iPhone Messages doesn’t have a “hide” feature, so “hidden” messages are usually filtered, muted, or recently deleted. To find them on an iPhone 13, open Messages and tap Filters (or Back/Messages) in the top-left corner. Check Unknown Senders for texts from people not in your contacts, and Recently Deleted for messages deleted in the last 30 days. Muted conversations still appear in your list, just with a crossed-out bell icon.
Below are all the places messages can end up, how to recover deleted ones, and how to stop texts from being filtered.
Where “hidden” messages go
| Where | Why a message is there |
|---|---|
| Unknown Senders | The sender isn’t in your contacts and Filter Unknown Senders is on |
| Spam or Junk | Messages flagged as spam, if your carrier or a filtering app is set up |
| Recently Deleted | Messages deleted within the last 30 days (up to 40 days in some cases) |
| Muted conversation | You turned on Hide Alerts, so it doesn’t notify you |
| Deep in the list | Old conversations are further down. Use the search bar. |
How to see filtered messages
- Open Messages.
- Tap Filters in the top-left corner (on some versions, tap < Messages).
- Tap Unknown Senders to see texts from numbers not in your contacts. Also check Spam if it’s listed.
How to recover recently deleted messages
- In Messages, tap Filters > Recently Deleted.
- Select the conversations you want and tap Recover.
This requires iOS 16 or later. After 30 days, messages are permanently deleted unless they’re in an iCloud or computer backup.
How to find muted conversations
Muted conversations show a bell with a line through it. Swipe left on the conversation and tap the bell icon to unmute it, or open it, tap the name at the top, and turn off Hide Alerts.
How to stop messages from being filtered
- Go to Settings > Messages (or Settings > Apps > Messages) > Unknown & Spam and turn off Filter Unknown Senders.
- Add important numbers to Contacts so their texts always appear in your main list.
Search for a message
Swipe down on the conversation list to reveal the search bar, and type a name, word, or phone number. Results include messages in any filter.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone hide messages on my iPhone?
Messages can’t be hidden with a built-in setting, but they can be deleted. If you’re concerned about your privacy, use a strong passcode and review Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check.
Why don’t I see a Filters button?
It appears when Filter Unknown Senders is on, or on newer iOS versions. Turn on the filter to see the categories.
Can I recover messages deleted more than 30 days ago?
Only by restoring an iCloud or computer backup made before you deleted them, which replaces your current data.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.