If there is something that distinguishes Telegram compared to other messaging apps, it is the control you have over your own messages. You can delete any message without leaving a trace, since Telegram allows you to delete messages in both private and group chats. and also delete the chat history for you and other participants. This level of privacy and control is one of the reasons why Telegram has gained so much popularity.
However, this advantage can become a headache if we accidentally delete a message or conversation that we later need to recover. That's why we'll show you below. All the options available to recover messages and conversations in Telegram, analyzing each method in depth so you understand the real possibilities and limitations offered by the platform, both on Android and iOS, as well as desktop solutions and external alternatives.
Is it possible to recover deleted messages on Telegram?
Telegram stores most of your activity in the cloud, which means your conversations are synced to your account, not to a specific device. However, when a message or chat is manually deleted by you or someone else, that information is no longer accessible to you and other participants—in most cases, permanently.
There are some methods to try to recover deleted messages or files, but it's essential to understand that Telegram doesn't have an automatic backup system similar to WhatsApp or iMessage. The available options will depend on the type of message, the device used, when the message was deleted, and whether you previously took precautions, such as exporting chats or enabling other options. Below, we explain all the possible options in detail.
Undo immediate deletion: Telegram's Undo feature
The first alternative, and the only native and immediate one for Recover deleted messages or conversations on Telegram, is to use the function Undo right after deleting a chat or entire conversation. When deleting a chat, group, or channel, Telegram will display a bottom bar for about five seconds with the option Undo.
- This option only appears after deleting entire conversations or completely emptying a chat, not after deleting an individual message.
- The window is very short (approximately five seconds); if you don't act quickly, the option will disappear and you won't be able to recover the deleted content.
- In groups or channels, you can view the recent actions history (if you're an admin) to see which messages have been deleted, although you won't be able to restore them if they've been permanently deleted.
Telegram asks for confirmation before deleting individual messagesYou'll usually need to confirm twice before permanently deleting messages, which prevents accidental errors.
Recover deleted messages on Telegram from the "Saved Messages" folder
Telegram includes a special folder called Saved Messages which you can use as a personal cloud notebook. If you use this feature to forward important messages to yourself before deleting them from other conversations, you may be able to retrieve them by searching here.
- Enter Telegram and access the side menu.
- Find the “Saved Messages” folder.
- If you don't see it, type your username into the chat search engine's magnifying glass to find it.
- This folder is usually linked to your account username, allowing you to locate it even if you've removed it from the main list.
- You will only be able to retrieve messages here that you yourself have forwarded previously to this folder.
It is not possible to recover deleted messages that have not been saved here., but it is an excellent preventative way to avoid losing relevant information in the future.
Recover deleted media files and documents on Telegram
Many people assume that deleting a Telegram message also deletes any attachments (photos, videos, documents). However, it's possible to recover some of this content directly from your device's storage, provided you haven't used the "Delete for everyone" feature and the information hasn't been overwritten.
- On Android, use a file manager to access your phone's internal memory.
- Go to the route Android > Data > org.telegram.messenger > cache or search for “Telegram Images”/”Telegram Video” in the internal memory.
- Image, video, and other files downloaded by Telegram will appear here, even if the message containing them has been deleted.
- On iOS, this method isn't available because Apple restricts access to the file system, but if you've enabled auto-save, the files may be in the gallery.
This method does not work with secret chats o files with self-destruct timer, as they are end-to-end encrypted and exist only in the Telegram app, not in the system storage. They will also not be available if you enabled the "Delete for everyone" option and the other user also deletes it, or if the cache folder has been emptied.
How to enable automatic saving of photos and videos in Telegram
To prevent the loss of files shared in conversations, you can activate auto-download of multimedia. This way, any images or videos you receive will be stored directly in your device's gallery.
- Open Telegram and access the side menu (the three-line bar at the top left).
- Choose Settings > Data and storage.
- Go to section Multimedia auto-download and activate the option for WiFi, mobile data and roaming according to your preferences.
This way, media files will automatically download to the "Telegram Images" or "Telegram Video" folder in your gallery. If you accidentally delete a conversation, you may still find its photos or videos there.
Recover deleted messages in Telegram using the notification history or log
Another of the most interesting options, especially on Android, is check notification historyWhen you receive a Telegram message and have notifications enabled, the content of that message is temporarily saved in the system notification log, even if the sender later deletes the message.
- Starting with Android 11, this notification history is available natively on most devices.
- To activate it, go to adjustments > notifications > notification history and activate it.
- You can access it to view recent notifications and check if the deleted content still appears there.
If your phone does not have this option, you can use third-party applications such as Notification History Log, WAMR, or AirDroid Parental Control to automatically record everything you receive through notifications from Telegram and other apps.
Advantages and limitations of notification history
- Advantages: Allows you to view the content of deleted messages, but only if you had notifications active and the chat was not muted.
- Disadvantages: It doesn't allow you to interact with or restore the original message in the app, only view the received text. The history can be deleted or overwritten over time.
- Apps of this type can consume resources and pose a privacy risk if you don't choose a trustworthy app.
