How To Recover Deleted Messages on Messenger
[Updated 2025]

Part 1. In What Scenarios May You Want to Recover Your Deleted Messenger Messages?

Recovering deleted Messenger messages becomes a pressing need in various scenarios. It often revolves around personal, professional, or legal requirements. Understanding the contexts in which message recovery is necessary can benefit you. Here are some scenarios where the retrieval of deleted Facebook messenger chats becomes crucial:

1. Accidental Deletion

It's not uncommon for users to unintentionally delete important messages. It can happen while attempting to manage their inbox. This results in the unintended loss of valuable information or sentimental conversations.

2. Legal Proceedings

In legal cases or disputes, preserving digital evidence might be imperative. This also includes Messenger conversations. These can be important for supporting claims or providing essential documentation.

3. Business Communication

In the corporate landscape, retrieving deleted messages can be vital. It is done to maintain a record of critical business transactions and agreements. Moreover, it is needed to ensure a comprehensive and accurate audit trail.

4. Sentimental Value

Users often cherish personal exchanges and memorable moments shared via Messenger. Retrieving deleted messages may hold emotional significance. That allows individuals to revisit cherished memories or reestablish lost connections.

Part 2. 5 Ways to Recover the Deleted or Missing Messenger Messages

When it comes to how to recover permanently deleted messages on Messenger, there are many options. Recovering deleted or missing messages means the use of various techniques and tools. Each one is tailored to different scenarios and user preferences. Here are 5 effective methods for retrieving deleted or missing Messenger messages:

Way 1. Check the Achieved Messages

Accidental archiving of vital messages can often lead to the mistaken belief that they are lost. Frequently, users inadvertently archive conversations, leading to the mistaken assumption of message deletion. You can quickly recover deleted Messenger messages that have been inadvertently archived. This built-in functionality serves as a convenient safeguard against unintended loss. Follow these steps to access archived chats on Facebook Messenger:

• Step 1. Use a web browser to access the Facebook website on your computer and click the Messenger icon. Now tap the “Three Dots” on the top bar to access the “Settings” menu.
• Step 2. Within the “Settings” menu, click "Archived Chats," which will take you to the archived chats. Click the three dots in front of the target chat and choose "Archive Chat".

Way 2. Ask the Sender To Send the Message Again

When it comes to whether you can recover deleted messages on Messenger, there exists a simple solution. One straightforward technique involves requesting the sender of the message to retransmit the lost content. However, it is essential to note that this strategy might not be applicable in every scenario. It can be effective when dealing with personal or professional contacts who still have the original messages.

Way 3. Check the Notification History [Android Users]

For Android users seeking to recover deleted Messenger messages, another handy way exists. They can access the notification history on their device to read the deleted messages. When enabled, Android devices store a comprehensive log of recent notifications. These also include notifications from Messenger. Below are the steps for checking the notification history on your Android device:

• Step 1. On your Android device, access “Settings” and navigate to the “Notifications” tab. Now, press “Notification History” to check all the notifications on your device.

• Step 2. You need to have enabled the "Use Notification History" option beforehand. Only then you will be able to read the old messages in the notification history.

Way 4. Try Recovering From the Cache File [Android Users]

Android users have the option to attempt recovering deleted Messenger messages directly. They can do it from the cache file stored on their devices. The cache file often retains temporary data, including certain Messenger messages. By accessing the cache file, users can potentially retrieve deleted content. Below are the steps to recover deleted Messenger messages from the cache file on your Android device:

• Step 1. Access and open your device's File Manager. Within "Internal Storage", move to the "Android" folder and here access the "Data" folder.

Internal storage/Android/data/com.facebook.katana/cache/fb_temp
Internal storage/Android/data/com.facebook.orca/cache/fb_temp

• Step 2. Inside the "Data" folder, look for "com.facebook.ocra" and access the "Cache" folder there. Now, find and open the "fb_temp" folder, as your messages are stored here.

