In order to try and retrieve deleted messages on Facebook Messenger, you can check if you accidentally archived them, ask the other person to send you the message, or download your Facebook information.
Communicating over Facebook Messenger is a popular and easy way to stay in touch with friends, family, classmates, and more. However, accidentally deleting a message is quite easy and something I have done several times.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to try and bring these deleted messages back, and this guide is going to take a closer look at them.
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Key Takeaways
- The first thing to do is check if you archived the messages instead of actually deleting them. If so, it is relatively simple to recover them.
- Another option to get back deleted messages is to simply ask the person you were chatting with if they could send you a copy of the chat or specific message you need.
- Lastly, you can download your Facebook information and see if that is able to recover your messages. Facebook will keep your deleted messages on its servers for a short period before fully removing them.
Solution 1: Check if You Archived Them
Sometimes, instead of actually deleting a conversation or message, you may have accidentally archived it. Messages that are archived are hidden and removed from your inbox, but aren’t actually deleted. Archiving is often used to keep messages private.
It is incredibly common to think a message is fully deleted, only to discover it has only been archived. To check if the message has only been archived, open the Facebook Messenger app on your device and tap the menu icon with three lines at the top left. Next, click or tap Archive.
Here you will see any chat messages you have archived. If you want to bring the messages back into your inbox, simply click/tap and hold the conversation, and then select Unarchive from the dropdown menu of options.
Solution 2: Ask the Other Person to Send it to You
When you delete a message or a conversation, it only deletes it on your end. As a result, the person you were messaging more than likely still has a copy of the message on their device. You can ask them to resend the message they sent or take a screenshot and share it.
This is a very easy option that will often be successful, but if that individual also deleted the message, they won’t be able to help.
Solution 3: Download Your Facebook Information
Finally, you have the option to download your Facebook information, as well. Facebook offers all users the ability to download their data to ensure nothing is lost. To do this, simply go into your Facebook app, and hit the menu button on the bottom right of the screen.
Next, scroll down to the Settings & Privacy section, click it, and press the Settings button from the dropdown menu. In Settings, scroll to the Your Information section, and then click Download your information and follow the instructions to create and complete your download.
In addition to your messages, downloading your Facebook information can also preserve your posts, things you’ve saved, your photos, your groups, and more.
Final Thoughts
Facebook Messenger has long been a popular way for millions of people to communicate with one another. Unfortunately, it is quite easy to accidentally delete a message or conversation. I hope this guide helped you learn a few ways to recover any messages you’ve lost.
Do you often use Facebook Messenger to speak with friends and family? Or do you have another app/platform you prefer? Let me know in a comment.
