Many Android users, and Samsung phone owners in particular, think that after deleting, trying to recover messages is useless. Allegedly, the data has been erased from the device, which means that there is nowhere to return it. And why? But what if, due to a system bug, an important SMS with someone's phone number or dear messages from loved ones were deleted? Fortunately, even in this case, not all is lost and the unfortunate user has a chance to recover files.
Why data disappeared
SMS can be deleted from the phone for completely different reasons. One of these reasons is a simple bug in the system. Every user knows that all Samsung phones, without exception, are based on the Android operating system. And she, in turn, is not at all insured against a wide variety of failures. Suddenly all messages from the phone disappeared or the mail envelope icon itself disappeared - you can sin on an error in the system.
Another reason may be that the firmware of the device has "flown". In this case, not only the display of information will start to junk, but the phone as a whole will periodically begin to show instability.
In addition to the above, the reason may be the release of a new OS version. As a rule, even with an outdated OS, basic Android applications continue to work stably, but there is an exception for each rule.
And yet, one of the most common reasons why data is deleted from the phone is the users themselves.
How to Recover Deleted SMS Messages on Samsung Phone
It doesn't matter for whatever reason all data disappeared from your device. You can restore them. To do this, you need a USB cable, a computer or laptop and the gadget itself.
Using a third party program
On the market for programs for android gadgets there are a lot of tools that are designed specifically to eliminate the problem of deleted messages. Some of them are paid and provide a more advanced set of functions. Others are free and have a basic set of features, which, however, does not detract from their effectiveness. The latter include, for example, Android Data Recovery, Wondershare Dr. Fone, Coolmuster Android. At the same time, the latter two are suitable for both Windows and Mac, therefore we will focus on them, or rather, on Wondershare.
All such programs are similar in functionality and interface. They are equipped with a built-in instruction manual, so that even an inexperienced user can easily understand the operation.
- First, we need to enable developer mode on the gadget. We go to the "Settings" menu, here we are looking for the "About device" section.
The section we are looking for is usually at the very bottom of the list.
- We pass into it and go down to the item "Build number". We click on it until the notification "Developer mode is active" is displayed on the screen.
Again, we go down to the bottom of the list.
- After that, we go back to the "Settings" menu and are already looking for another section called "Developer options".
After that, in the settings we are looking for a menu with developer options
- In it we need the line "USB debugging". We activate the checkbox next to this name.
Activate the USB debugger with one touch
- After that, we transfer the field of our actions to a PC (or laptop). Download the selected program to recover deleted messages, for example, the previously mentioned Wondershare. Unpack the file and install the pack. After that, we connect the device to the computer via a USB cable.
After installing the assistant, connect the device to the computer
- After installation and successful connection, the program itself will begin to tell you what and how to do next in order to correctly identify the device and scan the data stored on it.
- After completing these processes, the utility will display on the computer screen a list of all data that was recently deleted from the device. Find and open the Message / Email folder. From here you can recover those messages that were deleted by mistake. Select the files you want and click “Recover”. Messages will return to their place.
After the scan is finished, the program will offer to select the files to recover
Be aware that the location where deleted messages are stored may be overwritten by other files. Therefore, if suddenly your messages suddenly disappeared, hurry to restore them as quickly as possible. Until the recovery operation is performed, it is better not to copy any files and documents to the clipboard, turn off the mobile Internet and do not restart the gadget.
Video: recovering SMS and other files using a PC
How to return SMS without using a computer
You can recover data without using a PC. But for this you need to download a special rescue application, and sometimes root-rights.
Before using this method, remember that rooting a gadget will automatically void its factory warranty. For devices on which the rights of "superuser" were obtained, often even the specialists of the service centers do not take it.
GT Recovery
GT Recovery is an almost “omnivorous” program that can handle any gadget model of any company based on Android. It is distributed through the Google Play Market application and is free. Allows you to recover a file of any format, be it photo, video or text. Requires root rights, but it also has an alternative version in which they are not needed (GT Recovery no Root). The recovery process is extremely simple - you install the application, launch it and scan the system for deleted files of the required format.
Video: an overview of GT Recovery and its functions
Dumpster
"Trash" works on the same principle as the service of the same name on a computer. After deletion, files are moved to a dedicated storage, and if necessary, their recovery is simply moved from the storage to its original location. If recovery is not required for a long time, the files are deleted on their own. The utility works without root rights, but it has one significant drawback: if the data has already been overwritten, it cannot be restored.
