iPhone Text Messages Disappear from Inbox? Here’s How to Get Them Back

I have an iPhone XS. It was backed up one week ago. Yesterday, several text message threads disappeared. I restarted the phone. I turned SMS and MMS messaging on and off too. However, none of the message threads returned. Does anyone have any ideas on what the issue is or a fix?

Although it is not a common issue for iPhone users, it can be really annoying to find iPhone messages disappeared. Why did my text messages just disappear? Sometimes iPhone text messages disappear from the inbox after an iOS software update or after a restart, but there are also cases where text messages just disappear from iPhone suddenly.

If you have made backups for your iPhone before, you can always recover lost iPhone messages by restoring from iPhone backup files. But what if you don’t have an available backup or new missing messages that aren’t included in your backup?

Here in this article, we are going to talk about what to do if iPhone text messages disappear, and how do you get messages back that disappeared on iPhone even without backup.

What to Do if iPhone Text Messages Disappear from Inbox in iOS 16/15

First of all, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and scroll down to the Messages app to check if it takes up the same storage. If your messages disappeared from iPhone but are still in storage, well then, you have a good chance to get back your missing messages on iPhone. Next, follow the troubleshooting steps to fix iPhone messages disappearing from the inbox.

1. Force Restart your iPhone

On iPhone 7 and earlier models, hold the Side button and Home button at the same time, then let go when you see the Apple logo.

On iPhone 8 or later, and the latest iPhone 14, press and release the Volume Up button and press and release the Volume Down button, then hold down the Side button until your iPhone restarts and the Apple logo appears.

2. Reset All Settings on iPhone

You can also try resetting all settings on the iPhone to fix iPhone deleting messages by itself. To make it, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. If you have a passcode for your iPhone, you’ll need to enter your passcode to reset all settings. This will not erase any data from your iPhone but reset all system settings to default.

3. Turn on Airplay mode

You can try Turning on the AirPlay Mode. Wait a few seconds and turn it back off.

4. Check iMessage Sync

Go to Settings > Messages > Turn off/on iMessage and wait a few seconds and turn them back on.

5. Check iCloud Message Sync

Go to Settings > iCloud > Messages > Turn it off and then turn it back on.

6. Recover Disappeared iPhone Messages via iPhone Data Recovery Tool

If neither of the above steps worked, how do I retrieve lost text messages on my iPhone?  A professional iPhone data recovery tool —PhoneRescue for iOS, also a messages/iMessages recovery software for iPhone, supports securely scanning your device and allows you to recover disappeared messages from your iPhone directly without backup.

In addition, you can retrieve iMessages as well as message attachments like pictures, videos, etc. Compatible with all iPhone models and iOS, including the latest iPhone 14 and iOS 16. Works with both Windows and macOS.

Now, download and install PhoneRescue for iOS on your computer and follow the instructions below to get back your missing messages on iPhone.

Step 1. Open PhoneRescue for iOS and connect your iPhone. Choose Recover from iOS Device.

Step 2. In the pop-up window, select Messages (or other types of data you want to recover) and click OK.

Step 3. Preview and select the missing messages on iPhone, and then click either of the recover buttons to save messages.

Where Are my Text Messages on iPhone？

Firstly, iPhone users send and receive texts with the Messages app. Therefore, you can search messages on your iPhone by opening the messages thread. Secondly, iMessage can be sent and received across iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac. If you accidentally deleted the iMessage conversation, you can first check another iPhone or Apple device. Thirdly, messages and iMessage will also be stored on iCloud if you enabled iCloud messages, you can check your text messages by viewing iCloud backup.

The Bottom Line

Once iPhone text messages disappeared, you can first check some iPhone settings as the above methods show. And, PhoneRescue for iOS makes it possible for you to recover missing messages on iPhone without backup. It can also be helpful when you want to recover mistakenly deleted messages as well as other data and files on iPhone/iPad. Give it a try now >