How to Recover Instagram Messages on Android

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 17, 2020

Sometimes you delete Instagram messages before realizing there may have been info in them you wanted to keep for reference. Though there's no way to get your messages back from Instagram's servers, you may be able to retrieve them using an Android recovery app or by asking the sender for a screenshot. This wikiHow shows you how to recover deleted Instagram messages on your Android.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Requesting Backups from the Other Person

1
Open the Instagram app. This has a purple-orange gradient icon with a white camera in it that can be accessed from the apps drawer.
- If you haven't logged in already, make sure to do so.
2
Tap on the Profile
tab. This is located in the menu pane at the bottom of the screen.

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3
Tap the Search icon. It's the magnifying glass in the bar that runs along the bottom of the screen.
4
Search for the person who sent or received the message. You can do this by typing the person's Instagram name into the Search bar at the top of the screen. When you find the right person, tap their name in the search results.
5
Tap Message. It's near the top of the person's profile. This opens a new message to that person.
6
Write a message asking for a copy of your messages. Send a brief but courteous message asking for a screenshot or a quick copy-and-paste.
7
Tap Send. It's on the far right side of the typing area. Once you send the message, you'll just have to wait for a response.
- Since this method depends largely on the other user to send the messages to you, there may be a significant wait time or a chance they may not have the messages themselves.
- If the other person doesn’t have copies of your messages, then proceed with the steps in the “Using Fonelab Android Data Recovery” method.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Using Fonelab Android Data Recovery

1
Go to https://www.fonelab.com/android-data-recovery in your computer's web browser. This will direct you to the page for Fonelab Android Data Recovery, which is a tool that allows you to recover deleted data from your Android.
- Fonelab’s program isn’t the only software of its type, but it does have some of the more positive reviews. Always fully research any app before downloading and installing it on your computer, phone, or tablet.
2
Tap Download. This will download and install Fonelab Android Data Recovery onto your computer.
3
Open Fonelab Android Data Recovery. Once you have the program installed, you can begin setting up your Android to connect to it in order to recover data.
4
Enable USB debugging on your Android.
- Swipe down from the top of the home screen and tap the Settings {{android|settings} gear.
- Select About device (or About phone) and locate Build number.
- Tap Build number 7 times to enable Developer options.
- Go back to the Settings menu and tap Developer options.
- Switch USB Debugging to the On
  position.
5
Connect your Android to your computer via USB. Once you have USB debugging activated, you can connect your Android to your computer to sync it with Fonelab Android Data Recovery.
6
Select Messages as the type of files to recover. It's under the "Contacts & Messages" category.
7
Tap Next.
8
Tap Allow, Grant, or Authorize. You'll have to give the appropriate permission to the app before it will begin recovering your messages.
9
Select messages to recover. Once you’ve run Fonelab, you should see a new page listing messages recovered from your Android on your computer. Tap any messages you want to recover so a blue circle with a white checkmark appears in the top-left of the preview icon.
10
Tap Recover. This will complete the message recovery process and will allow you to save your recovered messages in the location of your choice.

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