Specialized applications to recover deleted Telegram messages
There are apps and software for PC that claim to be able to recover deleted Telegram messages, although it is important to emphasize that Its effectiveness is subject to multiple factors and many times they will only be able to recover cached media files and messages, not entire conversations if they have already been deleted from Telegram's servers.
Notification History Log and Notification History
These applications allow automatically log all received notifications on your device, storing Telegram messages even if the sender deletes them.
- Available for Android on the Google Play Store.
- Simple interface, ability to filter by app and view received content, along with date and time.
- Paid versions allow you to mute notifications or configure automatic history deletion periods.
They won't work if your chat is muted or if you don't have notifications enabled for Telegram..
WAMR
WAMR is a free app available on Google Play that specializes in recover deleted messages and media files on various messaging apps, including Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
- It works by monitoring your notifications and automatically downloading any attachments you receive.
- Allows access to deleted messages and files, as long as they have been notified before being deleted.
EaseUS MobiSaver for Android
This data recovery software for PC allows you to access deleted files and messages on Android devices. (requires root on the device).
- Connect your device via USB to your computer and run the program in recovery mode.
- The software scans the internal memory and SD card for deleted files and messages.
- Allows you to preview files before restoring them.
- The free version allows you to check what can be recovered before paying.
ImportantNo third-party apps can recover deleted messages in secret chats, timed messages, or messages that have been deleted for both participants from Telegram's servers. Apps may also only be able to restore files not overwritten by new content on the internal storage.
Recover Telegram conversations on iPhone
On Apple devices, the chances of recovering deleted messages are even more limited Due to the privacy policy and closed structure of iOS, there are a few options to try to restore lost content:
Undo Option
- When deleting a chat, Telegram shows the option Undo for a few seconds. If you activate it in time, the chat will be restored.
- This option is not available for individual messages or if you have already left the app after deletion.
Restore iCloud Backup
- If your iPhone backs up to iCloud frequently enough and Telegram saves data to them, you can try restoring a backup from before you deleted your messages.
- To do this, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings > after the reset, choose to restore from iCloud backup.
- It will only work if the backup includes the Telegram content before deletion.
Saved Messages and Chat Export on iOS
- Go to Telegram > Settings > Saved Messages to check if important messages were previously forwarded to this folder.
- To export chats and files, you'll need to use the desktop version of Telegram, not the mobile app. We'll explain how to do this later.
Exporting chats and data in Telegram: the best prevention
If you want to ensure that you never lose your important Telegram conversations, the safest option is manually export your chats to your computerTelegram Desktop (Windows, Mac, and Linux) allows you to perform selective backups of chats, files, channels, and groups.
- Download Telegram Desktop from the official website and log in.
- Click the three lines in the top left corner > Settings > Advanced > Export Telegram data.
- Choose the data you want to export: private chats, groups, channels, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, stickers, GIFs, etc.
- Choose the export format (HTML or JSON) and the location on your computer.
- Confirm the process and wait for a notification on all your devices to authorize the export.
- For security reasons, you'll need to wait 24 hours to download your data (an anti-account hijacking measure).
This is the The only effective way to maintain a full backup and access messages and files outside the appIf you deleted a chat that you hadn't previously exported, you won't be able to recover it later.
Recover deleted messages and files on Telegram: advanced methods and tips
If none of the above options have helped you recover your information and the deleted messages are truly critical, there are some advanced methods and additional considerations you should be aware of:
Communicate with your contact
- If you only deleted the message for yourself and the other person still has it, ask them to resend or export the conversation.
- In groups, if the admin or a participant hasn't deleted the message, they can send it to you again.
Contact Telegram support
- As a last resort, you can contact the Telegram support team through the app or on the official website.
- You should know that, for privacy and encryption reasons, generally They cannot restore intentionally deleted messages and will refer to the methods described above.
- They could only help you if there is a technical failure or a massive error on the servers.
Recover media in secret chats and timed messages
- The secret chats They use end-to-end encryption, and Telegram never stores content on its servers. Once deleted, there's no way to restore it, either with specialized software or by contacting support.
- The timed messages, self-destructing, cannot be recovered even using advanced recovery software, as they are deleted from all devices and servers when the time expires.
Data recovery software for Android and iOS
- Tools like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery or Stellar Data Recovery can search for deleted files in the device storage.
- You can only restore media files if they haven't been overwritten by new data and if the Telegram app or the system hasn't automatically emptied the cache folder.
- On Android, recovery requires root in most cases. On iOS, you'll need a previous backup and access to iCloud or iTunes.
Best practices: how to avoid losing messages on Telegram
- Export your important chats frequently using Telegram Desktop.
- Save critical files and messages to "Saved Messages" to have a synchronized copy in the cloud.
- Enable automatic media saving so you don't miss relevant photos and videos.
- Keep notifications active and use notification history apps to increase your chances of recovering accidentally deleted messages.
- Do not use suspicious applications Do not share your credentials with services other than the official Telegram to avoid security risks.
As you can see, Recover deleted messages and conversations on Telegram It's possible in very specific cases and with certain limitations. Telegram prioritizes user privacy and data security, so once a message is permanently deleted, there's usually no way to recover it. However, with the right practices and tools, you can minimize the chances of losing relevant information and get the most out of the platform.
