Yes, you can sometimes recover deleted Instagram messages , but it depends on timing, platform, and whether you have backups or access to certain tools. Instagram doesn’t offer a simple “undo delete” button, so recovery usually means digging through official data exports, device‑level backups, or third‑party tools.

1. Official Instagram data export (best first step)

Instagram lets you download a copy of your account data, which can include deleted DMs if they’re still in Meta’s backup systems.

Steps (mobile / web):

  1. Go to Settings → Security → Your information and permissions → Download your information (or Accounts Center → Download your information).
  1. Choose “Some of your information” , search for Messages , select it, then pick Download to device.
  1. Tap Create files and wait (often 24–72 hours) for an email with a download link.
  1. Download the ZIP, open the messages folder, and inspect the JSON or HTML files; deleted messages may appear there.

This is the safest and most reliable method, but it’s not guaranteed—Instagram only keeps messages for a limited time.

2. Device‑level backup / recovery

If you never cleared local app data , you might still have traces of messages on your phone or in backups.

  • Android :
    • Turn on Notification history (Settings → Notifications → Advanced → Notification history → enable Instagram). This can show received messages even after the sender deletes them.
* Some data‑recovery tools (e.g., Disk Drill) can scan device storage or backups for Instagram‑related files, though success varies.
  • iPhone :
    • Restore from an iTunes or iCloud backup made before the messages were deleted; this can bring back the whole chat history.

These methods work best if you act soon after deletion and have backups enabled.

3. Third‑party tools (use with caution)

Several tools claim to recover deleted Instagram messages from Android or iOS devices, often by scanning local storage or backups.

  • Examples: Gbyte, Disk Drill, and similar “Instagram message recovery” utilities.
  • Risks :
    • You may need to grant deep access to your device or account.
    • Some tools are not officially endorsed by Meta and may violate Instagram’s terms.

If you try this route, stick to reputable software, avoid entering your Instagram password into random sites, and read reviews carefully.

4. What you can’t do (limitations)

  • There’s no built‑in “trash” folder for Instagram DMs; once deleted in the app, they’re gone from the chat view.
  • If the data has been purged from Meta’s servers and you have no backups , recovery is usually impossible.

5. Quick comparison of methods

Method| What it can recover| How reliable| Notes
---|---|---|---
Instagram data export| Old chats, sometimes deleted DMs 13| Medium–high| Official, free, but slow and not guaranteed.
Notification history (Android)| Received messages in notifications 9| Low–medium| Only shows received texts, not sent ones.
iCloud / iTunes backup (iOS)| Full chat history from backup time 5| High| Requires a pre‑deletion backup.
Third‑party recovery tools| Local‑device message fragments 210| Variable| Risky; use cautiously.

If you tell me whether you’re on Android or iPhone and roughly when the messages were deleted, I can walk you through the most realistic recovery path for your situation. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.