Maybe you accidentally deleted an Instagram message, or you need to access one from a while back. Or, you deleted a hilarious comment and can’t remember exactly what you said. Either way, there are lots of reasons why you might need to know how to see deleted messages or recover a comment on Instagram.
We’ve all been there. Accidentally swiped the wrong way or clicked the wrong option and, whoops, that thing that was actually quite important has now been deleted. It’s difficult not to immediately panic, but there are ways to get deleted things back on Instagram, but what about messages?
Can You See Deleted Messages On Instagram?
Unfortunately, Instagram messages cannot be recovered once they’ve been deleted through their app. This is confirmed by the Instagram Help Centre, which goes on to explain what things can be seen once they are deleted.
However, it is possible to see deleted messages using other methods. The best habit to get into to avoid losing your messages forever is to regularly download your data so that you have updated backups. Trusted Reviews explains that all you’ll need to know is to go to ‘edit profile’ and then to your privacy settings on Instagram and click request download. After that, you’ll need to confirm your details and you’ll be sent a download link via email.
Once you’ve downloaded it, it’s as simple as going to your message folder to see the deleted message. Clearly, this will only work if the downloaded version has the message you need. That’s why it’s a good idea to download it regularly.
If that doesn’t work then there are third-party apps which claim to do the same thing. Just make sure it’s an application that you trust before you give it any private information or data.
How To Recover Deleted Comments
This is a lot easier than seeing deleted messages due to the recently deleted feature. This means that posts and comments accidentally or even purposefully deleted can be seen and recovered.
If it is a comment that has been immediately deleted, then there will be an ‘undo’ button. This notification only lasts five seconds so ensure you’re quick on the ball to recover it immediately. It will be in the upper right of the Instagram home screen, so don’t delay.
If it’s been a little while since you deleted it, then it can still be recovered. You can use the method for seeing deleted messages to get your comment back. Or, you can contact Instagram Support to see if they can recover it. But, this might be unlikely due to the high number of enquiries they receive.
It seems like if you deleted something a little while ago then it is trickier to recover, but not impossible. Hopefully following the above steps means restoring your comments and finding your deleted Instagram messages again