Instagram is one of the top apps for sharing photos, videos, and private messages. But what happens if you accidentally delete an important conversation or message? Don’t panic! In this guide, we’ll show you simple, step-by-step ways to find and recover deleted Instagram messages on both iPhone and Android—so you can get your chats back quickly and safely.
Are Instagram Messages Deleted Forever?
Deleted Instagram DMs are gone for good—there’s no "Recently deleted" folder for messages like there is for photos or stories. But all hope isn’t lost. Some data might still be stored in the cloud or on your devices, giving you a chance to get them back. Let’s look at ways you can check and possibly recover them.
🔍 Instagram Message Recovery Methods at a Glance
Before diving into the step-by-step guides, here’s a quick side-by-side look at all the ways you can recover deleted Instagram messages—so you can instantly pick the method that fits your situation.
Method | Best For | Pros | Cons | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Data Download | Checking recent deletions | Official & free | May miss older messages | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
2. Linked Accounts | Message still on other device | Instant, no tools | Won’t work if unsent | ⭐⭐⭐ |
3. Gbyte Recovery | No backup, deep scan | High success rate, free scan | Only for iOS devices | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
4. iCloud / Google Drive | Regular device backups | Full chat restore | Erases current data | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
5. IG Support | Legal/urgent cases | Official help | Rarely for normal chats | ⭐⭐ |
Method 1: Find Deleted Instagram Messages via Data Download
One of the first and most official ways to try finding deleted messages is by downloading your Instagram data directly from Meta. But it requires patience and won’t always include every deleted chat.
Step-by-Step:
Go to Instagram Settings Open Instagram > Tap on your profile > Tap the hamburger icon (☰) in the top right corner > Select Your activity > Scroll down and tap Download your information.
Request Your Data You’ll be redirected to Meta’s request form. Choose your Instagram account, enter your email, and request the data in JSON format for easier readability.
Wait for the Email Instagram will email you a downloadable file. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours depending on the account size.
Extract and Search the Data Once you receive the zip file, extract it and look for a folder named
messages. Inside, you’ll find files likeinbox.jsonthat may contain message history—including some that were previously deleted.
Limitations:
Messages permanently deleted long ago might not appear.
This method won’t show messages deleted before the last backup.
Method 2: Find Deleted Messages by Checking Linked Accounts
If you’ve messaged someone whose account is connected across devices—such as Instagram, Facebook Messenger, or Meta’s centralized messaging—your deleted messages might still exist on their side. To check, try asking the other person to review their chat history. If the message was only deleted on your end, they might still have a copy. However, if the message was unsent, it’s likely gone for both parties. While this method is straightforward, it can be surprisingly effective for recovering recently or partially deleted messages.
Method 3: Use Gbyte Recovery Tool to Restore Lost Instagram Chats
If you're using an iPhone and want a powerful, user-friendly tool to help retrieve deleted Instagram messages, Gbyte Recovery can be a game-changer. Whether you accidentally delete important chats, lose messages after an update, or need to recover media from old conversations, this data recovery tool offers a reliable solution with deep scanning capabilities.
How Gbyte Recovery Works:
Free scans local storage, app cache, and residual files to recover deleted Instagram chats—even if they were removed recently.
Recovers WhatsApp messages, SMS texts, photos, videos, and call logs, making it a versatile tool for all your data restoration needs.
Simple, intuitive interface that guides you through the recovery process without requiring technical expertise.
Scans local storage, app cache, and residual files to recover deleted Instagram chats.
Steps to Use Gbyte Recovery:
Download and Install Gbyte Recovery on your PC.
Log in to your Apple account and select the 'Instagram' data types.
Run a deep scan to find any deleted message fragments or backups.
Preview and restore deleted messages to your device or computer without overwriting your existing Instagram data.
This method is especially useful when you've never backed up your data manually but need access to messages deleted from your app.
Why Gbyte Recovery Works Better Than Other Methods
Most basic recovery apps only look at your current files, which means they often miss deleted content. Gbyte recovery works differently: it rebuilds lost data by looking at your iPhone’s change history. Even if:
The message or video was deleted weeks ago
You never backed it up
You emptied the “Recently Deleted” folder
You’re on the latest iOS version
The file isn’t visible anywhere
…it can still recover it. Think of it like giving your iPhone a time-lapse view of its data—Gbyte sees what used to exist and restores it.
Plus, Gbyte is safe and easy: no jailbreaks, no risky hacks. It works by analyzing system snapshots without touching your current data.
Example: How Gbyte’s Snapshot Technology Works
Snapshot A (10:00 AM): Chat message “Happy Birthday!” exists
Snapshot B (10:05 AM): Chat message is deleted
Gbyte: Detects the missing message → Restores it
That’s why Gbyte succeeds where other apps fail.
Method 4: Find Lost Messages in iCloud or Google Drive Backups
If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud or Android to Google Drive, there's a chance you can restore deleted Instagram messages—indirectly.
For iPhone Users:
Check your latest iCloud backup date.
If it’s from a time when the messages still existed, you can factory reset your iPhone and restore the backup.
Note: This erases current data, so proceed with caution.
For Android Users:
Go to Settings > Google > Backup.
Check if the Instagram app data was backed up.
If yes, factory reset your device and restore the previous backup.
Although time-consuming and risky (due to data loss), this method has helped users retrieve deleted data, especially if the message was tied to an app cache or system storage.
Method 5: Request Deleted Messages via Instagram Support
If the message is business-critical or involves harassment or abuse, you may try contacting Instagram Support directly.
Go to Instagram Help Center > Report a Problem.
While it's unlikely Instagram will retrieve messages for everyday deletion, they might respond to legal or serious inquiries regarding deleted content.
How to Never Lose Instagram Messages Again – 5 Prevention Tips
Download Your Instagram Data Regularly. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Request Download to back up all messages.
Enable Auto-Sync with Facebook Messenger. Link your IG account to Messenger to save shared chats across platforms.
Turn On iCloud/Google Drive Backups. iOS/Android users can auto-save device data, including cached DMs.
Avoid Clearing Chat History. Deleting conversations removes them permanently—archive instead.
Use Screenshots for Critical Chats. Manually save important messages as a last-resort backup.
FAQs About Deleted Instagram Messages
Can I see deleted Instagram messages from another device?
If the messages were only deleted from one device, you may still access them on another where the account was logged in—but only if the app data hasn’t synced yet.
Do messages delete from both ends when unsent?
Yes. If someone unsends a message, it disappears from both the sender’s and receiver’s chat history.
Are Instagram DMs stored on Meta servers?
Yes, temporarily. However, once deleted (or unsent), they are typically purged and not accessible through the app.
Final Thoughts
Losing Instagram messages can be frustrating, especially when they hold important information or sentimental value. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to try to find deleted Instagram messages, from using Instagram’s official data download tool to powerful third-party solutions like Gbyte Recovery.
If you’re dealing with an urgent recovery situation, we recommend starting with the data download method and then using Gbyte Recovery for a deeper scan. It’s reliable, secure, and works across iPhone devices.