Video: Recover Messages with the Dumpster App
We have named some of the most popular applications, but there are many more in the “stores”. In general, the functionality and the performed action are similar for all programs.
How to prevent missing information on Samsung devices
It is difficult to say whether a similar bug will happen to the system again, but just in case, the owner should be safe and take care of his SMS in advance.
One of the most reliable tools is periodic backups (BackUp) of all data on your phone. You can also use specialized applications such as Titanium Backup. This program allows you to back up data according to a schedule compiled by the owner himself, record calls, contacts and much more.
Among other things, do not forget to regularly clean the system of unnecessary files (which will increase the performance of the phone as a whole and reduce the risk of bugs), check the relevance of the firmware and OS. In the future, this will protect you from accidental loss of important data.
At first, we wanted to tell you about SMS recovery using both a mobile application and a desktop one, but then we changed our mind and decided to tell you about restoring a message from a smartphone, without a computer. Why? The fact is that restoring SMS messages, even if you did not make a backup, requires root rights, which you must install anyway. This applies to both mobile and desktop applications. The difference is that desktop applications can independently install root rights (and even then not always), but they require a connection to a computer or laptop. Therefore, we will tell you about SMS recovery using one popular application for smartphones and tablets. In this case, you will not need the help of a computer. Once again, we remind you that for the procedure you will definitely need root rights. If they are missing, take care of their installation - you can always find information about this on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum. Just remember that root rights remove devices with a guarantee and if something goes wrong, you can no longer exchange or repair it for free. So let's go.
Go to the Play Market and search for GT SMS Recovery.
We select the first application, which is called that, install it.
Basically, you can use any other SMS recovery application, it doesn't change the essence.
After installation, launch the application. Click on the "Start Scanning" button.
The system will, of course, require the grant of root rights. We provide access.
We are waiting for the application to find all messages. Or stop it when the desired message is found.
Now select the SMS messages to recover by marking them with a tick and click "Recover SMS".
Messages were restored, as reported by the application.
We go into the messages and see that they are in place.
There is, however, one unusual moment - in our case the messages were recovered out of order, but after closing the SMS application and opening it again, they “got up” in the correct order.
If you have any questions, you can ask them using comments.
SMS messages in the phone may contain personal correspondence, contact details, Internet links and other important information. If they are accidentally erased as a result of a system failure, exposure to malware or careless actions of the users themselves, the question arises whether it is possible to recover deleted SMS. It should be noted right away that it is quite simple to return lost text messages, since several effective tools have been developed for these purposes. Let's figure out how to recover deleted SMS on an Android device.
Ways to return erased SMS
Unlike other types of data (music, video, photos), SMS on the phone are located in the system directory, so the recovery of deleted messages is also done in a different way. Standard means of resuscitation will not cope with the task at hand. For these purposes, several specific programs have been developed, among which the most effective are:
- SMS Backup And Restore;
- Mobikin Doctor For Android.
You need to know that any recovery program for erased SMS will be effective only if the data was deleted recently and the phone did not turn off after that. This is due to the fact that even after erasing the information, it will be stored in the cash folder for some time. And, as you know, the cache clears itself after a device reboot.
Reanimate Text Messages via SMS Backup And Restore
Before you can restore deleted SMS on Android, you need to make a backup of them:
For greater reliability, it is recommended that the copied SMS messages are stored not only on the smartphone, but also in another place (for example, on a flash drive or PC). You cannot view the contents of the backup, as it is written in a special format .xml.
Now, if for any reason SMS-ki disappear on the mobile device, they can be easily reanimated using the previously created backup. To restore deleted messages, you need to run SMS Backup And Restore, in the main window, specify the folder where SMS are stored in Android (backup file), and tap "Restore". 
Return erased SMS via Mobikin Doctor For Android
The above program allows you to reanimate deleted messages only if you have a backup. If you didn’t know how to save a backup, or if you were simply too lazy to mount it, this utility will be useless.
In such cases, the Mobikin Doctor For Android application comes to the rescue. You don't need a backup for it to work. The principle of operation of this software is to search the phone for "fingerprints" of erased SMS and their further recovery from the found traces.
SMS recovery via Mobikin Doctor For Android is as follows:
Having figured out how to restore SMS on Android, you can, if necessary, return important correspondence without any loss.
Most often, SMS is deleted after a hard reset (factory reset) or in case of accidental deletion, even when you are clearly aware of your actions, but have forgotten that the messages contained important information (passwords, addresses, etc.).
