I have accidentally deleted some important messages on Line. And I do not know how to recover it. Please give me all the tips and tricks to recover the messages. Are there any tools that would help me out in this regard? Any monitoring app? How do I set it up? Is there an easy, step by step way to recover them without losing anything else on my device? I need help.
So you deleted your Line messages and now you are panicking. Do not worry, this has happened to a lot of people and there are actually some solid ways to get them back.
How to Recover Deleted Line Messages the Right Way
Line has a built-in backup system that most people do not even know exists. Here is how to use it depending on your device.
On Android
Line stores a local backup on your device. Go to Line Settings, then Chats, then Back up and Restore Chat History. If you had backups enabled before the deletion, you can restore from the most recent one. The backup file is stored locally so no internet needed.
You can also check if Google Drive backup was active. Go to the same backup section and look for the Google Drive option. If it was turned on, your messages are sitting in your Drive right now.
On iPhone
For iOS users, Line uses iCloud for backups. Go to Settings in Line, tap Chats, then Back Up Now to see your last backup date. If there is a recent one, tap Restore and your messages will come back.
You can also restore from an iTunes or Finder backup on your computer if you do full device backups. Just make sure you do not overwrite your current backup before restoring.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
- Stop using the app immediately after deletion to avoid overwriting data
- Restoring a backup will replace your current chat history
- Some messages linked to specific servers may not fully restore
- Line only keeps backups for a limited time so act fast
And hey, if you want to make sure you never lose your messages again in the future, there is always Xnspy that keeps tabs on everything so nothing goes missing ever again. Just saying. Lte me know if you need more information.
Okay so Line built in backup is great but what if you did not have it turned on? That is where other tools come in. Let me walk you through the options that actually work.
Third Party Recovery Apps That Can Help
Dr.Fone by Wondershare
This is probably the most popular data recovery tool for mobile. It works on both Android and iOS. You connect your phone, run a scan, and it looks for deleted message data in your storage. It has a specific module for social apps including Line.
Steps:
- Download Dr.Fone on your computer
- Select Data Recovery from the main menu
- Connect your phone via USB and enable USB debugging on Android
- Choose WhatsApp and Social Apps option (it covers Line too)
- Let it scan and preview before you restore
iMobie PhoneRescue
Another solid option for iPhone users specifically. It pulls data from iTunes backups or directly from your device. The interface is cleaner and easier to use for non technical people.
FoneLab Android Data Recovery
For Android only users, FoneLab goes deep into the internal storage and recovers deleted files including chat databases. It requires rooting in some cases for full access.
File Level Recovery on Android
If you are comfortable with Android file management, the Line chat database is stored as a .db file in the Line app folder. Tools like Disk Drill can scan for deleted .db files and recover them before they get overwritten.
Cloud Options
Some users also sync their Android to Google One. Check your Google Photos and Google Drive backup history just in case something was auto saved there.
The key is speed. The faster you try to recover, the better your chances.
Let me explain what is actually happening at the storage level when you delete a Line message because understanding this helps you recover better.
How Line Manages Message Data
Line uses a SQLite database to store all your messages locally. On Android it is usually stored at:
/data/data/jp.naver.line.android/databases/naver_line
On iOS the path is buried deeper in the app container but it is still a SQLite file.
What Happens When You Delete a Message
When you delete a message in Line, it does not immediately wipe the data from the SQLite file. Instead it just marks the row as deleted and the space becomes available for new data to overwrite it. This is called soft deletion in database terms.
This is why recovery is possible if you act fast. The actual bytes are still on your storage until something else writes over them.
Recovery at the Database Level
Tools that do recovery work by:
- Extracting the raw SQLite file from device storage
- Running a database carving process that looks for table structures even in free space
- Reconstructing deleted rows from the WAL (Write Ahead Log) file which Line also uses
WAL File Is Your Friend
The WAL file (naver_line-wal) often contains recent transactions including deleted messages. Some recovery tools specifically target this file. Even manual inspection using SQLite Browser can sometimes reveal deleted entries.
Android vs iOS Recovery Difference
Android gives you more access to the file system so recovery success rate is generally higher. iOS sandboxes app data much more strictly so you are mostly dependent on iCloud or iTunes backups.
Important Technical Note
Do not install new apps or update Line after a deletion. Every app install and update writes new data to storage and reduces your recovery window significantly.
Okay real talk I went through this exact thing a few months back and it was genuinely stressful so let me tell you what happened and what worked for me.
