How to get a text conversation back after deleting it

In iOS 16, Apple has brought some welcome updates to its stock Messages app. One of these is the ability to recover messages you have deleted from conversations. Keep reading to learn how it works.

How to get a text conversation back after deleting it

In ‌iOS 16‌, Apple has added a new "Recently Deleted" section to its Messages app that aggregates all of the text messages that you've deleted in the last 30 days. That means if you accidentally delete a message and wish to recover it, you can now do so right in the Messages app interface.

Here's how to recover a deleted message on an iPhone or iPad running ‌iOS 16‌ or iPadOS 16.

  1. In the Messages app, navigate to the main Messages screen where filters like Known Senders and Unknown Senders can be found.
  2. Tap Recently Deleted.
  3. Tap the messages that you want to recover so that a blue check mark appears next to each one. (Note that each message show the days remaining before automatic deletion.)
  4. Tap Recover in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  5. Tap Recover Message[s] in the pop-over to confirm.

How to get a text conversation back after deleting it

That's all there is to it. You can use the same "Recently Deleted" screen to permanently delete messages, by tapping them and then selecting Delete in the bottom-left corner. Note that permanently deleting a message from Apple's servers may take up to 40 days.

iOS 16: How to Report Junk SMS and MMS Messages

Thursday August 4, 2022 2:19 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 16, Apple has brought some welcome updates to its stock Messages app. One of these is the ability to report SMS/MMS messages as junk. Keep reading to learn how it works. In iOS 16, Apple has added the ability to report SMS/MMS messages as junk in the Messages app. This represents an expansion of the built-in "Report Junk" feature in Messages that previously only let you report blue...

iOS 16: How to Mark a Message as Unread

Thursday August 4, 2022 2:15 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 16, Apple has brought some welcome feature additions to its stock Messages app. One of these features is the ability to mark a message as unread. Keep reading to learn how it works. Email programs have long given users the ability to mark messages as unread. The feature is considered useful because it means if you get a message and don't have time to read it or address its contents,...

How to Delete Your Instagram Account

Instagram now allows you to delete your account from directly within the Instagram app. This article shows you how it's done. To comply with Apple's updated App Store guidelines, Instagram in June 2022 added an option in its app for users to delete their account on the service. Previously it was only possible to delete your Instagram account by logging into a web browser on a desktop...

iOS 16: How to Unsend a Sent iMessage

Thursday August 4, 2022 2:12 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 16, Apple has added some major updates to the Messages app, introducing some features that rival third-party messaging platforms have had for years. One of these changes is the ability to unsend sent iMessages in iOS 16. Keep reading to learn how it works. Have you ever sent a text message only to immediately wish that you hadn't? In previous versions of iOS, if you sent a message...

iOS 16: How to Automate Messages Sent With Siri

Friday August 19, 2022 10:04 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

iOS 16 lets you send messages with Siri without you having to confirm each message with the voice assistant before it's sent. Keep reading to learn how it's done. If you've ever sent a message to someone using Siri, you'll know that Siri will ask you to confirm each message by reading it back to you. Confirming each message before it is sent can be a nuisance if you're having a long...

How to Copy and Delete Screenshots on iPhone and iPad

Tuesday October 4, 2022 1:11 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 16, Apple has added a new "Copy and Delete" option to the screenshot interface on iPhone. This article explains what it's for and how to use it. Whenever you take a screenshot on your iPhone and tap on the preview thumbnail that appears in the corner of the screen, iOS brings up an image editing interface that lets you easily highlight, draw on, and crop the image before saving it or...

iOS 16: How to Edit a Sent iMessage

Thursday August 4, 2022 2:14 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 16, Apple has added some major updates to the Messages app, introducing some features that rival third-party messaging platforms have had for years. One of these changes is the ability to edit iMessages in iOS 16. Keep reading to learn how it works. Almost everyone with a smartphone can relate to the situation where you send a text message only to immediately realize that the meaning...

How to Use Compass Waypoints on Apple Watch

Wednesday September 14, 2022 2:22 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

On Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 6 and later, the redesigned Compass app can be used to create Compass Waypoints and then find the distance and direction between them. Here's how it works. In watchOS 9, the Compass app has been redesigned and now has an adaptive watch face showing your bearing at the center. If you scroll the Digital Crown, you can also view your...

Five Apple Products You Should Avoid Buying Right Now

Wednesday October 5, 2022 2:12 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Rumors suggest that Apple still has several new devices that are coming before the end of the year, including a range of Macs and iPads. It's not looking like we're going to get an October event in 2022, but refreshes are coming soon, probably via press release. If you're planning to buy a Mac or an iPad, make sure to check out our list to know what's safe to pick up now and what's not. iPad ...

One of iOS 16's Best Features Drains Battery When Enabled

One of iOS 16's most praised features comes at the cost of draining battery life, according to recently published Apple support documents. The feature, known as "keyboard haptics," is optional in iOS 16 and allows users to get physical feedback via slight vibrations upon the touch of each key, confirming that it was pressed much like keyboard sounds. The feature is a useful addition to the...

Apple Releases New MagSafe Charger Firmware

Tuesday October 4, 2022 12:09 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released updated firmware for the MagSafe Charger that is designed to work with the iPhone 12 and later and the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware is version 10M1821, up from the prior 10M229 firmware. Note that in the Settings app, you'll see a different version number than the firmware number, with the update displayed as version 255.0.0.0 (the prior firmware was 247.0.0.0). The...

10 New iOS 16 Features Coming Later This Year

iOS 16 was released to the public three weeks ago with a customizable Lock Screen, the ability to edit iMessages, improvements to Focus modes, and much more. And in the coming months, iPhone and iPad users have even more new features to look forward to. We've rounded up 10 new features coming to the iPhone and iPad later this year, according to Apple. Many of the features are part of iOS...

No October Apple Event Expected Despite Upcoming Wave of New Devices

Apple is no longer expected to host an event this month, despite plans to unveil a host of new devices including new iPad and Mac models, according to recent reports. In recent months, Apple has been expected to hold an event in October to announce a range of products that did not receive any stage time during the company's iPhone 14 unveiling event last month. In a recent newsletter, Bloombe...

These 10 U.S. States Will Let You Add Your Driver's License to Your iPhone

Earlier this year, Apple launched a feature allowing residents of participating U.S. states to add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age. As we wait for IDs in the Wallet app to expand to additional U.S. states, here is everything you need to know about how the feature ...

EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

The European Parliament today voted overwhelmingly in favor of enforcing USB-C as a common charging port across a wide range of consumer electronic devices, including the iPhone and AirPods, by the end of 2024. The proposal, known as a directive, forces all consumer electronics manufacturers who sell their products in Europe to ensure that a wide range of devices feature a USB-C port. This...

Video: AirPods Pro 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort II

Monday October 3, 2022 12:50 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple on September 23 officially launched the second-generation version of the AirPods Pro, introducing updated Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Transparency, improved sound, and more. Right around the same time, Bose introduced new QuietComfort II earbuds with many similar features, so we thought we'd compare the two to see which has the edge. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for ...

Hands-On With Google's New Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel Watch

Thursday October 6, 2022 2:29 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Google today announced the launch of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, which will directly compete with the iPhone 14 lineup, plus it debuted the Pixel Watch, an Apple Watch competitor. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera was at Google's event, and he was able to get some hands-on time with the new devices to give us a look at how they measure up to Apple's latest product lineup. Subscrib ...