Recovery is not guaranteed. Once a message is deleted and nothing was backed up, it may be gone. Act quickly, and stop adding new data, because new messages and files can overwrite space that held the old ones.

Check the simple places first

1. Archived chats. In Google Messages and WhatsApp, an archived chat is not deleted. Look for Archived.
2. Spam and blocked. In your messaging app, look for Spam & blocked.
3. Trash. Some messaging apps have a Trash or Recently deleted folder. Look in the menu.
4. Ask the other person. They may still have the conversation and can send you a screenshot or the details.

SMS and Google Messages

Messages deleted from the phone may not be backed up. Look in Settings > Chat features or Backup inside the app, and check Google backup in Settings > System > Backup. If a restore is offered when you set the phone up again, you can choose the backup from before the deletion. See how to back up an Android phone.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp keeps backups of chats if you turned them on.

1. Check Settings > Chats > Chat backup and see when the last backup happened.
2. If the backup is from before the deletion, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, verify your number and choose Restore when asked.
3. Restoring takes the chats back to the time of that backup, so messages after it will be lost.

See how to back up your WhatsApp chats to set this up before you need it.

Recovery apps

Many apps promise to recover deleted messages. Most cannot do it without special access, and some are scams or install unwanted software. Do not pay for guaranteed recovery, and do not give an app access to your accounts. If the messages are very important, a repair shop you trust may be able to advise.

Prevent it next time

1. Turn on automatic chat and phone backups.
2. Archive instead of deleting.
3. Save important details (receipts, agreements) as screenshots or notes.
4. For photos and contacts see how to recover deleted photos on Android and how to restore deleted contacts.