How to Recover Deleted Telegram Messages | 8 Proven Ways
Losing important Telegram messages can be frustrating, especially when you didn’t mean to delete them. There are over 10 billion messages sent daily on Telegram, so it’s easy to slip up and remove something valuable.
You may wonder if it's possible to recover deleted Telegram messages. The answer is yes, in some scenarios. Even though Telegram is known for its strong privacy features, there are still a few workarounds that might help you recover deleted messages.
In this guide, we will break down 8 proven methods to help you learn how to recover deleted Telegram messages.
Part 1. How to Recover Deleted Telegram Messages
Recovering deleted telegram messages isn't difficult if you use the right techniques.
Below are eight practical methods to help you recover your chats, each suited to different situations. Let’s break them down so you can choose what works best for your case.
Method 1. Undo Delete (Within Seconds)
Telegram gives you a short 5-second window to undo a deleted chat before it becomes permanent. It’s a built-in safety net, but you have to act fast. So, If you just deleted your Telegram messages —this is your best shot.
Once the time’s up, the chat is gone permanently—even Telegram support won’t be able to recover it. Therefore, this method only works if you can act quickly.
Best for: Accidental deletions that just happened within 5 seconds.
Follow these steps to undo your deleted Telegram messages:
Step 1. To remove a chat, tap and hold on it.
Step 2. Tap the “Delete” option when it appears.
Step 3. Once deleted, look for the Undo button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 4. Tap Undo within 5 seconds to restore the chat.
Important note: After those 5 seconds, the Undo button disappears, and the chat cannot be recovered by any method.
Pros
Built directly into Telegram.
Simple and instant to use.
No tools or setup are required.
Cons
Works only within 5 seconds.
No way to recover once the timer expires.
Doesn’t recover chats deleted earlier.
Method 2. Export Telegram data (Desktop only)
Telegram Desktop offers a powerful data export tool that lets you download all your data including personal chats, group messages, media, and more. Although there is no assurance that deleted messages will be recovered, the export may contain some messages that haven't been erased from Telegram's servers.
Best for: People who regularly use Telegram Desktop and want to create a backup telegram chat log or recover recent message history.
Here is how to export your Telegram data on Desktop version to recover your deleted Telegram messages:
Step 1. Launch the desktop version of Telegram and sign in.
Step 2. Click the menu icon (three lines), then click Settings, then click advanced.
Step 3. Scroll to Data and Storage and click Export Telegram data.
Step 4. Select what you want to export—personal chats, media files, groups, etc.
Step 5. Click Export and wait for Telegram to process your request.
Once completed, click SHOW MY DATA and open the export_results.html file to view your messages.
Pros
Gives you access to a wide range of data.
Useful for backups and archiving.
Can export media like images, videos, and files.
Cons
Only works on the desktop version.
May not include messages deleted long ago.
Not beginner-friendly—requires a few steps.
Method 3. Check Saved Messages
Telegram has a built-in personal cloud called “Saved Messages” where you can manually store anything you forward from other chats. If you previously saved before deleting the original, you’ll still find it safe and accessible on the Telegram cloud saved messages.
Best for: People who regularly save significant communications or material by forwarding them for their own use.
Follow these steps to use this method:
Step 1. Open Telegram on your device.
Step 2. Tap the menu symbol (three lines) in the upper-left corner.
Step 3. Select Saved Messages.
Step 4. Browse the chat to find the content you had previously saved.
Pros
Simple, secure, and always accessible.
Great for long-term storage.
No need for tools or external apps.
Cons
Only works if you forwarded messages before deleting.
Can get cluttered if overused.
Not helpful if you never used this feature in the past.
Method 4. Look in Telegram media folder
When someone sends you an image or video via Telegram, that media file is often saved automatically to your phone’s internal storage—especially if auto-download is enabled. So even if you delete the message from the app, the image might still live in your device’s Telegram media folder.
Best for: This method is best for recovering deleted images—not text, voice messages, or other media types.
Here are the steps access to your Telegram media folder to recover deleted Telegram messages:
Step 1. Open your phone’s File Manager.
Step 2. Go to Internal Storage > Telegram.
Step 3. To access the Telegram Images or Videos folder, tap on it.
Step 4. Scroll through and check for the deleted image.
💡 Tip: If your device doesn’t show Telegram folders in File Manager, try connecting your phone to a PC and explore the storage through USB. You’ll often find them in Internal Storage > Telegram.
Pros
Doesn’t require internet or software.
Fast and easy to access.
Can recover even older images if still stored locally.
Cons
Only works for images (not chats or text messages).
