How long do deleted texts stay on phone?

Phones used by average people on major networks like Verizon and AT&T (the carriers who support the iPhone) only keep text messages for a few days. AT&T for instance, only keeps a deleted text message for 72 hours. Verizon keeps deleted SMS messages for up to 10 days.
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Do deleted text messages stay on your phone?

When you move messages around or delete them, the data actually stays put. All you're doing is telling the phone to point at the files in different ways. Deleting a message from the inbox, for instance, just tells the phone not to point to it any more when it's listing the contents of that folder.
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How long are text messages saved after deleted?

They sit on the company's server for anywhere from three days to three months, depending on the company's policy. Verizon holds texts for up to five days and Virgin Mobile keeps them for 90 days. AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint do not keep the contents of text messages.
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Is deleting a text permanent?

Deleting Texts From Your Android Phone

While these options will remove messages from your Google device, you can quickly recover text chains you delete with this method. You will need to delete them from the cloud to remove texts permanently.
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Where do deleted texts go?

The Android operating system stores text messages in the phone's memory, so if they're deleted, there's no way to retrieve them. You can, however, install a text message backup application from the Android market that allows you to restore any deleted text messages.
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What happens to deleted text messages?

Once you delete the message, your Android device changes the space it occupied as “unused” and only overwrites the deleted messages when you create new data as you continue using your device. There's no specific duration or period of time it takes before the deleted messages are overwritten.
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How do I permanently delete text messages from my iPhone?

Open up a conversation. Tap and hold on any message within. Tap on "More" when the pop-up options appear. Tap on "Delete All" in the top left, then "Delete Conversation" to confirm.
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Can someone else see my deleted text messages?

Deleted text messages are truly GONE. Nobody can access them. Unless you have a program installed that archives/backs up messages. In that case, deleting them from your phone won't delete them from the backup.
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How do I permanently delete text messages from my Android?

To delete a thread, press and hold on the thread you wish to delete from the main messaging menu. A checkmark will appear on top of the photo icon for your texting thread, and another action bar will appear at the top of the display. Next, tap the trash can icon and confirm by tapping 'Delete. '
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How long are texts saved on Android?

Tap Settings, Messages, then scroll down and tap Keep Messages (under the Message History heading). Go ahead and decide how long you'd like to keep old text messages before they're deleted: for 30 days, a whole year, or forever and ever. In case you're wondering, no—there aren't any custom settings.
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Can my wife find deleted text messages?

The only reliable way to retrieve deleted messages on Android is to access the backup file using Google Drive. To access the file and read the messages, go into the Google Drive associated with your husband's account on a computer.
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Can you retrieve text messages from years ago?

If you are currently using a wireless backup service, check when the last backup was made. If the most recent backup was made before you accidentally deleted the texts, you can restore that backup to your phone and the text messages will be restored to your phone as well.
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Why would my husband deleted text messages?

Conceal their cheating: The most common reason or the first suspicion that arises when people delete chat history is obviously cheating. So if your partner is two-timing you or has a casual fling going on, they are obviously going to clear their chats, messages and calls.
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Do deleted texts stay on iPhone?

Yep - until the area on the drive where the deleted data was stored is overwritten with new data or until the Erase All Content and Settings option on the iPhone is used which is a secure erase, data can be recovered if someone goes to the trouble and expense to try to recover it.
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How long do deleted messages stay in iCloud?

Deleted messages are moved to the Trash mailbox. When you delete a message, it's saved in your Trash for 30 days, after which it's permanently erased.
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Are text messages stored on SIM?

Text messages are stored on your phone, not on your Sim. Therefore, if someone puts your Sim card into their phone, they will not see any text messages that you have received on your phone, unless you have manually moved your SMS's to your Sim.
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How do I clear my SIM cache?

Use the Volume Up/Down Keys to navigate the Android System Recovery Menu. Navigate to "Wipe Cache Partition." Press the Power button to execute the action. Depending on the flavor of the operating system, you may have to choose "YES" and then press the Power button to execute the action.
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Can police retrieve deleted text messages?

So, can police recover deleted pictures, texts, and files from a phone? The answer is yes—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.
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How do I permanently delete data from my iPhone?

Steps to Factory Reset iPhone:
  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap and follow General > Reset.
  3. Tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
  4. A dialog box appears, click Erase Now.
  5. Enter Passcode and your Apple ID password, when prompted. This will wipe iPhone completely and turn off the device.
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Where are my texts stored?

In general, Android SMS are stored in a database in the data folder located in the internal memory of the Android phone. However, the location of the database might vary from phone to phone.
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How far back do texts go on iPhone?

How Far Back Can Text Messages be Retrieved on iPhone? As we mentioned above, you can easily scroll to the first message on iMessage only if conversation history is kept on your iPhone. It means that you can retrieve text messages on iPhone even 4 years ago or longer.
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Why do deleted text messages reappear?

Even if you remove a text message from your phone, it may not be gone. That's because it could be stored on your phone company's servers. Normal text messages go from your phone to your phone company to the recipient. In most cases, that means the phone company retains a copy of messages.
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