When it comes to private and secure messaging, Telegram is among the most popular apps. But what if you accidentally delete an important message or lose a meaningful chat? Luckily, there are ways you might still be able to recover your deleted messages on Telegram.
In this blog post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about recovering those messages, whether you’re using Telegram on Android, iOS, or desktop.
1. Check Your Saved Messages
If you forwarded any messages to the “Saved Messages” chat, they will still be there even if you delete the original conversation. Here’s how to access it:
- Open Telegram and tap on the three-line menu at the top.
- Select “Saved Messages” from the list.
- Use the search function within “Saved Messages” to find specific messages.
2. Use the Undo Feature for Immediate Recovery
Telegram briefly shows an “Undo” option when you delete a message or chat. This option is only available for about five seconds after deletion, so act quickly:
- As soon as you delete a message, look for the “Undo” option that pops up at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap it immediately to recover the deleted content.
3. Explore Telegram’s Export Data Option (Desktop Only)
For desktop users, Telegram allows data exports, which can sometimes help recover deleted messages if they were previously backed up. Here’s how:
- Open Telegram on your desktop and navigate to “Settings” from the hamburger menu.
- Select “Advanced” and click “Export Telegram Data.”
- Check the types of data you’d like to export, such as messages, photos, or videos.
- Click “Export” and view the exported HTML file on your computer.
4. Search Through Your Device’s File Manager for Media
If you’ve deleted an image or video in a Telegram chat, it may still be accessible via your phone’s File Manager. Here’s how to find it:
- Open the File Manager app on your device.
- Go to “Internal Storage” > “Telegram.”
- Check the “Telegram Images” or “Telegram Video” folder for any media that might still be stored on your device.
5. Use Third-Party Recovery Software
If you’re comfortable with third-party software, certain recovery tools like iSeeker or Dr.Fone can scan your device and potentially recover deleted messages. Keep in mind that these tools usually involve connecting your phone to a computer, and there may be risks, such as privacy concerns or costs associated with the software. Here’s how they typically work:
- Install and open the recovery software on your computer.
- Connect your device and follow the instructions to begin a scan.
- Check the results for any recovered messages or media from Telegram.
6. Check Telegram’s Notification History on Android
On Android, you can sometimes view deleted Telegram messages through the Notification History feature. Here’s how to enable it:
- Open “Settings” on your device.
- Go to “Apps & Notifications” > “Notifications” > “Notification History.”
- Toggle the feature on. Now, any new messages you receive from Telegram will be logged in your notification history, even if they’re deleted from the chat.
7. Restore from a Google Drive or iCloud Backup
If your Telegram data is linked to a Google Drive or iCloud backup, this could be a solution, especially if you have an older version of the app that allowed backups. To check:
- Open Google Drive or iCloud on your device.
- Look for any saved data from Telegram.
- You may be able to restore a previous chat backup if you were syncing your data previously.
8. Check with the Other Chat Participant(s)
If none of the above options work, reach out to the other person in the chat to see if they still have the messages on their device. They can easily forward you a copy or screenshot the content if it’s still available.
Final Thoughts
While Telegram doesn’t have a built-in feature for retrieving deleted messages, these methods provide several ways to potentially recover lost conversations. To prevent losing important messages in the future, consider backing up essential chats by forwarding them to “Saved Messages” or saving media files to your device.