Text messages history gone prior to 2023

I have iPhone 12 Pro Max using IOS 16.3.1. I can NOT locate any text messages history prior to January 2023. What have I done in troubleshooting:

  1. I’ve always had “Forever” (keep) selected for messages in my settings
  2. tried searching in conversations
  3. reset my “all settings”
  4. confirmed iCloud backup “On”
  5. turned off iMessage and mms in settings and turned back on
  6. looked in iPhone storage-top conversations
  7. restarted my phone
  8. I’ve done every troubleshooting step I could find on Google/Safari

And STILL no prior text history

Help!!!!!! Anyone????? Please. I have to locate a conversation that took place in June or July of 2022

iPhone 12 Pro Max, iOS 16

Posted on Mar 15, 2023 1:33 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 17, 2023 9:14 AM

Hello ddcdds,


You completed some greats steps in trying to recover those messages. In your troubleshooting, did you also check to see if there's anything in the Recently Deleted folder? Here's how to check: Recover deleted text messages on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


If that doesn't help, you mention using iCloud to backup. If you have an available backup where the messages existed, you could restore them by restoring your backup. Though you'll need to keep in mind that when you restore from a backup, you lose all data from the data of the backup until present time. Please note, the messages are only included in a backup when "When you use Messages in iCloud or turn on iCloud Photos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud. That means that they're not included in your iCloud Backup.". Those details can be found in Note 2 at the bottom of the page here: What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support


Here's how to locate a backup and how to restore too:


Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


Let us know how it goes.


Take care!


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 17, 2023 9:14 AM in response to ddcdds

Hello ddcdds,


You completed some greats steps in trying to recover those messages. In your troubleshooting, did you also check to see if there's anything in the Recently Deleted folder? Here's how to check: Recover deleted text messages on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


If that doesn't help, you mention using iCloud to backup. If you have an available backup where the messages existed, you could restore them by restoring your backup. Though you'll need to keep in mind that when you restore from a backup, you lose all data from the data of the backup until present time. Please note, the messages are only included in a backup when "When you use Messages in iCloud or turn on iCloud Photos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud. That means that they're not included in your iCloud Backup.". Those details can be found in Note 2 at the bottom of the page here: What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support


Here's how to locate a backup and how to restore too:


Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


Let us know how it goes.


Take care!


Mar 23, 2023 8:33 AM in response to ddcdds

Yep just noticed this after updating to iOS 16.3.1. In the main message thread, all messages are gone up to about 24 hours for me. I can still see all the attachments from years back by tapping on the persons name and looking at the attachments but all the messages are gone up to around 24 hours.


It feels like an iOS bug that most have not yet noticed. I updated a few weeks ago and just now noticed it.

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Text messages history gone prior to 2023

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