Have you ever found yourself scrolling through your Instagram DMs, only to realize that a meaningful conversation has vanished? Or Have you deleted the DM and suddenly realized you shouldn’t?
It might be frustrating and confusing at the same time. We understand that deleted messages on Instagram can feel like a lost treasure. But relax! We have good news for you.
There are ways to see deleted messages on Instagram and retrieve those precious conversations. Yes, you heard it right.
In this post, we’ll be discussing why someone might want to recover their lost chats and explore various methods for doing just that.
So, if you are wondering how to see deleted messages on Instagram or if it’s even possible to find those missing threads, then you’re at the right place.
Why Would Someone Want to See Deleted Messages?
Are you wondering why someone would want to see those deleted messages? People often seek to see deleted messages for various reasons.
It could be either personal or to retrieve the lost detail. Besides these, look below to explore other reasons for the same:
- As stated above, one common reason could be the desire to retrieve details that may have been lost in a moment of haste.
- Another reason might stem from curiosity or regret after ending a partnership. In that case, you may want to revisit past discussions to understand what went wrong or simply refresh memories.
- In addition, some might be compelled to check deleted DMs for potential misunderstandings. You all will agree with the fact that text messages do not define emotions.
If you’re also curious about privacy concerns related to social media platforms, you might want to check out whether Instagram notifies screenshots of stories or explore the meaning behind the term Instagram user in your chat lists.
Can You See Deleted Messages on Instagram?
No, of course, once messages are deleted on Instagram, they cannot be retrieved. However, the only possible way is to use an Instagram recovery tool or another workaround (as mentioned in this guide).
Want to explore further tips for improving your Instagram experience? Consider learning how to reset your Instagram explore page to refresh your feed and make it more relevant.
How to Recover Deleted Messages on Instagram Using Instagram Data?
If you have knowingly or unknowingly deleted a message that you might think is crucial to keep, then you can still retrieve it. This is possible by the Instagram data download feature.
Have you heard about it earlier? Or It’s your first time knowing it? Well, if you are not aware of this feature, then let us provide you with a brief description of it.
It is a built tool that allows users to access the entire Account information, including DMS that may have been lost or deleted.
So if you have deleted a few messages from your iOS or Android device, the data still remains on Instagram’s servers. The best part about this feature is it allows individuals to download the stored information, including photos, videos, and messages.
The only setback with this feature is that you can only access it via the webpage as you can’t access it on the mobile app.
With that said, let’s get started with the process for the same:
- Launch the web browser of your choice (for example: Google Chrome) and search for Instagram.
- Sign into your account to move ahead.
- Click on your profile icon that is placed in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select ”Profile” from the menu.
- Once you are on your profile, click on the “Edit Profile” button.
- Up next, from the pop-up menu, you have to click on the “Privacy and Security” features.
- Scroll down a bit until you find the Data Download section. Beneath this header, find and click on the “Request Download” option.
- On the directed page, you will be prompted to enter the email address. Just do that.
- From the list of options, choose the download format between HTML or JSON as per your preference.
- Click “Next”.
- Now you are supposed to verify your identity. For that, you have to enter your password.
- Then, hit the “Request Download” button.
- Within a minute, you will get a link from Instagram that will take you to the data files you have requested. But where do you get the link? The answer is on your registered email.
- Open Gmail and navigate toward the message from Instagram with the subject “Your Instagram Information”.
- Hit the “Download Information” button to move ahead with the process.
- At this point, you will be directed back to Instagram, where you have to enter your credentials. Then, click “Log In”.
- Now that you are on the page from where you can obtain your data, click on the “Download Information” option. All the details are now downloaded to your system.
- Visit File Explorer, navigate towards the downloaded zipped file, and unzip the folder.
- If you have opted for the HTML option, then you have to go to the messages >> inbox >> [Named folder] >> and click on the message.html file.
Conversely, if you have opted for the JSON option, you have to browse for and open the file named messages.json with a text editor. Right-click and choose between “Open With…” or “Edit with…”.
- Whatever you have chosen, the file will now display all the messages stored on the Instagram server using the HTML folder.
- Finally, each and every message from your DM is now available in the “messages” folder of the zipped download.
Want to make your digital life simpler? Find out how to make a Twitter account private or explore whether Facebook notifies screenshots to manage your online interactions better.
How to Recover Deleted Messages From Instagram: Alternative Ways
If you’ve searched for deleted conversations on Instagram and haven’t found success, don’t lose hope just yet. Still, there are a few alternative methods that are worth exploring.
You can find them listed below:
From Android Notification History
Another way to answer your question of how to recover deleted messages from Instagram is by enabling Android Notification history. This feature is available only on Android 11 or above.
To make the most of this feature, there is only one thing to keep in mind which is to enable the notification history feature before you delete any message on Instagram. Otherwise, you can skip this way and try out third-party data recovery apps.
Anyway, if you have enabled this feature before deleting the message, then follow these steps to see recently deleted Instagram messages:
- Launch “Settings” on your Android device.
- From the settings menu, select “Notifications”.
- Now, scroll down a bit and tap on the “Advanced Settings” option.
- From the directed page, click on “Notification History” and then turn it on.
- Once you see the Instagram tab click on the downward arrow to open the drop-down menu.
- Finally, you can see the deleted messages from Instagram. It even reflects deleted messages by the sender.
Using Other Third-Party Data Recovery Apps
The last way to retrieve recently deleted messages on Instagram is by utilizing third-party Data recovery apps, which can be found in the App Store.
As we have mentioned earlier, the deleted data is not deleted from the device permanently. Instead, it still remains in your device as cache files.
So what happens is, third-party apps scan the system for all the deleted files that haven’t been overwritten yet. After locating those files, the app retrieves and reassembles them in order to restore the deleted or lost data.
After that, it finally recovers data into separate folders and is up for view.
Tips for Avoiding Losing Important Messages in the Future
People learn from their mistakes. With that said, it’s ideal to avoid falling into the same situation again and again or avoid losing important messages on Instagram in the future.
Look at the tips noted below:
- Enable Notifications: Keep alerts turned on so you don’t miss important conversations.
- Regularly Check DMs: Regularly engage with your DMs. In this way, you’ll be less likely to overlook important details or accidentally delete something.
- Use the Archive Feature Wisely: This feature is especially useful if you want to declutter your inbox at the same time you’re not ready to delete a conversation. However, archiving chats maintains order and preserves access.
- Take a Screenshot: If you find something unwanted and suspect that the sender will delete it later, then take SS of the chat to save it for later.
To Sum Up
Lost conversations can feel like lost connections on Instagram. On the contrary, knowing how to see deleted messages can be a game-changer. Therefore, recovering those messages is often possible with the right process and steps.
While retrieving deleted messages is feasible under certain circumstances, it is always ideal to keep track of vital conversations as they happen.
Next time, consider the tips mentioned above to ensure that meaningful moments aren’t accidentally erased from your digital life.