Way 5. Download the Facebook Data File

Downloading the Facebook data file offers an alternative method. With it, you can recover deleted Messenger messages. Users can opt to download their data from Facebook. This includes messages, photos, and other content that they have shared on the platform.

By obtaining the complete data file, you can potentially recover deleted Messenger messages. The steps needed for how to recover deleted messages from Facebook Messenger are given below:

• Step 1. Select the “Profile” icon located in the upper right corner, then choose "Settings & Privacy" from the drop-down menu. Next, click on "Settings". On the subsequent screen, navigate to the "Your Facebook Information" tab.

• Step 2. Now click "View" in front of "Download Profile Information". On the next screen, tap "Download your information". It will lead to a pop-up window where you need to click "Request a Download".

• Step 3. Afterward, choose your Facebook account and tap "Next". Then, you will be asked to choose "Complete copy" or "Select types of information". After making your choice, on the last screen, select format and quality and submit your request.

• Step 4. Once you download and unzip your data, you'll find your messages in the messages folder. They are usually in HTML or JSON format. Open the message_1.html file in your browser and use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to search for keywords from the conversation you're looking for.

1. Locate and unzip the downloaded archive.
2. Open the messages folder.
3. Double-click message_1.html to view it in your browser.
4. Press Ctrl+F / Cmd+F and enter a keyword or name to jump to the relevant message.

Tip: If you see JSON files instead, you can open them in a code editor (VS Code, Sublime Text) or use an online JSON viewer for a structured view.

Way 6. Use Dr.Fone App for Android to Recover Deleted Messages and More

If free methods fail or you prefer a more reliable, all-in-one solution, try a professional recovery tool. The Dr.Fone App for Android is built to recover deleted or missing content—including Messenger messages, SMS, photos, videos, contacts, audio, and other files—and supports many third-party social apps (WhatsApp, Instagram, LINE, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, etc.). It offers a simple interface, deep scanning, and preview before recovery, and in most cases works without root access.

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How to recover Messenger messages with Dr.Fone App for Android

• Install the app. Download and install the Dr.Fone App for Android from the official site or Google Play Store.
• Open the app and choose the recovery mode. Launch Dr.Fone and select Recover Social Messages (or the relevant recovery module for social apps).
• Scan your device. Allow the app to scan your phone. Dr.Fone will search internal storage, app caches, and other safe locations for recoverable items, including deleted Messenger conversations and third-party app messages.
• Preview results. After scanning, preview the found messages and media to confirm which items you want to restore.
• Recover selected items. Select the messages (or other files) and tap Recover to restore them to your device or export them to your PC.

Prefer a guided recovery? Visit the official help page for step-by-step instructions and downloads: Dr.Fone App for Android – Messenger recovery guide .

Pro Tip. The Most Powerful and AI-Powered Data Recovery Toolkit for Android and iPhone Users

Although there are many free ways to recover deleted Messenger messages, they are often limited. If you need to restore more types of data with higher efficiency, a dedicated messenger recovery tool like Dr.Fone is highly recommended. Here’s a quick comparison:

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Boasting the industry's highest data recovery success rate, it serves as a reliable solution. It can retrieve a wide array of data types, including photos, videos, contacts, SMS, and WhatsApp messages, among others. Moreover, it extends its capabilities to recover data from broken Samsung phones and Google Drive. This ensures a comprehensive approach to data restoration. Its expansive support system can recover data from over 6000 Android devices.

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Conclusion

To conclude, losing vital information or cherished memories can pose significant challenges. There are comprehensive strategies outlined in this guide. They make the process of recovering deleted Messenger messages a breeze. Each method comes with its intricacies and considerations. Yet, they collectively underscore the importance of proactive data management.

The implementation of suitable recovery measures, like using Wondershare Dr.Fone, can help a lot. With its powerful features, users can confidently navigate the realm of Android and iPhone data recovery. It ensures that valuable information remains accessible and safeguarded.

safe & secure