"Recover Deleted Messages on MacBook (2024 Tips)"

"I accidentally deleted iMessage conversations with a contact on my Mac. After that, all the messages from that person are gone. Is there any way to recover deleted iMessages on Mac? I really want to get those chats back!"

4 Ways to Retrieve Deleted iMessages on MacBook (UTF-8)

iMessage is Apple's free instant messaging service that lets you send unlimited texts, photos, videos, and contacts to other Apple users for free, anytime and anywhere. Have you ever accidentally deleted an iMessage? Do you know how to recover deleted text messages, especially when those messages contain unforgettable memories? Stay calm if you've accidentally deleted iMessages on your MacBook, iMac, or Mini. Learn the following four effective methods to **recover deleted iMessages on MacBook**.

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How to Find iMessages on Mac with Message Archiving

First, you need to locate where the deleted iMessages are stored. By navigating to the ~/Library/Messages folder on your Mac, you will find an Archive folder, an Attachments folder, and a file named 'chat.db.'

The Archive folder contains all your previous closed or saved conversations, while the Attachments folder holds images, videos, audio files, and other items that you've sent or received through iMessage on your Mac. The `chat.db` file is the database that stores all your messages.

Step 1: Launch the Messages app, and click on “Preferences.”

< strong > Step 2. Enable the “Save history when dialog is closed” option in General.

Step 3: Open Finder, click "Go" in the menu bar, and then click "Go to Folder."

Step 4. Type in ~/Library/Messages to look through your old iMessages on the Mac.

Then, you can find all your iMessages on your Mac.

Is it possible to recover/lookup deleted iMessages on a Mac?

Can you recover deleted iMessages? To an extent, yes. Apple provides Time Machine, a comprehensive backup solution for macOS, which you can find on versions like Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, and more. With Time Machine, you can back up various data, including iMessages, and attempt to restore deleted messages if necessary. However, it's crucial that you had performed a backup before the messages were deleted. Without a backup, recovering deleted iMessages can become challenging.

As long as you've been running Time Machine backups, you can easily recover everything, including your deleted iMessages, from a backup. Other iCloud syncing solutions also come in handy for cross-platform retrieval of lost data. But what if disaster strikes and you don't have a backup? All is not lost – you can still use an iMessage data recovery tool to restore deleted messages without a backup.

Next, we will introduce you to each guide on how to recover deleted iMessages on Mac.

1. How to recover deleted iMessages on Mac with software?

Is it possible to recover deleted iMessages without backup? When you delete an iMessage conversation on your Mac, the contents of the chat.db file are altered, but the file itself remains on your computer. This is why data recovery software can be used to restore deleted files. The "Data Recovery Wizard for Mac" is a tool designed for this purpose, enabling the recovery of deleted files on systems like macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and more. If you accidentally delete the chat.db file on your Mac, this tool can be highly beneficial.

Follow a detailed guide to recover deleted iMessage database using data recovery software:

Note: You'd better create a backup for your Mac first by clicking "Disk Backup" on the left. The software will recover the deleted files from the backup image. This prevents further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1: Choose a location and scan

Launch Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and select the disk where you lost your data. Click “Search Lost Files” to start scanning.

Step 2: Filter and Preview Lost Files

After the scan, you can use the file type filter in the top left or top right corner to find the deleted files you need.

Step 3: Recover Lost Data or Files

You can double-click a file to preview its content, or select multiple files for batch recovery. Click “Recover” to restore the lost data to your local or cloud drive.

2. How to Recover Deleted iMessages on Mac from iPhone or iPad

Normally, Mac users who also use Apple iPhone or iPad have a better chance of retrieving deleted iMessages. That's because macOS and iOS users on Apple devices share the same Apple ID, so messages that you receive or send will appear on each device. If you accidentally lose important information on your Mac, you can try to recover iMessages from your iPhone.

3. How to Restore Deleted iMessages on Mac Using Time Machine

If you regularly back up your Mac using Time Machine, you can easily restore deleted messages from a Time Machine backup by following these steps:

Step 1: Sign out of all iMessage accounts and quit Messages.

Step 2: Hold down the Option key, then choose Go > Library from the Finder menu bar.

Step 3: Click on “Libraries,” and then click on “Info.”

<Step 4> When the message folder opens, look for a file named “chat.db” and with a date that precedes the day you deleted the file you are looking for.

Step 5. Select the files and click “Recover”.

Note: This method will restore the entire iMessage database and replace the current one with an older version.

4. How to Recover Deleted iMessages on Mac with iCloud

Another way to view deleted messages on a Mac is by using iCloud. Here's how to find deleted iMessages on your MacBook:

Step 1: Quit iMessage on your Mac and close the app.

Step 2: Open the "Finder."

Step 3: Choose Go from the Finder menu.

Step 4: Find your library.

Step 5: Look for a file named [Messages] from the iCloud backup.

Step 6: Open the Info folder.

Step 7. Click “Restore.”

If you'd rather restore your messages online, log into iCloud and restore your messages from there.

Conclusions

That's all there is to it – you can recover deleted messages on Mac 13/12/11/10.13/10.9. Don't worry about losing information on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad – try the methods above to get it back.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Recover Deleted iMessages on Mac

Here are some common questions. Read them one by one to get more help with Mac data recovery.

**How to Retrieve Deleted Messages on iPhone?**

Recover Deleted Messages from iPhone:

Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch the MobiSaver tool. On the left, click "Recover from iOS Device" and then hit "Start." The MobiSaver tool will automatically scan your iPhone 13/12/11/X/XR/XS/8/7/6/5/4 and locate your lost messages and attachments. Check the boxes for "Messages" and "Message Attachments." Select the messages and attachments you wish to recover, and then click "Recover to Computer" or "Recover to Device" to choose where you want to restore them.

2. Can I get iMessages back after deletion?

Yes, you can recover deleted text messages on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac by restoring from an iCloud backup.

How do I set up iMessage on my iPhone?

Steps to enable iMessage on an iPhone 8:

Open the "Settings" app on your new iPhone. Scroll down and tap "Messages." Slide the "iMessage" switch to the On position and wait for it to activate.

4. How can I view old iMessages on my Mac?

Here are the steps to view deleted iMessages on a Mac:

1. Go to Finder > Go menu. 2. Type ~/Library and press Go. 3. In the Library folder, select the Messages folder.