If there are no backups, then, like any other data, SMS messages disappear from the phone. Similarly, deleted SMS are not physically deleted, but are only marked as available for rewriting. This means there are chances of recovery - even if they are minimal.
Instructions on how to recover deleted SMS in Dr.Fone
This is a guide to recover deleted SMS, text messages on Android mobile devices using Wondershare Dr.Fone program. If you fail to return SMS messages this way, try, test other applications - we do not insist that Dr.Fone is a panacea for all ills.
1. Download and install Dr. Fone
Despite the fact that the program is called Dr. Fone for Android, it is not a mobile application that is installed on the phone, but a desktop program. Dr. Fone works on both Windows and Mac OS, so the program settings and steps are the same for all versions of the application.
So, download, install and run Dr. Fone.
2. We connect the phone to the computer
To connect and synchronize between Dr.Fone and the phone, you will need a USB cable (included with the phone) and installed drivers for your mobile device. However, you can do without them, but first, check if Dr.Fone reacts to the connection.
3. Turn on the debugging mode on the phone (USB Debugging Mode)
Debug mode (aka developer mode) is required by Dr. Fone to access the Android system and data on the phone. Enabling debugging on your phone is simple:
- Go to Settings - About device
- Scroll down and find Build Number. Click on it until you see the message "Developer mode enabled"
- Find the section "Developer options" in Settings, go to it
- Activate the "USB debugging" option
So, the Dr.Fone program is running and you have connected the cable to the phone. Now you should see a pop-up window with a superuser request on the mobile device screen. You need to click on Allow to allow access, otherwise the program will not be able to access the phone memory where messages are stored.
If you already have a root app installed on Android, you must allow superuser access in the same way.
Important: Avoid overwriting deleted messages on your phone! Try not to use your phone actively until you have restored the messages you want to your phone. Do not copy files, do not use applications on your phone, disconnect the Internet and 3G network.
Thus, you will keep the chances of mobile data recovery. If you do not follow these rules, it will be impossible to get deleted messages back.
4. Scan device (search for deleted messages)
After completing the described actions, you need to click on the Start button in order for the program to scan the phone's memory. The process of scanning the Android internal memory can take several minutes, so please be patient. You can sit back, make a cup of coffee, and finally try to remember what information was contained in the SMS message.
5. View recovered messages before saving
Once scanning is complete, go to the Messages section of the program. The list displays the deleted content as well as existing messages. If you don't want the latter, you can hide them by toggling the "Only display deleted items" slider.
The list displays the text of recovered messages and the date of deletion. The search bar will be useful if you are looking for specific information: you can enter the search text or keywords.
6. Saving recovery results
To save messages in Dr.Fone, just select the necessary items in the list and click Recover.
What to do if Dr Fone does not help restore SMS on your phone
- Check out the questions and answers.
- If the answer is not found, try other recovery programs.
- If this does not help, you will have to come to terms with the loss.
Another program that finds and restores erased SMS in the phone and helps to read them is called SMS Backup & Restore. You can familiarize yourself with the main functions and download the application at the link:
SMS Backup & Restore will help you recover deleted messages
Therefore, if the guidance provided on this page did not work for you - nor did Android Data Recovery - try this program. Although, by and large, its toolkit is not significantly different from the Data Recovery application.
How to protect SMS from deletion
Create SMS backups, make backups of important information on your phone! This way you will not allow the loss of sms messages, insure yourself against troubles.
There are excellent backup programs for backing up SMS on your phone. I recommend the popular Titanium Backup app.
With Titanium Backup, you can perform scheduled backups of messages. In addition, the utility can save call history and contacts. In general, put Titanium Backup on your phone - and the risks of data loss will decrease to zero.
Where are SMS stored in Android
In the case of Android OS, SMS messages are not stored on the SIM card, but in the database. It is located at /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db. Root rights are required to view this file. The most convenient way is to use the file manager to access the mmssms.db file.
The Sqliteman program will provide irreplaceable assistance to view messages on the phone via the mmssms.db file. It will not help you recover deleted messages, but it will enable you to read SMS messages that you cannot access through the Messages applet on your phone.
Answers to readers' questions
I have a phone model z150 on Android. I unintentionally deleted all messages. How can I restore SMS on my phone now so that I can read them? Thanks for the answer.
