How to Retrieve Deleted Photos on iPhone is straightforward once you use the current iPhone controls. The exact wording can vary slightly by iOS version, carrier, and iPhone model.
- Open Messages.
- Open the Filters or Edit menu, depending on your Messages layout.
- Choose Recently Deleted.
- Select the conversation or messages you want, then tap Recover and confirm.
Recently Deleted is a limited recovery window, not a permanent archive. If the messages are no longer there, recovery may require a qualifying older backup, and restoring that backup can replace newer device data.
Before making the change, make sure the iPhone is running a current iOS release and that you know any passcode, Apple Account, carrier, or app credentials the feature may require. If the labels on your screen do not exactly match these steps, use Settings search to find the named feature rather than choosing a similarly named control. Apple occasionally moves settings between iOS releases.