How to View Deleted iMessage History on Windows/Mac OS X

How to View Deleted iMessages

In order to see deleted iMessages, you need to recover them first. To do this, you can use Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (iOS) or Dr.Fone (Mac)- Recover. This software tool allows you to recover lost iMessages, including any attachments, by scanning your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Dr.Fone also looks for information which might be extracted from any iTunes backup and iCloud backup that is available.

There are three ways to recover and view deleted iMessages from iPhone.

If you were to try Dr.Fone offers you will soon see that it offers a great deal more than just message recovery.

Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (iOS)

3 ways to recover and veiw deleted iMessages from iPhone

• The world's original, and best, iPhone and iPad data recovery software.
• Recover data lost due to deletion, device loss, jailbreak, iOS 11 upgrade etc.
• Preview, select and recover any data you want.
• Recover iMessages directly from iPhone, iTunes backup and iCloud backup.
• Supports iPhone 8/iPhone 7(Plus), iPhone6s(Plus), iPhone SE and the latest iOS 11 fully!

Available on: Windows Mac

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Solution One – Directly Scan your Device to Read Deleted iMessage History

Step 1. Connect your iDevice and scan it

When you connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, click on the option of “Recover” from Dr.Fone interface, the screen below will appear. You only need to click on the 'Start Scan' button which you can see center of the bottom of the screen. You can save a little time by checking only 'Messages & Attachments' before starting the scan. Dr.Fone will then look for only those items.

You will be recovering the iMessages direct from your phone.

Step 2. View iMessages on Your Device

When the scan is finished, you will see the results clearly presented (as shown in the screenshot below). To view these iMessages, choose 'Messages' by putting a check mark in the box on the left of the message. You can read all the content in detail and see what is available to be rescued.

When you are ready, you can click to either 'Recover to Device' which puts the messages back where they originally came from. Alternatively, you can click 'Recover to Computer' button and save the iMessage history to your computer. When you take the latter choice, the file can be saved as a '*.csv' or '*.html' file. You will be able to view the contents of the file by clicking, and choosing which program you want to use. That might sound a little complicated. However, when you actually do it, we are sure you will find it is easy.

You can see what is available to be recovered.

Above we have described one approach which you can take by using the Dr.Fone tools. Here is another approach below.

Solution Two – Extract iTunes Backup to View Deleted iMessage History

Dr.Fone also allows you to read your iMessage history from iTunes backup. You can do it in just two steps.

Step 1. Extract the iTunes backup

After running the program, switch to the other recovery mode, by choosing from the left hand side 'Recover from iTunes Backup File'. The program will automatically find all the iTunes backup files on your computer. Select the backup which you think has the iMessages that you want to view and click 'Start Scan'.

Choose the right backup.

Step 2. Recover iMessage history in iTunes backup

After the quick scan, you can read the iMessage history by clicking and checking 'Messages' on the left side of the window. Further, to view attachments, you can choose the category of 'Message Attachments'. You can choose to recover the iMessage history to your device or to computer. Select the recovery button of 'Recover to Device' or 'Recover to Computer'. If you recover the file containing the messages to your computer they cannot be read, unless you use Dr.Fone to scan the file.

You can choose whether you want to recover back to your device.

Please note, that Dr.Fone can recover contacts, photographs, notes ... all your data which is included in the backup.

If there is no iTunes backup on your computer, there is even a third route which you might take.

Solution Three – Download iCloud Backup to View iMessage History

Step 1. Sign in iCloud account

After launching 'Dr.Fone – Data Recovery' on your computer you need to select 'Recover from iCloud Backup File'. You may need to enter the username and password for your iCloud account.

It is good to have your username and password available.

Do not worry though, you can always recover it from Apple.

Step 2. Download and extract iMessages from iCloud backup files

Once you are logged in, you will see a list of all your backup files in the iCloud account. The usual thing is to choose the most recent backup. To recover the iMessages, click 'Download' to save the file onto your computer. This may take you some time depending on the size of the file and your internet connection.

Once the download is completed, this is where Dr.Fone becomes really very clever. The backup file is unreadable, it cannot be opened and looked at in any other program. Dr.Fone can solve this for you though. All you need to do is to use Dr.Fone to 'Scan' the download of the iCloud backup which is now on your computer.

Step 3. View iMessages history in your iCloud backup

To view iMessages, choose 'Messages' and 'Message Attachments', you can then read every item and select which ones you want to save to your device.