Answer... Most likely, your Acer Liquid Z5 (aka z150) is running Android 4.2.2. Accordingly, in order to restore SMS, you need to get root access rights and enable debug mode on the phone. Then read this instruction above the text. The process of restoring SMS messages in it is described in detail and step by step.
1. Can I restore old SMS messages (2012) and how can I do it?
2. Tell me if it is possible to recover incoming SMS, deleted in December 2015. I have an Asus ZenFone selfie phone.
Answer... I answer both questions. Even if we take into account that you have exactly the phone where the messages were deleted, the probability of reading deleted SMS is 1%. Most likely, over the past 4 years, you have repeatedly overwritten data on your mobile phone. This was facilitated by anything: flashing the phone, updating Android, installing applications in the device's memory, and so on. Even if you scan the internal storage with Android Data Recovery, it will not improve the chances of recovery. Alas, there are no alternative ways to return messages or return a readable format.
We urgently need to recover deleted sms from two phones (SE on Android and nokia on windows), dated November last year. Is it possible to recover deleted SMS messages? Please tell me an effective program for Android that can do this. I downloaded a utility from Tenorshare, but it doesn't see the phone.
Answer... Try Wondershare Dr.Fone for Windows as an alternative. Keep in mind that you need:
- get root rights on Android
- download the full version of the application (if you try, you can find Dr. Fone in the full version on w3bsit3-dns.com)
- enable debug mode on your phone
Another good program for recovering SMS messages on Android is Coolmaster Android SMS. Recovering deleted sms messages using it is also possible.
How to recover deleted SMS messages for the last month on an old Samsung phone if the program does not find a driver for Samsung when connected to a laptop?
Answer... Install usb drivers for Samsung from the official page of your mobile device. Moreover, according to the first queries in the search engine, you can easily find them on other sites. The next time you ask a question about recovery, specify the program with which you are trying to retrieve and read messages on your phone.
Phone lg p700 for Android, it has one SIM card installed. I accidentally took out the SIM card from the slot, put it in place - all the SMS disappeared. How to recover SMS on Android or read deleted messages?
Answer... To restore and backup messages, use the SMS Backup & Restore program (link to it above).
We will answer the question of how to recover deleted SMS on Samsung for free and independently. There are several options for this. Let's figure out how to restore messages from a backup archive. We will also find out how third-party PC programs help in solving the problem. Let's find out how the Dumpster mobile app can help solve the problem.
Restore from backup
The question of whether it is possible to recover deleted SMS, which disappeared due to a system bug or through the user's negligence, is asked by many. The first thing to do in order not to lose important information is to periodically create a BackUp or a system backup. Special utilities can help with this, which create the necessary files with a specified frequency.
To be able to restore SMS on your phone, install a special utility, for example, Titanium Backup. The program creates and, if necessary, restores a backup copy of user SMS and other system data. The archive with backup, with the necessary settings, is saved in the cloud storage specified by the user.
To restore, open the program, select the backup and activate the restore. After completing the process, the entire system or only the selected application will be restored to the previous version.
Using third-party programs on a PC
Let's figure out how to recover data erased from the phone using special programs for a computer. There are enough of such developments, let's consider some of them. The peculiarity of each such application is that you need to activate the developer settings on the smartphone and enable USB debugging. In some cases, you will need separately open Root rights.
In order to activate the developer mode in the settings menu, select the "About device" section and by several clicks on the build number, get a notification that the desired mode is enabled.
Then go to the "Developer options" section and check the box next to "USB debugging".
After that, the smartphone is ready to work with recovery programs.
Wondershare
Pre-download the utility from the developer's site, try to avoid unverified sources. Install the program on your PC following the instructions of the installation wizard.
Ultimately, you will get the desired result saved on your PC. The program is partially free, to get advanced features the user will have to activate a paid account.
Dr.Fone for Android
Messages that have been hidden and marked as rewritable can be recovered using this program. Install the application on your PC and prepare your smartphone by enabling USB debugging.
- Open the program and connect your smartphone to your PC via a cord.
- As soon as the system recognizes the device, the user needs to be allowed access with superuser rights, to do this, click Allow.
- Click Start to start the scanning process.
- After completion, go to the "Messages" section and select the SMS you need to recover and click Recover.
There is a possibility that the program will not be able to help with the right issue. In this case, try testing another similar application.
Dumpster mobile app
In order not to resort to the methods described above, you can pre-install the Dumpster application, which allows you to easily recover deleted SMS messages on your Samsung phone.
