenger on your iPhone.

Step 2: If you are not already logged in, use your credentials to log in.

Step 3: Tap the New Message icon on the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 4: Select the name of the friend to whom you intend to send a message.

Step 5: Type your message and then tap the send button.

Note: There is no guarantee that your friend will resend the message. This method can also work on an Android device.

How to Recover Deleted Messenger Messages from Android Phones?

Apart from the methods we have already explained above and mentioned that they have the ability to work on Android phones, you can try using the following method to recover your deleted Facebook Messages on your Android Phone:

Using File Explorer

It is possible to use a file explorer to find the cache of deleted Facebook messages. This method has already proven to be useful for a large number of Android device users. To learn how to recover deleted Facebook messages using a file explorer, follow the steps we have outlined below:

Step 1: Launch Google Play Store on your Android device. Search “ES File Explorer”. Install the tool on your device.

Step 2: After installing ES File Explorer, launch it.

Step 3: Navigate to your SD card or main storage. Locate Android > Data.

Step 4: Open the Data folder. You should find a folder named “com.facebook.orca”. Any information related to Facebook and the Messenger is stored in this folder.

Step 5: Select “Cache”. You should see a file named “file_temp”. This is where Facebook backups live. You should have the ability to recover your deleted messages from this folder.

How to Recover Deleted Facebook Messages on Your Computer?

If you are asking yourself the question, “can you recover deleted Facebook messages via a computer?”, you will be happy to know that this is doable. In fact, there are some message recovery actions you can perform using a computer which you cannot perform using your smartphone. Below, we will show you how to find deleted messages on Facebook via your computer web browser.

1.    How to Unarchive Archived Messages

If at some point you have archived some of your Facebook messages, either on your smartphone or on your computer web browser via Facebook.com, you may need the messages in the future. Unarchiving messages on Facebook via a computer is extremely easy. All you will need to do is follow the steps we have outlined below:

Step 1: Visit Facebook.com on your computer web browser. Use your credentials to log in.

Step 2: On the menu bar, tap the Messenger icon and then select More. Next, click the Archived button.

Step 3: Look for the conversation you would like to recover.

Step 4: After locating and selecting the conversation you would like to recover, tap Action close to the screen top and then select Unarchive. Your conversation will be restored immediately. You can check your inbox to verify that the conversation has been restored.

2.    How to Recover Deleted Messages by Downloading a Copy of Your Facebook Data

An easier way that can let you access your messages is downloading all the Facebook data you have generated on your Facebook account. To learn how to find deleted messages on Facebook by downloading all your Facebook data, follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Visit facebook.com on a computer web browser. Enter your Email ID or phone number and then click Log In.

Step 2: Go to the Settings and then select General Account Settings.

Step 3: Locate the “Download a copy of your Facebook data” link and tap on it.

Step 4: After tapping the link, you will be redirected to a page that has a “Start My Archive” button. Click this button.

Step 5: Follow the onscreen instructions. Enter your password if prompted by Facebook. A download link should be sent to the email address you used while creating your Facebook account.

Step 6: Open your email account and then click the Facebook data download link. Download your Facebook data. The data will be downloaded in the form of a Zip file.

Step 7: Unzip the Zip file and then open the “index” file. This file should open in the web browser. Tap on Messages. All your messages should be loaded, including the messages you had deleted in the past.

3.    Use a Third-Party Facebook Message Recovery Tool

There are some applications available online which claim that they have the ability to recover Facebook messages. One search tool is known as Facebook Messages Recovery Tool 1.5. The free tool claims that it can make Facebook message recovery extremely easy. After downloading and installing the tool on your computer, you will need to follow the steps outlined below to recover your Facebook messages:

Step 1: Double click on the tool’s icon to launch it.

Step 2: Using your credentials, log into your Facebook account.

Step 3: Select the timeframe when you deleted your messages and then tap Generate. The tool will begin recovering your lost messages. The recovered messages will be stored on your computer.

Note: There is no guarantee that the tool described above will be able to recover your lost Facebook messages. It is worth noting that some tools which claim to have the ability to recover deleted data may be developed by people who have different motives. The tool owners could be looking for an easy way to access your private data. Hence, it is essential that you be careful when using third-party tools.

4.    Retrieve Deleted Facebook Messages by Writing Code

Some people claim that it is possible to recover deleted Facebook messages using some sort of code. However, unless you are an experienced coder with access to access to Facebook’s front-end programming system, you won’t have the ability to insert your code into the Facebook system. This means that, unless you work for Facebook, inserting code into the Facebook system is next to impossible.

Summary

If you have lost your important Facebook messages, you will probably want an answer to the question, “can you recover deleted Facebook messages?”. As explained earlier on, the answer to this question is yes. In this article, we have shown you how to recover deleted Facebook messages. If you try the solutions outlined above, you should find one that works for you. If none of the solutions work for you, you can always try to reach out to Facebook to see if they can help you get your lost messages back.

Author: Raymond Lei

A tech editor for Starzsoft.com offering professional how-to articles for Windows, Android and Apple users.