How to Recover Deleted Messages on Facebook Messenger (2024)

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This article explains some workarounds for retrieving a deleted Facebook Messenger message. These include reviewing your archived messages, downloading your Facebook data in the hopes that your message is still on the server, and asking your contact for a copy of the conversation.

Check Your Archived Messages

An archived message in Messenger is hidden from your inbox but isn't permanently deleted. It's possible that you selected Archive instead of Delete. It's an easy mistake to make, and you'll be pleased you did because finding archived Facebook messages is simple.

From the Messenger App

One way to uncover conversations you archived is through the Messenger app. Here's how it works in the Android app (the directions should be similar on an iPhone):

1. Open Messenger and tap the three-line menu at the top.

2. Tap Archive.

3. If the chat was archived, you'll see it here. Tap it to open the conversation and find your "deleted" messages.

   

From the Messenger Website

Archived Facebook Messenger conversations are also available from the desktop website. To get there, simply open the Archived chats page directly or tap the last item from the menu on the left.

Download Your Facebook Data

Your Messenger messages are stored on Facebook's servers, so you can request a copy of them at any time. This works from the mobile app and the Facebook website. Learn how to get an archive of all your Facebook data, or follow these steps to see how to request just your messages from the app:

1. Tap the three-line menu button at the top of Messenger.

2. Tap the Settings button.

3. Scroll to the bottom and tap See more in Accounts Center.

   

4. Go to Your information and permissions > Download your information > Download or transfer information.

   

5. Select the account that has the messages you want to download, then tap Next.

6. Choose Specific types of information.

7. Tap Messages, then choose Next.

   

8. Choose where to save your messages, then tap Next. You can download a copy to your device or upload it directly to Google Drive or Dropbox.

9. Pick the Date range you're interested in and then tap Create files.

10. You'll get a notification when the file is ready; tap Download to receive it. Open the archive and look through your messages for the conversation you want to recover.

    

Ask Your Contact

Even if you are unsuccessful in retrieving the message, your contact may still have a copy of the chat. Ask that person to send the messages back to you or take a screenshot of the conversation thread and send you the image.