The fastest way to get back deleted texts on an iPhone 13 is the Recently Deleted folder in the Messages app: no backup, no computer, no extra software. It works on iOS 16 and later and keeps deleted conversations for up to 30 days. If your messages are older than that, or your phone runs an earlier iOS version, you still have options: an iCloud backup, a computer backup, or recovery software.
Below is the complete roadmap, ordered from easiest to hardest, so you can start with the method most likely to work for your situation.
Recover Deleted Texts from the Recently Deleted Folder (iOS 16 and Later)
Starting with iOS 16, the Messages app keeps everything you delete in a Recently Deleted folder, much like the recycle bin on a computer. Conversations stay there for up to 30 days, and you can bring back a single conversation or several at once. Because this method touches nothing else on your phone, always try it first.
- Open the Messages app and go to the conversation list.
- Tap Filters in the top left corner. If you do not see Filters, tap Edit and choose Show Recently Deleted.
- Select the conversation or conversations you want back.
- Tap Recover, then confirm by tapping Recover Message (or Recover [number] Messages).
Two things to know before you start. Messages you edited or unsent cannot be recovered this way, and if you use Messages in iCloud, deleting a conversation on your iPhone also removes it from your other Apple devices. Once a conversation is removed from Recently Deleted, by you or when the 30 day window ends, this method cannot bring it back.
Restore Deleted Messages from an iCloud Backup
If you back up your iPhone 13 to iCloud, your text messages are part of that backup. The catch is that restoring a backup replaces everything currently on your phone, so only use this method when the Recently Deleted folder came up empty.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone 13 and tap on your name at the top.
- Tap on iCloud, then tap on iCloud Backup.
- Check the date and time of your last backup and make sure it was created before you deleted the text messages you want to recover.
- If the backup is old enough, erase the phone by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your iPhone 13 again.
- During setup, choose to restore from an iCloud backup and select the backup dated before the deletion.
- Wait for the restore to complete on Wi-Fi and power, then check whether your deleted text messages are back.
Think twice before step 4: erasing wipes everything created after the backup date, including photos, app data, and newer messages. Double check the backup date first, and keep the phone on Wi-Fi and charging through the whole restore. If you cannot remember your network details, our guide on finding the Wi-Fi password on an iPhone or iPad can help.
If erasing the whole phone feels too drastic, backup extractor tools can pull just the messages out of an iCloud or computer backup file and let you preview them first, without touching your iPhone at all.
Recover from a Computer Backup with Finder or iTunes
A backup made on your computer works the same way as an iCloud backup, minus the waiting on Apple’s servers. One update since this guide was first written: on a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, iPhone backups live in Finder, not iTunes. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app, or iTunes on older setups.
- Connect your iPhone 13 to your computer and open Finder (Mac) or Apple Devices / iTunes (Windows).
- Select your iPhone, then open the General tab in Finder or the Summary tab in iTunes.
- Click Restore Backup and choose a backup dated before you deleted the messages.
- Enter the backup password if you set one, then wait for the restore to finish without disconnecting the phone.
- Open Messages and check whether the deleted texts are back.
Apple’s own guide to backing up an iPhone explains where these backups are stored and how backup encryption works.
Recover Without a Backup Using Data Recovery Software
When there is no usable backup, data recovery software scans your iPhone’s storage for message data that has not been overwritten yet. The workflow is the same across the popular tools:
- Download and install the recovery software on your computer.
- Connect your iPhone 13 with a USB cable.
- Choose the Recover from iOS Device mode and start the scan.
- Preview the messages it finds, select the ones you want, and click Recover.
Be realistic about the odds here: this works only if the storage blocks holding your deleted messages have not been reused for new data. The more you use your phone after deleting, the lower the chance. If a tool promises a guaranteed recovery without scanning first, treat that promise with suspicion.
When Deleted Messages Cannot Be Recovered
Sometimes the messages are simply gone, and knowing when to stop saves you time and money:
- Messages deleted more than 30 days ago, with no backup from before the deletion.
- A phone that has been heavily used since the deletion, so the old data was overwritten.
- Messages in iCloud is turned on and you deleted the conversation everywhere: no older copy is hiding on another device.
- Apple itself does not keep copies of your texts and cannot restore them for you. Support will point you to the same backup methods above.
If your messages fall into one of these cases, skip paid recovery tools. No software can rebuild data that no longer exists on the device or in any backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a single deleted message on my iPhone 13?
Yes. Open Messages, tap Filters (or Edit, then Show Recently Deleted) on the conversation list, select the conversation you want back, and tap Recover. You can restore one conversation or several at once, and each thread returns to your inbox as it was before deletion.
Will restoring from an iCloud backup erase my current iPhone data?
Yes. A full iCloud restore requires erasing the iPhone first, and everything created after the backup date is lost. If that trade feels too steep, use a backup extractor tool to pull only the messages out of the backup file without erasing anything.
Can I recover deleted texts after a factory reset?
Only if you made an iCloud or computer backup before the reset. Restore the phone from that backup during setup, or extract the messages from the backup file on your computer. Without a pre-reset backup, the messages are gone.
Why is the Recently Deleted folder missing from my Messages app?
The folder appears only on iOS 16 and later. Update your iPhone 13 to the latest iOS it supports, then look under Filters or Edit on the conversation list. Messages deleted before the phone ran iOS 16 cannot be recovered this way.
Conclusion
Start with the Recently Deleted folder: it is the fastest method and risks nothing. Move to an iCloud or computer backup only when you need older messages, and keep recovery software as the last resort. Act quickly either way, because every day of normal phone use makes overwritten data harder to rescue.
Kaleem
Kaleem is a Computer Science graduate (Virtual University of Pakistan) and the founder and editor of Valley AI, where he publishes in-depth, tested guides on computer hardware, artificial intelligence, and how the internet works. Every guide is researched from primary sources, tested hands-on where possible, and updated when the facts change.