I was having a really long conversation with a client over Line, like weeks worth of messages back and forth. One day I accidentally hit the delete conversation button instead of the archive button. Gone. Everything.
My first reaction was to immediately Google how to get them back and I made the mistake of downloading like three apps right away without thinking. That actually hurt my chances because installing those apps was writing new data to my phone storage.
What ended up working for me was restoring from a Google Drive backup. I had the automatic Line backup turned on but I did not even know it. When I went to Line Settings and checked the backup section, there was a backup from two days before I deleted the messages. I restored it and got almost everything back.
The two days I lost were annoying but way better than losing all of it.
What I Would Tell Anyone in This Situation Right Now
- Do not install anything on your phone immediately
- Check Line backup settings first before doing anything else
- If you use iPhone, check if iCloud backup is on in your phone settings
- Only if those options are empty should you move to a recovery tool
The backup route is honestly the safest because third party tools can sometimes be a bit of a gamble depending on your phone model and Android version.
Also what SynapseVector121 said about stopping app use is totally right. I kept using Line thinking it was fine and that definitely did not help.
A lot of good info already in this thread. Let me put together a clear instructional breakdown so you can follow along without getting confused.
Before You Do Anything
Stop using your phone for messaging right now. Every message you send or receive after the deletion increases the chance your data gets overwritten.
Method 1: Restore from Line Built In Backup
Android Steps
- Open Line
- Tap the three lines icon at the top left
- Go to Settings
- Tap Chats
- Tap Back up and Restore Chat History
- You will see a backup date if one exists
- Tap Restore and wait for it to complete
- Restart Line and check your messages
iPhone Steps
- Open Line
- Tap the three dots at the bottom right
- Go to Settings then Chats
- Tap Back Up Now to confirm a backup exists
- Delete and reinstall Line from the App Store
- When setting up, choose Restore from iCloud
- Sign in and restore
Method 2: Restore from Full Device Backup
For iPhone Using a Mac or PC
- Connect your iPhone to your computer
- Open Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows
- Select your device
- Click Restore Backup
- Pick the most recent backup before the deletion
- Wait for the process to finish
- Do not disconnect during restore
For Android Using Google Backup
- Go to phone Settings
- Tap Google then Backup
- Check what was last backed up and when
- Factory reset is usually needed to restore from Google backup so this is a last resort option
Method 3: Use Dr.Fone Data Recovery
- Download Dr.Fone on your Windows or Mac computer
- Launch it and select Data Recovery
- Connect your Android or iPhone via USB
- Enable USB debugging on Android in Developer Options
- Select the file types you want to scan for
- Click Start Scan
- Preview recovered messages
- Select what you want and click Recover to Device or Computer
Follow these in order and you should have a good shot at getting your messages back.
Okay I got some tricks for you that most guides do not mention. These are the ones that actually change your recovery odds.
Tricks Most People Skip
Put Your Phone on Airplane Mode Right Now
Seriously, do it before anything else. When your phone is connected to the internet, apps update in the background, sync data, and write files constantly. Airplane mode stops all of that and freezes the current state of your storage. This alone can be the difference between a successful recovery and a failed one.
Do Not Clear App Cache
Some people clear app cache thinking it will help. It does the opposite. The cache sometimes holds recent message data and clearing it just wipes what little might still be there.
Check the Spam or Archived Folder in Line
This sounds obvious but people miss it. Some messages that seem deleted actually got moved to archived conversations. Go to your chat list, tap the search icon and look for the contact name. Archived chats still show up in search even if they are not visible in your main list.
The ADB Backup Trick for Android
If you have ADB installed on your computer and your Android has USB debugging enabled, you can pull a backup of just the Line app without resetting anything:
Open terminal and run:
adb backup -noapk jp.naver.line.android
This creates a backup file of the app and its data. You can then extract the SQLite database from it using tools like Android Backup Extractor.
Check Google Photos Auto Save
Line sometimes saves media to Google Photos automatically if that setting was on. Your photos and videos from the deleted conversation might still be sitting in your Google Photos library even if the messages are gone.
Samsung Users Have an Extra Option
If you are on a Samsung device, Samsung Cloud sometimes keeps separate backups of app data. Check Samsung Cloud in your settings, it is separate from Google backup and a lot of people forget it exists.
The concern about not losing other data on the device is super valid and I want to address that directly in this guide.
Understanding the Risk First
Restoring a backup can overwrite your current data. The trick is to back up your current state before restoring an older one. Here is how to do this safely.
