How to Recover Deleted Instagram Messages [2025 Update]

Instagram, with its millions of users, has become a key platform for communication, especially through direct messages (DMs). Whether it’s text, photos, or videos, Instagram DMs make staying connected simple. But what if you accidentally delete important messages? This raises the question: Can you recover deleted Instagram messages?

Fortunately, with the right tools and methods, it’s possible to recover deleted Instagram messages. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to recover and view deleted Instagram messages. Let’s dive in!

Can Instagram Direct Messages Be Recovered?

Two common questions many Instagram users have are: “Can you recover deleted Instagram messages?” and “Can you see deleted messages on Instagram?” The good news is, yes, it’s possible! However, there are some limitations. Instagram doesn’t provide a built-in way to view or recover deleted messages, but there are a few workarounds.

In the next section, we’ll explore different methods to help you see and recover deleted Instagram messages on your iPhone.

Way 1. Recover Instagram Messages from User Whom You’ve Sent

Can I recover deleted Instagram messages? The answer is YES. When you delete messages on Instagram, you have only deleted the chat from your own side and the people you’re chatting with will still have a copy of the conversation.

So the easiest way to recover deleted Instagram messages is to reach out the people you chatted with and ask them to resend you the messages if thery were not deleted from their account.

Way 2. Recover Deleted Instagram Content via Recently Deleted

Imagine you’ve accidentally deleted a photo, video, Reel, IGTV video, or Instagram Story. Don’t worry! Instagram has a special folder called Recently Deleted that keeps a backup of your content.

However, Instagram’s Help Center clarifies that deleted messages cannot be recovered with the Recently Deleted feature – this option is only for photos, videos, Reels, and Stories. Also, there are time limits: deleted Stories can be recovered within 24 hours, while photos, videos, and Reels have a 30-day grace period.

To restore content from Recently Deleted:

• Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner to open your Profile. Then, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
• Under How You Use Instagram, select Your Activity. Scroll down to Recently Deleted. (Note: You won’t see this option unless you’ve deleted content recently.)
• Tap the type of content you want to recover (photo, video, or story) and then choose the data you wish to restore.
• Tap More options in the top-right corner and select Restore to Profile or Restore to bring the content back.

Way 3. Recover Deleted Instagram Messages from Instagram Data

When you delete Instagram messages on your iPhone, they will no longer available in your app but still saved on Instagram’s server. Your direct messages, photos, videos and other types of files are included in this data.

So, another possible way to recover deleted Instagram messages is by requesting data from Instagram. You can download Instagram data to extract and recover your deleted messages.

To recover deleted Instagram messages via Instagram data:

Step 1. Open Instagram and go to your Profile page. Tap the Profile icon, then select Your Activity.

Step 2. Scroll down and tap Download Your Information, then click Request a Download.

Step 3. Select your Instagram account, choose the data you want to download, and click Submit Request.

Step 4. When your data is ready, click Download, enter your password, and you’ll be able to download and view your Instagram messages.

Way 4. Recover Deleted Instagram Messages Using Third-party Tool

We hope the methods above helped you recover your deleted Instagram messages. If not, you can still retrieve deleted Instagram photos and videos using third-party data recovery tools. Fucosoft iPhone Data Recovery is a professional tool designed to recover lost or deleted Instagram messages, photos, videos, and other important data like WhatsApp messages directly from your iPhone. Plus, this tool allows you to preview lost data, so you can selectively recover deleted Instagram messages, even after blocking someone.

Why Choose Fucosoft iPhone Data Recovery

• Recover deleted photos & videos, messages, contacts, call logs, WhatsApp, Viber, WeChat, Kik, Line, notes, Safari History and more from iPhone/iPad/iPod.
• Directly recover data from iPhone/iPad, or extract data from iTunes/iCloud backup.
• Preview data in details before recovery and selectively recover what you need only.
• Works on all iOS devices like iPhone 16/15 and fully compatible with the latest iOS 18/17.

Steps on how to see deleted messages on Instagram and how to retrieve deleted Instagram messages on iPhone/iPad.

Step 1: Download and install Fucosoft iPhone Data Recovery on your PC or Mac. Once installed, open the program and select iOS Data Recovery.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable and click Next. Choose the data type from the next window and click Scan to start scanning.

Step 3: After the scan is complete, you’ll see your deleted Instagram messages. You can preview the recovered messages to check if the lost ones are found.

Step 4: If the messages are found, select the conversation and click the Recover to Computer button to restore the deleted Instagram messages.

This method will allow you to recover both your Instagram messages and photos on your iPhone.

Way 5. Recover Deleted Instagram Messages through Facebook [No Longer Works]

Facebook has acquired Instagram in 2012 and linked the company’s operations to its own. So, if you have accidentally deleted important Instagram messages, you can get back the messages from your connected Facebook account’s inbox. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Facebook webpage on any browser and sign in with your account that is linked with your Instagram account. Then check the Facebook Inbox.
2. On the left menu bar, tap on the “Instagram Direct” icon and you will find your Instagram Direct messages here.

FAQs about Recovering Deleted Instagtam Messages

How Long Does Instagram Keep Deleted Messages?

When you delete Instagram messages, they are moved to the Recently Deleted section, where they remain for 30 days. After this period, they are permanently deleted. You can access and recover these messages within the 30-day window.

Instagram may retain copies of your content in backup storage for up to 90 days in case of data loss or for legal purposes. However, this applies only to deleted messages and not messages that have been unsent.

Can a Connected Facebook Account Recover Deleted Instagram Messages?

No, your connected Facebook account cannot help recover deleted Instagram messages. Although Instagram and Facebook Messenger allowed cross-platform chats until December 2023, they do not synchronize messages. If you delete a message on Instagram, it won’t appear on Facebook, and vice versa.

Why Did My DM Conversation on Instagram Disappear?

If your DM conversation on Instagram has disappeared, it may have been deleted or reported. If it’s no longer in your inbox, the conversation might have been removed either by you or Instagram for violating its guidelines.

How Do I Download My Instagram Chat History?

To download your Instagram chat history, go to Settings > Privacy and Security. Under Data Download, click Request Download. After verifying your identity, you’ll receive an email with your account data, including your chat history.

How can I permanently delete Instagram messages on both sides?

If you’ve sent a message by mistake and want to remove it from both sides, press and hold the message, then select Unsend from the pop-up menu. This deletes the message for both you and the recipient. However, if the recipient has already seen the message or viewed it in the notification, it may still be visible to them.

The Bottom Line

Here are 5 ways to recover deleted Instagram direct messages on your iPhone. We hope this guide helps you retrieve any messages you may have accidentally deleted. To prevent losing important messages in the future, consider enabling chat backup, saving key messages to your highlights, or exporting your conversations to a file.