How to Search and Restore Text Messages/iMessages on iPhone

"I want to find a phone number for the text messages, I only remember part of the text message, is there any way to find this contact? And I am not sure whether the text message has been deleted. "

Some people may encounter the same problem, but we still have a way to search and restore these existing and deleted text messages. When we use a iPhone for a period of time, the iPhone will store a lot of text messages/iMessages, including chat records with friends, family, and strangers. Sometimes we need to find a specific piece of information, it is not easy to search them, especially some important text messages have been deleted and we may suddenly need to use them. At this time, it will be particularly difficult to find them. This is a big challenge.

Now we will introduce some methods for you to search old text messages/iMessages from your iPhone, for deleted messages, you also can restore them, now we start to find those messages in some simply ways.

Part 1. How to Find Out Old iPhone Text Messages/iMessages

First way, we can use search box to search those text messages/iMessages, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Go to "Messages" application on your iPhone home screen.

Step 2. After enter the app, hold the screen with your finger and swipe down, you can see a search box.

Step 3. Enter some keyword/phone number in the search box, the relevant text messages/iMessages will be listed on the screen automatically. You can tap the one you need to view it in detail.

Another method, you can use Spotlight to search old text messages/iMessages, follow the steps.

Step 1. Put your finger on the home screen and swipe to the right, you can see the Spotlight Search box.

Step 2. Input some string(texts, phone number, email, etc ) on search bar.

Step 3. All the results that can be found will be listed on the screen, swipe your finger down to find the messages you want.

Part 2. How to Search and Restore Deleted Messages on iPhone

When you can't find the messages you want using the above methods, it means that the text messages/iMessages may have been deleted. At this time, we need to use professional data recovery software, it can help me search for these deleted text messages/iMessages.

We need to know that the deleted text messages/iMessages will not be removed directly from iPhone after it is deleted. It is still stored on the iPhone storage space, but is hidden. As long as the data is not overwritten, we can extract and restore them.

iPhone Data Recovery application is a professional, powerful and easy-to-use data recovery software, it is specially used to recover iPhone deleted and hidden files. It is the most suitable to use it to find these deleted text messages.

Key features about iPhone data recovery software.

1. Three recovery mode to recover text messages/iMessages.

2. Recover deleted iPhone text messages/iMessages, including the texts, phone number, email,  date, company information.

3. Preview text messages/iMessages in detail before recovery, you can restore needed texts selectively.

4.Export messages in HTML, CSV format to computer for use, or transfer back to iPhone.

5. Back up iPhone data to computer for forever preservation. Restore backup to iPhone.

6. Fix iOS system and get it back to normal.

7. Suitable for accident deletion, factory reset, white screen, black screen and more.

8. Support iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max/Mini, 12/11/XS/XS and other iOS devices.

Now you can download and install the iPhone data recovery tool on your computer and start the recover process.

Method 1. Search and Restore Deleted Messages on iPhone Directly

Step 1. Launch the iPhone data recovery program on computer and connect iPhone to the computer, a pop-up will display on iPhone screen, tap "Trust" to left iPhone trust this computer. On the main screen of the software, you can see some features, tap "iPhone Data Recovery" feature and the software will go to default mode "Recover from iOS Device", iPhone will be detected and the software will show iPhone interface and information, then you can tap on "Start Scan" button to scan iPhone storage.

Step 2. The software will spend some time to search existing and deleted data on iPhone, when the scan is over, all data type will list in category on left sidebar, tap "Messages" and "Message Attachments" and preview each text messages/iMessages on the right side, switch "Only display the deleted item(s)" to "On" and you can view deleted messages. To search specific messages, you can enter some keyword(texts, phone number, email, etc...) on search box at the right corner of the interface. After that, you can tick the checkbox under the messages and click "Recover" button to get back all conversation.

Sometimes we want to search for some deleted text messages a few months ago or a few years ago, at this time, we need to use a backup, read the follow solution.

Method 2. Search Deleted iPhone Messages from iTunes Backup

We know that iTunes backup can’t be read directly, so we can use iPhone data recovery software to extract it, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Run the iPhone data recovery software on computer and tap "iPhone Data Recovery" feature, then select the mode of "Recover from iTunes Backup" in the new windows. The software will list all iTunes backup, you can see backup date, name, size and other info, choose one backup you need and click "Start Scan" button to extract it.

Step 2. When the extract process is completed, the software will displays all the files it found, you can tap data type "Messages" and "Message Attachments" on left panel, view messages in detail one by one on the right. Input some keyword on search box and you can search specific text. If you want to recover them, you can tick the messages you want and click "Recover" button to get them back.

Method 3. Search Deleted iPhone Messages from iCloud Backup

Using the iPhone data recovery software, you also can extract iCloud backup and search deleted iPhone messages.

Step 1. Run the iPhone data recovery software on computer and go to "iPhone Data Recovery" > "Recover from iCloud Backup" mode, enter Apple ID and password to login iClod account, then you can tick data type "Messages" or click "iCloud Backup", the software will list all iCloud backup and you can choose one backup you need, then tap "Download" button to get it to PC, then tap "Scan" button to extract it.

Step 2. After extracting, you can tap data type "Messages" or "Message Attachments" to view messages in detail, enter the keyword on search box to search messages you need.

How to Back Up iPhone Messages to Computer

Losing important text messages can be avoided for us, so it is necessary to make a backup. iPhone data recovery software not only provides the recovery function, but also provides the backup function, the  iOS Data Backup & Restore feature can help you to back up iPhone text messages/iMessages for free.

Step 1. Launch the iPhone data recovery software on your desktop and tap "iOS Data Backup & Restore" on homepage, then you can tap "iOS Data Backup" option. Connect your iPhone to the software and it will be detected.

Step 2. Choose data type "Messages" and "Message Attachments" and click "Next" to move on.

Step 3. Choose "Standard Backup" option or "Encrypted Backup" option for your backup, if you need to set a password, tick "Encrypted Backup", after that, you can click "Start" to go on.

Step 4. Choose target folder to save messages and click "OK" on the pop-up, then the software will start sync text messages/iMessages to computer for free.

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