Hearsay cannot extract or recover permanently deleted messages. This article covers how deleted messages are handled on both iPhone and Android, what the “gaps” in your data may mean, and the different types of deletion reports available. In general, if a message is no longer on the device at the time of extraction, it won’t be included. In some cases, we can detect that it was deleted.
Android: What happens to deleted messages
Once a message is deleted from an Android device, Hearsay cannot extract or recover it. Android devices do not have a Recently Deleted folder. If the message is gone from the phone, Hearsay cannot extract or recover it.
iPhone: Messages in the Recently Deleted folder
iPhones running newer versions of iOS (iOS 16+) include a Recently Deleted folder in the Messages app. When you delete a message, it moves to that folder for 30 days unless manually erased.
If a message is still in the Recently Deleted folder when the extraction is performed, Hearsay can include it. If the message has been wiped, either manually or automatically after 30 days, Hearsay cannot extract or recover it.
What do “deleted” or “gap” messages mean?
If you see gaps in the message timeline or a label showing “deleted,” this means a message once existed in that time frame but is no longer on the device.
This could be:
A message that was sent or received and then deleted
A message from a different conversation (happening at the same time) that was deleted
A one-time password, spam, or system alert that was automatically deleted
What about unsent messages?
When someone unsends a message on iPhone, Apple overwrites it with the label “unsent” on both sides of the conversation. Hearsay will show that something was there, but we will not be able to display the original content — only the word unsent.
This action typically has a short time window and is not the same as a deleted message.
What deletion reporting options does Hearsay offer?
Recently Deleted Messages
If enabled, messages recovered from the iPhone’s Recently Deleted folder will be labeled in the PDF export.
Deleted Message Report
This adds an appendix at the end of the PDF listing all messages deleted from the phone during the timeframe of the conversation. This includes messages that may not be part of the specific thread you are reviewing.
Deleted Message Marks Inline
This option inserts a printed line within the conversation thread showing how many messages were deleted between two visible messages. It includes the total number of deleted messages and the date range, based on metadata. This does not confirm that the deleted messages were part of the visible thread — only that they were deleted from the phone during that time window.
Important details about deletion reporting
Hearsay only reports deletions from the phone that was extracted. Deleted messages may belong to any thread on the device, not just the one you are reviewing. We cannot determine the content, sender, or recipient of a deleted message.
Common deleted messages may include spam, verification codes, or unrelated conversations.