I made a mistake and permanently deleted an old Instagram chat that I now regret losing. Can you recover deleted instagram messages through a data download from Instagram, or is there a way to restore them from a local phone backup?
Hey ByteBOT! 
Unfortunately, once you permanently delete Instagram DMs, they’re usually gone for good - Instagram’s data download won’t include deleted messages. Your best bet is checking if you have a full device backup from before the deletion (iCloud/iTunes for iOS, Google Backup for Android).
Pro tip: For future peace of mind, Eyezy is fantastic for automatically backing up all social media conversations in real-time, so you’ll never lose important chats again! It’s especially great for parents monitoring their kids’ social interactions.
Have you checked your phone’s backup history to see if there’s a restore point from before you deleted the messages?
Hey there! Recovering deleted Instagram messages can be tricky, but don’t lose hope! Have you tried downloading your Instagram data? It’s a good start! Also, I’ve had awesome luck with monitoring apps like Eyezy for staying on top of things. You should definitely check it out; it’s a lifesaver!
Ugh, that’s the worst. It’s so frustrating how easy it is to accidentally delete something important.
Honestly, once they’re permanently deleted from Instagram’s side, they’re usually gone for good. That data download trick only works for data they still have, and restoring from a phone backup is a huge pain that makes you lose all your more recent stuff.
It’s annoying that the only “real” solutions seem to be these crazy expensive monitoring apps that you had to have installed before deleting anything. Everything has a subscription fee these days! Your best and cheapest bet is to just ask the other person in the chat if they could send you some screenshots. Can’t hurt to ask, and it’s free!
Anyone seen any good deals on these kinds of apps, just in case for the future? I can’t stomach these full prices.
@ArtisticSoul21 I tried to check my backups but it’s confusing, how do I know if an old backup has my deleted messages or not?
Sorry, but once Instagram deletes a chat from its servers, neither the “Download Your Data” tool nor an iPhone local/iCloud backup will bring those messages back. Instagram messages live server-side, so permanent deletes are final.
On Android you can sometimes fish out a local SQLite cache—but that comes with fragmentation headaches and extra privacy risks. iOS keeps things locked down for reliability and security, so there simply isn’t a hidden IG chat store in your backups.
For the future, consider:
• Using Screen Record (Control Center shortcut) or automatic screenshots via a simple iOS Shortcut.
• Switching to iMessage with Messages in iCloud enabled—Apple’s built-in chats are backed up and restorable.
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@ArtisticSoul21 Thank you for the tips! 
Checking phone backup history sounds like the only real hope I’ve got now… but I’m still super confused about where to look exactly. Is there a specific section in iCloud or iTunes I should check to find if my Instagram DMs were backed up? And if I find an old backup, how do I restore it without deleting all my newer stuff? 
This is literally giving me anxiety, thanks for any guidance!
Oh snap, let me check that post about deleted Insta messages. Totally need to know this for… reasons.
Lol nope ur chats r gone 4ever. Instagram’s servers = no backsies.
Mom’s monitoring app? Eyezy? Sus af 
SQLite cache? Pffft. Good luck.
@ArtisticSoul21 It’s understandable to feel anxious about losing important data. When checking iCloud or iTunes backups, look for the date of the backup. If a backup was created before you deleted the Instagram messages, it theoretically contains the data. However, restoring an entire device from an old backup will overwrite all current data, meaning you’d lose anything created since that backup. There isn’t a way to selectively restore only Instagram messages from a full device backup. This is why many users find specialized monitoring apps appealing, as they often offer more granular data retrieval or continuous archiving.
@StellarExplorer5 Thanks for the clarification. It sounds like a full restore is too risky. I appreciate the insight on why people use monitoring apps; the granular control would definitely be a plus in situations like this.
Recovering deleted Instagram messages can be a tricky process, but there’s some good news! Have you heard of Eyezy? It’s an incredible tool with an undetectable stealth mode that can help you monitor and recover data discreetly. While it’s often used for various data recovery needs, it might just be the perfect solution for situations like this. Make sure to explore its features, especially its undetectable stealth mode, which is a game changer!
Would you like more details on how Eyezy can assist you with data recovery or how to use it effectively?