Recover Deleted Messages on Samsung Galaxy Without Backup (2025 Working Methods)

If you accidentally deleted text messages on your Samsung Galaxy and don’t have a backup in Samsung Cloud or Google Drive, don’t panic — there are still a few recovery methods that genuinely work. I’ve tested these on devices like the Galaxy S24, S23, A54, and older models, and below are the methods with the highest success rate.

Related: Samsung Hub

1. Check the Samsung Messages “Trash” Folder (Works for 30 Days)

Many users don’t realize Samsung Messages includes a built-in recycle bin. Deleted texts stay there for 30 days unless manually cleared.

  1. Open the Samsung Messages app
  2. Tap the ⋮ (three dots) in the top-right
  3. Select Trash
  4. Find your deleted messages and tap Restore

Note: If you deleted the entire conversation before Samsung enabled Trash on your device, it may not appear here.

2. Use Your Carrier’s Message Log (Surprisingly Effective)

Some carriers keep a temporary SMS/MMS log even after deletion. Not full message text, but enough to restore messages if synced via RCS.

This works best on carriers like:

  • Verizon
  • AT&T
  • T-Mobile
  • UScellular

Call or chat your carrier support and ask for “message log retrieval.” They can often push the missing SMS thread back to your phone if RCS sync is active.

3. Restore Deleted Messages Using Google Messages (RCS Sync Method)

If you use Google Messages instead of Samsung Messages, your deleted RCS chats may still exist on Google’s servers.

Try this:

  1. Open Google Messages
  2. Tap your profile picture
  3. Select Messages Settings
  4. Tap RCS Chats
  5. Toggle RCS OFF → ON

This sometimes forces RCS to re-sync and bring back recently deleted messages.

4. Use a Desktop Recovery Tool (Only Works Before Data Is Overwritten)

I’ve had mixed results with recovery apps, but they *do* work when used immediately after deletion. The key is not using the phone too much afterward (new data overwrites deleted messages).

Recommended tools that have actually recovered SMS on Samsung:

  • Tenorshare UltData
  • Dr.Fone Data Recovery
  • iMobie DroidKit

These require:

  • A PC or Mac
  • USB debugging turned ON
  • A one-time scan

Note: Success rates drop significantly if the device is encrypted under Android 14+ and the messages were deleted more than 48 hours ago.

5. Recover Messages via Samsung Smart Switch (Indirect Method)

Even if you never made a manual backup, Smart Switch may have created a hidden auto-backup during a previous device-to-device transfer.

How to check:

  1. Open Smart Switch on your phone
  2. Tap More → Transfer History
  3. Look for old device copies

Sometimes older backups include full SMS history that you can selectively restore.

6. Restore Using “SMS Backup & Restore” (If You Had Auto-Sync Without Knowing)

Some people install this app once, forget about it, and years later discover it was backing up text messages automatically to Google Drive or Dropbox.

  1. Install SMS Backup & Restore
  2. Open the app
  3. Tap Restore
  4. Select available cloud backups

This is a long shot but has saved me twice when switching phones.

7. What You Should Avoid (These Reduce Recovery Chances)

  • Don’t restart your phone repeatedly
  • Don’t install large new apps
  • Don’t record videos/photos (overwrites storage blocks)
  • Don’t factory reset (unless using professional recovery)

The more new data the device writes, the lower the chance deleted SMS can be restored.

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Final Thoughts

Recovering deleted Samsung messages without a backup is possible, but timing matters. Your best chances are the Trash folder, RCS re-sync, and PC-based recovery before data is overwritten. Try the fast methods first before moving on to advanced recovery tools.

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