How to see and recover deleted messages on Instagram
Created on 24 October, 2023 • Social Media • 3 minutes read
Learn how to view and recover deleted Instagram messages with our easy step-by-step guide. Retrieve your lost conversations today!
It's easy to make a hasty decision to delete something on Instagram. But, how to recover deleted messages on Instagram when necessary?
Whether you're someone who presses the delete button without thinking or someone who gives it a lot of thought before doing so, it's possible that you'll regret that decision.
Recovering deleted posts on Instagram is easy thanks to the archive feature, but recovering old chats is another story - the solution is a little more complex. Read on to find out how to view deleted posts on Instagram.
Is it possible to recover deleted messages using Instagram's "Recently Deleted" feature?
Even if you're an avid social media user, you may not have heard of Instagram's "Recently Deleted" feature.
Users can recover their own deleted Instagram stories for up to 24 hours, and profile posts, reels and videos for up to 30 days. Unfortunately, however, the same does not apply to chats or individual messages. To recover deleted messages on Instagram, you'll need to use an Instagram recovery tool or some other alternative method.
How to recover deleted messages on Instagram in 3 ways
Whether you deleted a message by accident or without thinking, you now want to recover it from the void of the internet. It may seem like a lost cause, but there are a few things you can do, depending on the type of mobile phone you have and your willingness to download a third-party app. Here are three methods to try:
1. Recover messages from Instagram Data
Even if your messages are no longer in your direct message box and all hope seems lost, Instagram's servers may still have saved them. To access this data, you can send a download request to Meta. This method should work for both iPhone and Android. Here's how to do it:
- Open the Instagram app
- Visit your profile page and click on the settings menu in the top right-hand corner
- Select "Your activity"
- Scroll to the bottom and click on "Download your information"
- Press "Request a download"
- Meta will then send you an archive of everything you've ever done on Instagram, from posts to messages. When you receive your file, you'll have four days to download it. Although your messages won't go back to the chat box they came from, this is a great way to recover data if you want to reference an old message.
2. Use a third-party application to recover deleted messages
Third-party apps such as U.Fone and FoneLab can recover deleted data by accessing the cache files on your iOS or Android device - the hidden Instagram backup you didn't even know you had.
These apps can recover deleted Instagram messages, as well as files, texts and audios. Both U.Fone and FoneLab have simple user interfaces with easy-to-follow instructions that guide you through recovering the specific data you're looking for.
Although using third-party software is a common way of accessing old data, it's best to do your own research before downloading and using any app. Hackers sometimes create customised applications enticing users to download their software unknowingly, which means they could gain access to your personal data and use it without your knowledge.
Be vigilant and check several sources before downloading any new app on your device (or providing your account information).
3. Try Notification History on Android
Viewing the Notification History may work to recover deleted messages for users running Android 11 and above. If you already had Instagram notifications and Notification History enabled on your device before deleting your messages, you can follow these steps:
- Go to your settings
- Click on "Notifications" and then select "Advanced settings"
- Select "Notification History"
- In Notification History, you can see all the original messages you received from Instagram, even if the sender has since deleted them. Bear in mind that this only works if you had Instagram notifications activated when you received the messages, and that you can only see the ones you received, not the ones you sent.
See also: How to boost a post on Instagram: definitive guide