Is it possible to retrieve deleted Facebook messages?

Data Recovery
2

Unfortunately, once you delete Facebook messages, they’re pretty much gone from your end and not easily recoverable. Facebook doesn’t provide a “trash” or “recover deleted messages” feature like some email services do, and according to their Help Center, once you delete a message or conversation, it cannot be retrieved.

However, there are a few steps you can try to cover all your bases:

  1. Check Archived Conversations:
    Sometimes, you might have archived a conversation instead of deleting it. To check your archived messages:

    • Open Facebook Messenger.
    • Click on the gear icon of your Chats section.
    • Select “Archived Threads.”

    If you’re lucky, you might find your important conversation there.

  2. Download Your Facebook Data:
    Try downloading your Facebook data. It’s a long shot, but sometimes messages you thought were deleted might not be permanently gone from Facebook’s servers. Here’s how you do it:

    • Go to Facebook Settings.
    • Click “Your Facebook Information.”
    • Select “Download Your Information.”
    • Request a copy of your data and be sure to include “Messages.”

    This process might take some time, and you’ll receive a notification once your file is ready to be downloaded. Download it and look through the messages section to see if your lost convo is there.

  3. Ask the Other Person:
    If it’s a two-person conversation, the other party will still have the messages. Ask your colleague if they can forward you the important details or take screenshots.

  4. Third-Party Recovery Tools:
    There are data recovery tools like Disk Drill

    that are designed to recover deleted data from your devices. Disk Drill (https://www.disk-drill.com/) can scan your device for deleted data. Though it’s more commonly used for files and not specifically for Facebook messages, you may be able to recover other related data or files accidentally deleted that were sent within messages.

    Download and install Disk Drill, then let it scan your device. While it won’t directly recover Facebook messages, it might help if you had any related files stored that got erased.

  5. Check Backup Services:
    If you had the Facebook Messenger app synchronized with some backup service, like iCloud for iOS or Google Drive for Android, you might find the messages there. Check the backup settings and see when the last backup was done. Restoring an old backup might bring back the deleted conversation.

That’s pretty much it. Always a bummer when tech doesn’t have a simple undo button for critical things like this. Moving forward, considering backing up important conversations by either screenshotting crucial info or regularly downloading your Facebook data. It’s a bit of work, but much better than the helpless feeling of finding out too late.

Best of luck! Hope you find what you need!

56 Likes