Will not work if you cleared your storage or didn’t enable auto-download.
Some devices don’t show this folder without a PC.
Method 5. Restore from Android cache (If not cleared)
Telegram stores temporary copies of media files (images, videos) in your Android cache. If your device hasn’t cleared this cache yet, you may be able to recover media from deleted messages—even if the chats themselves are gone. This is an advanced but effective method for retrieving media after deletion.
Best for: Tech-savvy Android users who want to dig into Telegram's cache to find deleted media files.
Follow these steps to restore from Android cache:
Step 1. Open a File Manager app.
Step 2. Go to: Internal Storage > Android > data > org.telegram.messenger > cache
Step 3. Explore subfolders like images, video, or photos.
Step 4. Search manually or by file types (.jpg, .png, .mp4, etc.)
Important note: If your phone has cleared the Telegram cache (either manually or automatically), this method won't work.
Pros
It can recover media even after chats are deleted.
Works without internet or special tools.
No need for Telegram to be open.
Cons
Doesn't recover text messages.
Cache may be cleared by the system.
May require tech know-how and advanced file manager apps.
Method 6. Restore via iCloud or iTunes (iPhone only)
Apple users can recover deleted Telegram messages using a backup created via iCloud or iTunes. These backups must have been created before the messages were deleted. This method works by restoring your entire device to a previous backup.
Best for: iPhone users with regular backups who want to restore deleted Telegram conversations and other data.
#1. Using iTunes
This method lets you recover deleted Telegram messages by restoring your iPhone from a previous iTunes backup.
If the backup was created before you lost the messages, you can bring them back along with other data. It’s ideal for users who regularly back up their iPhone to a computer.
Follow these methods to use iTunes to recover deleted Telegram messages:
Step 1. Use a USB cord to connect your iPhone to the computer.
Step 2. Launch iTunes or Finder, and select your device.
Step 3. Click Restore Backup.
Step 4. Choose the most recent backup that includes Telegram data.
Step 5. Wait for the restore process to complete.
#2. Using iCloud backup
You can restore your entire iPhone from an iCloud backup that includes your Telegram data. This is great for users who don’t use iTunes but have automatic iCloud backups enabled. Just make sure the backup was made before the messages were deleted.
Follow these steps to recover your deleted Telegram messages using iCloud:
Step 1. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
Step 2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Step 3. When your iPhone restarts, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.
Step 4. Sign in and select the backup containing your Telegram data.
Step 5. Wait for the restore to complete.
Important note: Both methods wipe your current data and replace it with an older backup. Make sure you backup your current data first if needed.
Pros
Can recover entire conversations, not just media.
Works for both text and media.
Ideal for iPhone users with regular iCloud/iTunes backups.
Cons
Requires full device restore (can overwrite newer data).
Must have backup created before deletion.
Process is longer and more complex than other methods.
Method 7. Use notification history apps (Android only)
Telegram messages generate push notifications when they arrive, and those notifications may contain the full content of the message. If the message is later deleted within Telegram, you might still find its content in your device's notification history—but only if logging was active and the notification wasn't cleared. Using notification history apps gives you access to this hidden log.
Best for: Recovering recently deleted messages that triggered a push notification (text only).
To recover deleted Telegram messages using notification history apps, follow these steps:
Step 1. Install a notification logging app like Notification History Log, Notisave, or Past Notifications from the Play Store.
Step 2. Launch the application and allow access to notifications.
Step 3. Check the app's log for Telegram message notifications.
Step 4. Look for messages you received before they were deleted in Telegram.
⚠️ Important note: Notification logs only work after the app is installed. If a message was deleted before installation, it won’t appear in the log. Also, media files like images or videos aren't stored in notifications—text-only.
Pros
Allows you to read deleted text messages.
Easy and quick to set up.
Great for catching unsaved text.
No root access required.
Cons
Only works after the app is installed.
Won’t recover images, videos, or files.
Notifications must not be cleared by the user/system.
Works only if Telegram notifications are enabled and not muted.
Method 8. Ask the other person
Sometimes the simplest way is also the most overlooked. If someone deleted a message on Telegram, they’re the only other person who has access to it. So, asking them directly might help you recover the message—especially in personal or friendly conversations.
Here is how you can ask someone if they deleted a Telegram message they sent to you;
Step 1. Send a message to the person who deleted the message.
Step 2. Politely ask what they had sent.
Step 3. If they’re willing, they can copy-paste or resend the message.
💡 Tip: This works best when the other person is cooperative or if the message was important and they understand why you're asking.
