I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve wanted to recover deleted messages on Instagram. I like to keep my inbox clear, but sometimes I end up needing something that I already trashed. So I was on the hunt for a way to view deleted Instagram direct messages. Read along to get your answers.
Can you retrieve Instagram DMs from users whom you chat with?
Well, this is a no-brainer, but yes. This is the most straightforward and reliable way of recovering your deleted Instagram messages. When you delete something, it only gets rid of the conversation on your side. So the person or group with whom you were chatting will still have a copy (unless you’ve unsent the message).
You could just ask them to resend the message you need, and you’ll be sorted in no time. But if this is not an option for you, read along as I fact-check each method.
Can you recover deleted Instagram messages from Facebook?
You will come across many articles on the net claiming that you can recover Instagram direct messages from your connected Facebook account’s inbox. It seems like this was a convenient way to view your deleted chats previously, but unfortunately, it’s no longer possible.
With the latest update to Facebook, I couldn’t find any way of viewing deleted Instagram messages on my connected Facebook account as it also delete DMs from FB inbox. So, this method no longer works.
Does Instagram data download include deleted messages?
I had my hopes set that this Instagram data download method would work to help me recover deleted DMs. I tried the process on my iPhone, Android, and Mac and it involves plenty of steps (Settings → Security/Privacy and Security → Data Download → wait for up to 2 days). But the long and short is that you have to request data through your Instagram account.
Following this, Instagram will compile all your data and send you an email with a zip attachment.
While I received the attachment with the data, I was disappointed to see that it did not contain my deleted messages. It mostly had the chats that I still had saved in my Instagram inbox.
So, this method doesn’t work for recovering deleted Instagram messages.
Using third-party tools to restore deleted Instagram DMs
Many third-party tools claim to help you with message recovery on Instagram and other platforms like WhatsApp. However, I tried several such as iMyFone and Fucosoft but they did not work for me. While they offer a way to recover messages from other apps like WhatsApp and WeChat, Instagram is not on the list yet.
Can you recover Instagram direct messages online?
I came across an Instagram Message Recovery online site that claims to help you view deleted Instagram messages. You simply have to enter your username or profile URL and wait for the tool to work.
However, before you can see the recovered messages, you have to fill in an online survey. Unfortunately, the site said that there were no surveys available in my area so I could not complete the process and view my messages. Therefore, you might like to try this hack for yourself to see if you have any luck.
So, in a nutshell, it looks like there is no real way to retrieve deleted messages on Instagram. Your best bet is to avoid deleting messages as they are securely stored in the cloud. You can access them whenever you need them.
You may also like to read:
- How to stop Instagram auto-refresh on iPhone
- How to use Instagram Sensitive Content Control
- How to add pronouns to your Instagram profile
- Set up a custom message reply for incoming calls on iPhone
Mehak has a master’s degree in communication and over ten years of writing experience. Her passion for technology and Apple products led her to iGeeksBlog, where she specializes in writing product roundups and app recommendations for fellow Apple users. When not typing away on her MacBook Pro, she loves being lost in a book or out exploring the world.
Thank you for being honest! This is the only post I have come across that was honest. You are correct, there is no way of retrieving those deleted message (at least not anymore). I’m sure it’s somewhere on Facebook/Instagram server but ah, it’s not accessible by the users. I’m sure If there were some type of investigation where they had to provide those info, I’m sure they would be able to retrieve them. I needed to retrieve a deleted message that contained some info I needed, but it was deleted from both myself and the other user. Hopefully in the near future, they will give us back access to ALL of our data.