How Long Are Text Messages Kept For?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The text are stored in both locations. Some phone companies also keep records of sent text messages. They sit on the company's server for anywhere from

three days to three months

, depending on the company's policy. Verizon holds texts for up to five days and Virgin Mobile keeps them for 90 days.

Are text messages saved forever?

Most cell phone carriers don't permanently save the enormous amount of text-message data that is sent between users every day. … But even if your deleted text messages are off your carrier's server,

they may not be gone forever

.

Can you get text messages from 2 years ago?

Many phones have wireless backup capabilities, either through a built-in service or a third-party app. … If the most recent backup was made before you accidentally deleted the texts, you can restore that backup to your phone and the text messages will be restored to your phone as well.

Can old text messages be recovered?

If you

regularly back up your phone

, you might be able to recover a deleted text message. If your phone isn't routinely backed up, however, you may need to bring in recovery software or reach out to your service provider for help.

How far back can police track text messages?

Authorities can get access to unopened email messages from the last

180 days

, but they must get a warrant, first. The police may obtain your opened and unopened messages that are 180 days old or older with a subpoena.

How far back can text messages be retrieved on iPhone?

How far back can text messages be retrieved on iPhone? He states that messages

up to two years old

can be recovered, although this happens rarely. More often, the texts must be a year old or younger to be retrieved.

How can I get old text messages on my new phone?

  1. Open Google Drive.
  2. Go to the Menu.
  3. Choose Settings.
  4. Choose Google Backup.
  5. If your device has been backed up, you should see the name of your device listed.
  6. Select the name of your device. You should see SMS Text Messages with a timestamp indicating when the last backup took place.

How can I recover deleted messages without backup?

The fact that your messages aren't truly erased from your phone immediately gives you a narrow window of opportunity. In a worst-case scenario, you may be able to use

data recovery software

to find deleted text messages as long as they haven't yet been overwritten with new data.

How can I get old text messages back on my iPhone without backup?

So, if you want to retrieve deleted text messages on iPhone without backup,

Phonerescue for iOS

is the first and best way to preview the messages and get them back: Step 1. Download PhoneRescue for iOS to your PC or Mac computer, install and run it.

Can cops see deleted text messages?

So, can police recover deleted pictures, texts, and files from a phone? The answer is

yes

—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.

Can police find deleted messages?

So, can police recover deleted pictures, texts, and files from a phone? The answer is

yes

—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.

Can deleted texts be used in court?

Text message records must be obtained from a party's cell phone provider. An attorney can obtain a court order or subpoena to get the records directly from the service provider. … The only possible way to recover lost or deleted text messages

by hiring a forensic investigator to inspect the phone

.

Does iCloud save deleted text messages?

Once you've deleted a message,

you can't get it back

. If you don't need to keep your conversations up to date across your devices, you can turn off the Messages in iCloud feature. If you turn off Messages in iCloud on an iPhone or iPad, your message history will be included in a separate iCloud backup.

How can I retrieve old text messages from my iPhone?

  1. Go to iCloud.com and enter your Apple ID and password. …
  2. In the list of apps that appears, click the Messages app icon if it's present. …
  3. Locate the text messages you want to recover.

How do I find old text messages on my iPhone from years ago?

  1. Open the Messages app and enter the text conversation that you want to view the old messages.
  2. Touch the location of time (top-left corner of the screen) or network (top-right corner of the screen).
  3. Then you can quickly view the old messages from the beginning of the conversation.
Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.