Pros
Doesn’t require any tools, apps, or settings.
May recover full message context, including meaning.
Best for personal or sensitive chats.
Completely safe and free.
Cons
Depends entirely on the other person’s willingness to help.
Sender may not remember or have deleted it as well.
Doesn’t work for group chats with unknown or unavailable members.
Unpredictable and not guaranteed.
Part 2. [Bonus] Is It Possible to See Someone's Deleted Telegram Messages
Yes, it is possible to see someone’s deleted Telegram messages, all you need is a monitoring tool. Monitoring tools like Msafely can help you monitor and view deleted Telegram messages, photos, videos and more files on someone’s phone. So, what is Msafely?
What is Msafely?
Msafely is a powerful phone monitoring app that allows you to track Telegram messages on someone else’s device—even after they’ve been deleted. It works quietly in stealth mode, so the person you’re monitoring won’t know the app is running in the background.
When you set up Msafely, it syncs all Telegram activity—including incoming, outgoing, and deleted messages—to your private Msafely Control Panel, which you can access anytime through your web browser.
Msafely is ideal for parents, guardians, or anyone with permission to monitor a phone. It provides a robust, secure, and user-friendly solution.
Key features of Msafely for tracking deleted Telegram messages
Here’s a deeper look at what Msafely can do, especially when it comes to monitoring deleted messages and Telegram activity:
Msafely logs all Telegram conversations—even if the other person deletes them. You’ll be able to see the full chat history, including messages that never show up again in the app.
Msafely allows you to view Telegram stories that the user shares, whether they’re posted publicly or shared with only a select group of friends.
You’ll have access to the details of voice and video calls made through Telegram. This includes the contact’s name, the call duration, and exact timestamps.
If the person uses Telegram to share locations or check in, Msafely pairs that data with GPS tracking to show you their real-time or past locations.
Steps to use Msafely to see someone’s deleted Telegram messages
Step 1. Go to Msafely official website and sign up for a free account with a valid email address.
Step 2. Choose whether the device you want to monitor is an Android or an iOS phone.
Step 3. Choose a monitoring plan that fits your needs. Msafely offers flexible packages for different monitoring time.
Step 4. Once set up, log in to your Msafely Control Panel and begin tracking Telegram messages—including those that were deleted—alongside other data like calls, GPS locations, and media files.
Other helpful features of Msafely
- Social media monitoring
Msafely doesn’t stop at Telegram. It also tracks activities on other platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and more. You’ll see messages, notifications, story views, and even deleted conversations from those apps.
- Call monitoring and recording
You can check all incoming, outgoing, and missed calls on the target phone. You can also monitor caller names, numbers, timestamps, and durations.
- GPS location tracking and geofencing
Msafely saves past location information and offers real-time GPS tracking. You can also set up geofencing, which sends you alerts whenever the device enters or leaves a specific area (like school, home, or a restricted zone).
- Access to media files
Every photo, video, audio file, or document shared or saved on the target phone can be accessed. Whether it was sent through Telegram or saved from another app, Msafely makes it viewable from your dashboard.
- Real-time alerts and keyword tracking
You can create custom alerts for specific words or phrases. Whenever those keywords appear in messages, searches, or browser history, you’ll get an instant notification.
- App and browser activity monitoring
Msafely monitors time spent on every application, what applications are downloaded, and what sites are visited—even when running incognito mode. Browsing history, pages saved, and online activity may be accessed in real time.
Part 3. Summary
Recovering deleted Telegram messages isn’t always a lost cause. You can recover deleted Telegram messages through several methods, depending on your situation and device.
If you act quickly, you can undo deletions right away. For those with backups, exporting data or restoring from iCloud/ iTunes can be effective. You can also check your saved messages or media folder for items you’ve previously stored, or use notification history apps
Lastly, if you need to see someone else’s deleted messages, tools like Msafely can help you monitor and retrieve the data, offering a powerful way to see deleted content.
Part 4. FAQs
Q1. Are deleted Telegram messages recoverable?
Deleted messages can indeed be recovered via methods like backups, data exportation, or even using third-party applications such as Msafely.
Q2. How can I restore deleted Telegram messages from a backup?
If you've made a cloud backup, then you can retrieve your messages by using the same Telegram account and restoring your chat history.
Q3. Can I recover Telegram messages on an iPhone?
Yes, as long as you have iCloud backups, you can restore your iPhone's Telegram messages using the backup or exporting data.
Q4. How can I prevent losing messages in the future?
To avoid losing important messages, save your Telegram chats to the cloud or export them to your device occasionally.