How to restore iMessages from iCloud backup [Easy & quick]
Even if you've deleted your iMessages, restoration to your iPhone / iPad is feasible provided they were previously backed up to iCloud.
Jasmin Woods Updated on Aug 30, 2024 7:10 PM
In the digital age, every conversation holds a piece of our lives—memories, plans, and laughter encapsulated in text bubbles. Losing these precious iMessages can be frustrating. But fear not! This comprehensive guide is your trusty compass, leading you through the seamless process of restoring iMessages from iCloud.
If you've deleted iMessages from your iPhone or iPad, you can easily restore them from iCloud.
Whether you've accidentally deleted your iMessages or found yourself setting up a new device, this guide will show you different ways on how to restore iMessages from iCloud and get back all your cherished conversations, photos and videos.
Additionally, using tools like iPhone Data Recovery, you can preview and selectively restore only iMessages from iCloud backup without erasing your device. It also allows you to recover deleted iMessages directly from your iPhone even without a backup.
Now, let's take a closer look at these quick steps to restore iMessage from iCloud:
How to restore iMessages from iCloud backup
To recover iMessages on your iPhone or iPad from iCloud, the standard procedure includes restoring from a previous backup. If you've backed up your device to iCloud, here's what to do.
However, before you start, it's important to note that restoring iMessages from an iCloud backup will factory rest your iPhone/iPad and replace all its current data with the backup's content. Consequently, all your device's data and settings will be overwritten after restoration. If you still want a try, proceed accordingly to restore your iMessages from iCloud backup on an iPhone/iPad:
1. Check available iCloud backups.
Ensure that there are recent iCloud backups existing on your device; check it by going to Settings > your Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backup. You'll see all iCloud backups here.
2. Reset your iPhone or iPad.
If you're setting up a new device, jump to next step. If you're restoring iMessages on the same device, move to Settings > General > your name > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your Apple ID password and follow the prompts to reset your iPhone.
3. Set up and restore iMessages from iCloud backup.
When the device erases everything and restarts, set up it again using your Apple ID and password; then choose From iCloud Backup when you reach Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.
Select the most relevant iCloud backup that includes your iMessages, and wait for restoration to complete. Once done, your iPhone will download all backed-up data from iCloud and automatically restore your iMessages along with other content.
Remember, restoring from an iCloud backup will replace the existing data on your iPhone with the content from the backup, so ensure you have a backup of any newer data before proceeding.
How to recover iMessages from iCloud.com
For iOS conversations synced with iCloud Messages, there's a slight chance that you can visit iCloud.com to recover the deleted iMessages if the deletion hasn't been synced across other devices yet. However, remember that this cannot restore the messages that you have permanently removed from your iPhone or iPad.
- Go to iCloud.com and log in with the same Apple ID and password used on your phone.
- Check the Message icon to access all messages saved in iCloud.
- Use the search bar to look for the deleted iMessages you want back.
- If the deleted iMessages are still there, unlock your iOS device and tap Settings > your Apple ID > iCloud.
- Turn off Messages option and tap Keep On My iPhone when asked.
- After a while, switch on Messages and choose Merge in the opening dialog box.
- Wait until it finishes downloading iMessages for recovery.
How to restore only iMessages from iCloud backup - without data loss
While iCloud restoration gets your iMessages back from an earlier backup, the process overwrites everything added after that backup. So, is it possible to restore only iMessages from an iCloud backup without resetting the iPhone?
When you need to restore iMessages from an iCloud backup but don't want to lose recent data by resetting your device, there's a reliable backup extraction tool called iPhone Data Recovery. It empowers you to access specific files in an iCloud backup or iTunes backup, granting the ability to preview and choose exactly which iMessages for recovery — all without resetting or erasing.
Here's how to restore iMessages from iCloud without resetting your iPhone / iPad, you may follow the same steps to recover your photos, videos, contacts, and more:
Step 1. Run iPhone Data Recovery and choose a recovery mode.
Open iPhone Data Recovery on a Windows PC or Mac, and choose Restore from iCloud on the main interface.
Step 2. Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID and password.
If you've enabled two-factor authentication, tap Trust button on your iPhone and enter the verification code that Apple will send to you.
Step 3. Select an iCloud backup.
- Click iCloud Backups and all backups associated with your iCloud account will display.
- From the backup list, choose the most relevant one and hit the Download button next to it.
Step 4. Download messages from iCloud backup for restoration.
- Check the Message & Contacts box and make sure to select all message options..
- Hit the Next button to start scanning all iCloud backup messages.
- From the scanning results show up, preview the conversations and choose which iMessages you wish to get back.
- Click the Recover button to restore your iMessages and attached files from iCloud backup.
That's it! In addition to restoring messages from iCloud backup, you can also choose to recover iMessages from an iTunes backup if there are any previous backups stored on your computer.
How to recover iMessages not in iCloud - without backup
If your messages disappeared from your iPhone or they were deleted accidentally and you don't have any backups, either in iCloud or iTunes, the solution iPhone Data Recovery mentioned above also allows you to recover messages directly from an iPhone without needing a backup, including iMessages, attached photos, videos, and other files.
To proceed, simply connect your iOS device to computer and start data scanning. It will automatically detect and find all deleted messages, letting you preview your iMessage conversations before recovery. See how to recover deleted iMessages without backup:
1. Install and open iPhone Data Recovery on your computer if you don't have any backups.
2. Choose Recover from iOS Device and connect your iPhone / iPad via a USB cable.
TIP: If prompted, enter your device passcode and trust this computer. Get further instance if you forgot passcode on your iPad or iPhone.
3. Click Start Scan to look for all deleted and lost files on the device.
4. Select Messages option on the left side and preview the iMessages.
5. Choose the messages you want to retrieve and click the Recover button.
These steps can also help to recover disappeared iPhone photos, contacts, call logs, phone numbers, notes, etc.
The final thoughts
An iCloud backup enables you to restore your iMessages as well as other data files if you accidentally delete them from your iPhone or iPad. To prevent data loss, it's a good idea to back up your data to iCloud or iTunes regularly.
If there are no backups available in iCloud or your computer, try using the iPhone Data Recovery method in this guide for iMessage recovery from iPhone/iPad directly.
FAQs on iMessage recovery from iCloud
1. Can I recover only iMessages to my iPhone from an iCloud backup?
When you restore iCloud backup to an iPhone, the process replaces all current data with the backup files. You'll get back all backed-up iMessages from iCloud but lose everything added and changed after that backup.
If you're looking to recover only iMessages from iCloud, try using the backup extraction feature in iPhone Data Recovery application. It allows you to preview and select messages from an iCloud backup before you decide to recover them.
2. How to recover deleted iMessages if I don't have an iCloud backup?
To recover iMessages deleted from an iPhone or iPad without iCloud backup, check the Recently Deleted folder in Messages app:
- In Messages app, tap Eidt (or Filter) button on your conversation screen.
- Tap Show Recently Deleted.
- Select the iMessages you want to restore.
- Tap Recover to restore the deleted iMessages.
Note that this method can only recover the messages and conversations that you've deleted in the last 30 to 40 days. After that, the iMessages are permanently deleted from your iPhone. In such a case, you may want a tool like iPhone Data Recovery to restore iMessages without any backups.
