How to See Deleted Messages on Messenger | Full Guide (2025)
In 2025, Messenger ranks as one of the top 3 most-used messaging apps globally, with users spending an average of 30 minutes a day on the platform. With that much activity, it’s no surprise that users delete messages often—sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose.
You may be a parent worried about your child's private conversations, or a partner noticing that messages are missing. You could also simply attempt to retrieve information that was lost during a crucial conversation. The big question is: Can you really see deleted messages on Messenger?
Even though Facebook doesn’t make it easy, there are a few reliable methods you can try to uncover those deleted Messenger messages. We'll show you how to see deleted messages on Messenger in this guide.
Part 1. Top 4 Ways to See Deleted Messages on Messenger
Now that you know not all “deleted” messages are gone forever, how can you retrieve deleted messages on Messenger? Let's discuss the four best ways to view them.
Way 1. Use a monitoring app-Msafely (Best for parents and relationships)
If you’re serious about seeing deleted messages on Messenger—especially in situations involving your child’s safety or concerns in a relationship—Msafely is one of the most effective tools you can use.
Msafely is an efficient monitoring app that gives you full access to someone’s Messenger activity, including messages that have been deleted or unsent. You can also see the other person’s phone location, texts, calls, emails, and more.
Because Msafely works silently in the background, the person using the phone won’t even know it’s running. It’s cloud-based too, which means you can access everything from your own phone or computer without needing to physically touch their device once connected. And yes, it works on both Android and iOS.
Key features of Msafely
Msafely is packed with features designed specifically to help you monitor Facebook Messenger activity, even if someone tries to cover their tracks:
Msafely captures Messenger messages before they’re deleted or unsent, giving you access to the original content.
Whether it’s private one-on-one chats or group messages, you can read every conversation—even hidden ones.
See any stories the person posts on Messenger, including content that disappears after 24 hours.
Get insights into Messenger call logs, including who they called, when, and for how long.
Know exactly when each message was sent or received.
Depending on the phone and settings, you may even see screenshots of chat activity for extra visibility.
Steps to use Msafely to see deleted messages on Messenger
Step 1. Go to the Msafely website and register for a free account.
Step 2. Choose Android or iPhone depending on what you need to monitor.
Step 3. Choose the plan that fits your needs, and complete the setup process.
Step 4. Log in to your control panel to remotely monitor all activities on the target phone, including deleted Messenger messages as well as other social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and more.
Way 2. Check archived conversations
Sometimes, what you think is “deleted” may have just been archived—especially if you're using Messenger regularly. Archiving is like hiding a chat without removing it completely. This often happens by accident, and people don’t even realize the conversation is still there.
How to find Messenger archived chats on mobile:
Step 1. On your Android or iPhone, launch the Messenger app.
Step 2. Tap Your Profile Icon in the top-left corner (or the three-line menu).
Step 3. Select “Archived Chats” from the menu.
Step 4. Browse Archived Messages—if the conversation you’re looking for is there, swipe left on it.
Step 5. Unarchive the Chat by tapping “Unarchive,” and it’ll return to your main chat list.
On Desktop:
Step 1. Go to Messenger website and log in.
Step 2. Choose “Archived Chats.” from the left menu
Step 3. Browse through your archived messages and restore the ones you need.
Way 3. Download Facebook data
If a message isn’t in your archives and you’re still trying to figure out how to recover deleted messages on Facebook Messenger, don’t worry—there’s another trick you can try.
Facebook also includes a "Download Your Information" feature that enables you to request a full copy of your account, including Messenger conversations. Even though this won’t recover messages that were permanently deleted or unsent, it may still help you find older ones you thought were gone.
Here is How to download Facebook data on Mobile and Desktop:
Step 1. Open Messenger app on your phone or go to Messenger website.
Step 2. Tap the menu (three lines), scroll down, and select Settings.
Step 3. Select “See More in Accounts Centre”
Step 4. Download Your Information under Your Information and Permissions.
Step 5. Click on Download
Step 6. Select only Messages as the data you want to download.
Step 7. Choose a timeframe or select All time.
Step 8. Set to HTML and medium or low media quality.
Step 9. Tap Create File and wait for Facebook to notify you.
Step 10. When it’s ready, download the ZIP, extract it, and open the messages folder to read your chats.
Way 4. Ask the other person
Sometimes, the easiest solution is the one we don’t think about. If a message was only deleted from your side, it might still be visible to the other person in the chat. Facebook Messenger only removes messages completely from both sides if someone uses the “Unsend” option.
So if you’re dealing with a lost message and it’s appropriate, consider reaching out and asking the other person directly. This could be especially helpful in these situations:
You accidentally deleted a chat with a coworker and you need to double-check what was said.
You’re trying to recover a personal message shared with a friend or partner.
You’re a parent who noticed your child deleted a message and wants to ask the sender for clarity.
Just keep it respectful—how you ask matters. A simple message like, “Hey, I think I deleted our Messenger chat by accident—could you resend that message?” can go a long way.
Part 2. Bonus Tip: What If Messages Are Permanently Gone?
What do you do if you know a Messenger message is lost forever? Unfortunately, once messages are unsent, deleted by both, or lost due to a technical issue, there is not much you can do to retrieve them. However, there are a few things you can do so that you do not lose important messages in the future.
When messages can't be recovered:
There are certain cases where recovery isn't possible:
- Unsending: If the other person unsends a message, it’s gone for both of you.
- Permanent deletion: If you or the other person manually deletes messages and they’re wiped from both devices, they cannot be retrieved.
What you can do to prevent future losses:
- Enable message backups
Make sure your messages are securely kept by regularly backing them up.. On Facebook, you can download your information periodically, as mentioned earlier, and save a copy of your conversations to keep them accessible.
- Use monitoring tools in advance
Tools like Msafely can help you monitor and archive your messages before they’re ever deleted. This is especially helpful for parents or anyone who needs to keep an eye on critical communications in real time.
- Archive important conversations
Instead of deleting messages, archive them. This keeps them hidden from your main chat list but still accessible whenever you need them. This way, you won’t lose track of important chats down the line.
Part 3. Summary: What’s the Best Option for You?
There is no doubt that when it comes to recovering deleted messages on Messenger, Msafely is by far the best option.
Other methods, like downloading your Facebook data or checking archived chats, can work in certain situations but aren’t always reliable and can take a lot of time. Msafely, however, offers a simple, effective, and ongoing way to monitor messages and other activities without the other person knowing.
Msafely is perfect for parents wanting to keep track of their kids' messages or anyone who needs a discreet way to monitor conversations. If you’re looking for the most reliable solution to track deleted messages on Messenger, Msafely is definitely the way to go.
Part 4. FAQs
Q1. How to recover deleted messages on Messenger?
You can recover deleted messages by using monitoring tools like Msafely or downloading your Facebook data. Another option is checking your archived chats.
Q2. Can you retrieve deleted messages from Messenger, including permanently deleted ones?
It’s tough to retrieve permanently deleted messages, but some data might still be accessible through Facebook’s “Download Your Information” tool or monitoring apps.
Q3. How can I see chats that have been deleted or made hidden on Messenger?
To view deleted or secret conversations, try checking your archived chats or using a monitoring app like Msafely to track all message activity.
Q4. How to restore deleted messages on Messenger?
Restoring deleted messages isn’t always possible, but you can try downloading your Facebook data or using tools that monitor messages before they’re deleted.
Q5. Can I recover deleted messages without the other person knowing?
Yes, using tools like Msafely allows you to track messages discreetly without alerting the other person.