Finding deleted messages on your Samsung Galaxy S9 is often possible through several methods, depending on how recently they were deleted and your backup settings. The most common and direct approach involves checking your device's message app trash bin or restoring from a cloud backup.
Recovering Deleted Messages on Samsung Galaxy S9
Here's how you can attempt to find and restore deleted messages on your Samsung Galaxy S9:
1. Check the Samsung Messages Trash Bin
The Samsung Messages app has a built-in trash feature that temporarily stores deleted messages, giving you a window to recover them. This is the first place you should look.
Steps to recover from Samsung Messages Trash:
- Open Samsung Messages: Navigate to and open the Samsung Messages app on your Galaxy S9.
- Access More Options: Tap the More options icon, which typically appears as three vertical dots (⋮) in the top right corner.
- Go to Trash: From the menu that appears, tap on Trash.
- Select Messages to Restore: You will see a list of messages that have been deleted recently.
- To select a single message, touch and hold the message you'd like to recover.
- To select multiple messages, tap each message you wish to restore.
- To select all messages, you can tap All.
- Restore Messages: After selecting the desired messages, tap Restore or Restore all at the bottom of the screen. The messages will then be moved back to your main inbox.
Important Note: Messages typically remain in the Trash for a limited period (e.g., 30 days) before being permanently deleted.
2. Restore from Samsung Cloud Backup
If you have Samsung Cloud backup enabled, your messages might be saved there and can be restored.
Steps to restore from Samsung Cloud:
- Open Settings: Go to your phone's Settings app.
- Access Accounts and Backup: Scroll down and tap on Accounts and backup.
- Select Samsung Cloud: Under the "Samsung Cloud" section, tap on Restore data.
- Choose Backup: Select the desired backup from the list (usually the most recent one created before the messages were deleted).
- Select Messages: Ensure that "Messages" is selected among the data types to restore.
- Restore: Tap Restore at the bottom of the screen. Your phone will then begin restoring the selected data, including your messages.
For more details, visit the official Samsung Support website.
3. Restore from Google Drive Backup (Google Messages/Android Backup)
If you use Google Messages as your primary SMS app or have enabled Android's general backup to Google Drive, your messages might be restorable through this method. This usually happens when you set up a new phone or factory reset your existing one.
Steps to restore from Google Drive:
- Check Backup Status:
- Go to Settings > Google > Backup.
- Ensure that "SMS messages" is included in your last backup.
- Restore During Setup: Google Drive backups are primarily restored during the initial setup of a new device or after a factory reset. If you haven't recently reset your phone, this method won't directly recover deleted messages to your current device without a reset.
- During the setup process, when prompted, choose to restore data from a cloud backup and select your Google account.
- Ensure SMS messages are selected for restoration.
You can find more information on Google Support.
4. Consider Third-Party Data Recovery Software
As a last resort, if the above methods do not yield results, you might consider using third-party data recovery software designed for Android devices.
Things to know about third-party software:
- Effectiveness Varies: Their success rate can vary greatly, and they often work best if the messages were deleted very recently and the phone has not been used much since (to prevent data overwriting).
- Rooting May Be Required: Some tools may require rooting your device, which can void your warranty and carries security risks.
- Cost: Many reputable tools are not free.
- Privacy Concerns: Be cautious when choosing software and ensure it's from a trusted developer to avoid potential data privacy issues.
Examples of such software (research thoroughly before use):
- Dr.Fone - Data Recovery
- FonePaw Android Data Recovery
- Tenorshare UltData for Android
Tips to Prevent Future Message Loss
- Enable Cloud Backups: Regularly back up your data to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive.
- Check Message App Settings: Ensure your Samsung Messages app is configured to retain deleted messages in the Trash for the maximum possible duration.
- Use Reliable Messaging Apps: Stick to official and well-supported messaging applications.
By utilizing these methods, you stand a good chance of recovering your deleted messages on your Samsung Galaxy S9.
