How to recover deleted texts on a Samsung Galaxy phone

Samsung Galaxy A54 review
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you need to recover deleted texts on a Samsung Galaxy phone, chances are you deleted them by accident.

Perhaps you thought a text message chain was spam, but it turns out the message was legit and pretty important. Maybe you fell out with a friend or split up with a partner and deleted their texts in anger, only to have made up since. 

Whatever the reason, Samsung Galaxy devices are some of the best phones around and, as such, offer you a way to recover your deleted text messages from the trash bin. Even better still, it's incredibly easy to do — although you might miss it if you don't know where to look.  

Something to be aware of is your Galaxy phone will only store deleted text messages in the trash bin for 30 days, at which point they're gone permanently. So, if it's been longer than that since you deleted the messages in the first place, they're lost for good. 

If not, here's how to recover deleted texts on a Samsung Galaxy phone.

How to recover deleted texts on a Samsung Galaxy phone

  1. In Messages, tap the three dots
  2. Tap Trash
  3. Long tap a message chain
  4. Tap Restore all

Read on to see illustrated steps.


1. In Messages, tap the three dots

(Image: © Future)

Open the Messages app and tap the three dots symbol.

2. Tap Trash

(Image: © Future)

Select Trash from the list.

3. Long tap a message chain

(Image: © Future)

Tap and hold a message chain or multiple message chains. 

4. Tap Restore all

(Image: © Future)

The messages to be saved will now have a blue check mark next to them. Tap Restore all at the bottom of the screen to restore any messages with a blue check mark.

5. Go back to the Messages inbox

(Image: © Future)

Return to the Messages inbox and you'll now see that your messages have returned.


If you'd like to read more tutorials, we've got your covered. Did you know that Android devices, including Samsung Galaxy phones, have their own version of Apple's AirDrop? Learn to use it with our guide on how to use Nearby Share on Android

We have loads of other Samsung-specific tutorials too. Why not find out how to use the floating camera shutter button on Samsung Galaxy devices, how to use the Samsung Galaxy tip calculator and how to auto answer calls on Samsung Galaxy phones.

For general Android guides, get started by reading how to change notifications sounds on Android, how to get the Bing AI Chat widget on Android and how to download Android 14 beta.

Peter Wolinski
Editor, How To & Cameras

Peter is Editor of the How To and Camera sections at Tom's Guide. As a writer, he covers topics including tech, photography, gaming, hardware, motoring and food & drink. Outside of work, he's an avid photographer, specialising in architectural and portrait photography. When he's not snapping away on his beloved Fujifilm camera, he can usually be found telling everyone about his greyhounds, obsessively detailing his car, squeezing as many FPS as possible out of PC games, and perfecting his espresso shots.