messages gone

[jbphx]

i woke up this morning & all my text messages have been erased.  Any idea how to retrieve them or why they have been deleted?  don't like it since i didn't do it.

[AZSALUKI]

i doubt you'll be able to retreive them if you don't use some type of backup app. this happened to me once, shortly after i had downloaded a new app....so i immediately got rid of that app, and it hasn't happend since.

[nimiaj]

@AZSALUKI, which app was the offending app (or you think was the offending app). So far I have not had any issues, but would like to steer clear of any apps that are already known to cause this issue. I have always stayed away from third party sms apps for this very reason. You can PM me if you'd like to disclose the app name discretely.

Thanks!

[AZSALUKI]

it was zedge. i actually don't think it was the app, but rather one of the ringtones i had downloaded. i wiped it, along with the tones i had downloaded and have since reinstalled it and it's been fine. this was all about 6 months ago. i'm pretty sure it had something to do with setting my text alert with a ringtone i got through zedge.

[KellyW_VZW]

Hello,

Once the messages are erased from the phone, they cannot be retrieved. Please check your private messages for further instructions.

Thank you.

KellyW@VZWSupport

[mpowers08]

I have had the same problem with my Droid Incredible. I have lost my messages on 3 occasions since I got the phone in November. Can you help me with this?

[RalphT · Accepted solution]

I have provided information below on how to save and protect important messages.  These instructions are from the owners manual for the Droid Incredible, but should also work for other Droid devices.  I also recommend that those with other devices visit us at www.verizomwireless.com and locate the manual that goes with your phone.  

Protecting a message from deletion

You can lock a message so that it will not be deleted even if you delete the other messages

in the conversation.

Press HOME , and then tap > Messages.

On the All messages screen, tap a message thread.

Press and hold the message that you want to lock

Tap Lock message on the options menu.

A lock icon is displayed at the right hand side of the message.

Deleting a message thread

Press HOME , and then tap > Messages.

On the All messages screen, tap the message thread that you want to delete.

Press MENU, and then tap Delete.

When prompted to confirm, tap OK.

Any locked messages in the thread will not be deleted unless you select the Delete locked messages

check box.

Deleting several message threads

Press HOME , and then tap > Messages.

On the All messages screen, press MENU, and then tap Delete.

Select the message threads you want to delete.

Tap Delete. Any locked messages will not be deleted.

Deleting a single message

While viewing a message thread, press and hold the message that you want to delete.

If the message is locked, tap Unlock message on the options menu, and then press and

hold the message to display the options menu again.

Tap Delete message on the options menu.

When prompted to confirm, tap OK.

Viewing contact details and communicating with a contact

When you have received a message from someone in your stored contacts, you can tap the

contact’s photo or icon in the message thread to open a menu of options. Depending on

the stored contact information, you can view the contact details, phone or send an email

message to the contact, and more.

Thank You

[ssika8]

The same thing happens to me. And its happened about 4 times within the last 2 months. How do I prevent it from happening again? Any suggestions?

[budone]

Also go into the messaging settings and shut off automatic deletion after 200 messages, or increase the number.

[yrrg]

 It has nothing to do with the apps or your settings. This keeps happening to my phone since the day got the Incredible when it first came out (I pre-ordered it)  and before I ever added any apps at all. Also my settings are set to never delete. Locked messages also get deleted. The storage has also been set to the SD card. I have tried everything already suggested and again this morning all messages were deleted. I now use a SMS backup program so I was able to restore my messages with that. If you don't backup your messages, they will get deleted again and again and again until you change platforms or service providers. Verizon acts like they have never heard of this issue before but it is a very old issue. If you do your research you will see tons of people are having the same issue not only with the incredible but with all Android phones. Verizon acts completely unaware and has no plans to research and fix it. Your only options is to keep backing it up everyday and hopefully move to the IPhone at upgrade time. Thanks Verizon so much for acting like you care about the issues your customers have been having for years just so you can keep getting paid.

[nimiaj]

@yrrg, I also pre-ordered my Drod Incredible the day they opened pre-orders. I have NEVER had any single message disappear on me until this day....

[Octavian]

My messages all disappeared this morning as well. It would be nice if Verizon responded with a solution or at least a cause. 3 reported people all having their messages erased on the same morning is highly suspect.

[yrrg]

It cannot be a coincidence that so many people had there messages deleted on the same day. Definitely a platform or carrier problem.

[mamanina]

I have only had my incredible a few weeks.  All  text messages disappeared this morning.  Very upset by this.  I know some people will say, if it was important I should have saved it.  I didn't realize that I needed too.  For what I paid for the phone & my monthly bill....I shouldn't have to worry about glitches like this.  It seems to have been a recurring issue for a couple of years.  I expected better from Verizon.  Now that I have ranted, does anyone have any good advice?

[metalman412]

Mine also deleted all of the SMS messages this morning.  I even had saved and locked messages in there.  This is the 3rd time this has happened since I got the Droid in January.  From reading a lot of the posts and other sites, this has been happening since early to mid 2010.  Is there going to be a fix to this problem anytime soon or is Verizon going to assist all of the individuals that are unhappy with this issue?

[iveymciverson]

This has happened to me for the fourth time today.  Locked messages are getting deleted as well.  I don't understand why this hasn't been fixed by Verizon or HTC or Android.  It's ridiculous.  I shouldn't have to have a backup program or have my text messages emailed to me, that's insane for the amount of money I pay every month.

Honestly thinking about switching phones.  Any suggestions?

[budone]

Are you running an App Killer or force closing apps?  That is when I lose messages.

Also have you unchecked the box to delete messages when the number reaches 200?

[iveymciverson]

budone--No I'm not running an app killer or force-closing apps and my settings are not set to delete old messages. 

I really think there's just a glitch in some of these phones.  It's happened to too many people to be just a fluke.

[KinquanaH_VZW]

I reviewed all known issues pertaining to our Droid devices and was unable to locate this as a known issue. I was able to locate general information below about how to possibly correct this problem.

Some applications installed on your phone through the app store may cause some features on your phone to disable or error out which caused your messages to randomly delete. One app to review is the Stock -Messaging App. By unchecking your message delete feature box  (uncheck auto-delete ) this may prevent the phone from deleting all the messages. The auto-delete feature starts to delete messages after a certain number is reached and by disabling this feature, this may resolve your issue and give you the opportunity to manually delete messages. 

[KinquanaH_VZW]

Some applications installed on your phone through the app store may cause some features on your phone to disable or error out which caused your messages to randomly delete. One app to review is the Stock -Messaging App. By unchecking your message delete feature box  (uncheck auto-delete ) this may prevent the phone from deleting all the messages. The auto-delete feature starts to delete messages after a certain number is reached and by disabling this feature, this may resolve your issue and give you the opportunity to manually delete messages.