Phase 1: Protect Your Current Data
On Android
- Go to Settings
- Tap Google then Backup
- Tap Back Up Now to create a fresh backup of your current state
- Wait for it to complete before moving on
On iPhone
- Go to Settings then your Apple ID
- Tap iCloud then iCloud Backup
- Tap Back Up Now
- Wait for the backup to finish
This means you have a safety net. Even if the restore goes wrong, you can return to exactly where you are right now.
Phase 2: Check Line Backup First
- Open Line and go to Settings
- Tap Chats then Back up and Restore Chat History
- Note the date and time of the last backup
- If the backup is from before you deleted the messages, proceed to restore
Phase 3: Restore Only Line Data
This is the safer option because it only restores Line chat history, not your whole phone.
On Android and iPhone, restoring from the Line app itself only touches Line data. Your other apps, contacts, photos, and settings stay completely untouched. This is the best path if it is available.
Phase 4: If Line Backup Is Not Available
- On iPhone use iTunes or Finder restore to an older device backup
- Before doing this, note that your current phone data will be replaced
- Since you backed up in Phase 1, you can always come back
- After restoring the old backup, export your Line chats by going to each chat, tapping the menu, and selecting Export Chat
- Then restore your Phase 1 backup and manually import what you need
Phase 5: Verify the Recovery
- Open Line after restoring
- Go to each chat you needed to recover
- Scroll through to confirm the messages are there
- If successful, immediately turn on automatic backup in Line settings so this never happens again
Bro okay let me tell you something I read through this whole thread and I feel like everyone forgot to mention the most obvious thing first.
Before you do ANY of this complicated stuff, just ask the other person in the conversation to scroll up and screenshot the messages. Like yes it is that simple. If you were chatting with someone and deleted your side, their side still has everything. Just ask them to send you screenshots or forward the messages back.
I know this sounds too easy but I have seen people spend three hours trying recovery tools when they could have just texted their friend in two minutes.
Okay But What If You Cannot Ask the Other Person
Fair enough, there are situations where that is not an option. Group chats with people you do not know well, business conversations where it would be weird to ask, or chats where the other person also deleted it.
In those cases the fluxstellar and cyphernova approaches are solid. The SQLite database thing fluxstellar mentioned is real and it does work if you catch it early.
The Things That Actually Matter
Look the success rate of any recovery method depends on:
- How long ago you deleted the messages
- How much you have used your phone since then
- Whether you had backup turned on
If it was recent, like within the last hour or two, you have a really good shot with the built in backup method. If it was days ago and you have been using your phone normally, the third party scan route is your best bet but manage your expectations.
Also zerophantom mentioned Disk Drill and that one is genuinely good for pulling deleted database files on Android. I have used it before and it found stuff I thought was gone for good.
And yes turning on automatic Line backup after all this is like the bare minimum life lesson here 
Let me do a quick comparison of the main recovery tools mentioned in this thread because I have tested most of them and the results are not all equal.
Tool Comparison for Line Message Recovery
Dr.Fone by Wondershare
Platform: Android and iOS
Success Rate for Line: Medium to High
Ease of Use: Beginner friendly
Root Required: No for basic scan, deeper scan needs root on Android
Price: Paid, has a free preview mode
Best For: People who want a guided experience without technical knowledge
FoneLab Android Data Recovery
Platform: Android only
Success Rate for Line: High on older Android versions, lower on Android 12 and above
Ease of Use: Moderate
Root Required: Sometimes
Price: Paid
Best For: Older Android devices where the file system is more accessible
iMobie PhoneRescue
Platform: iOS focused
Success Rate for Line: Good when working with iTunes backups
Ease of Use: Very easy on iPhone
Root Required: Not applicable for iOS
Price: Paid
Best For: iPhone users who do regular iTunes backups
Disk Drill
Platform: Both via computer scan
Success Rate for Line: Good for raw file recovery from Android
Ease of Use: Moderate, requires connecting device as storage
Root Required: Yes for deep Android scan
Price: Free tier available for limited recovery
Best For: Tech savvy users comfortable with file system navigation
If you are on iPhone and had iCloud or iTunes backup, PhoneRescue is probably easiest. If you are on Android and want something quick and simple, Dr.Fone is the most user friendly. If you want to go deeper and do not mind some technical steps, Disk Drill on a rooted Android gives the most thorough scan.
None of them are perfect and success is never guaranteed. The Line built in backup that SynapseVector121 and cyphernova described is still the most reliable option when it exists.
Okay jumping in here because I work in mobile app support and I want to add something nobody has mentioned yet.
Line actually has a Keep feature built into the app. It is basically a notes and saved content section. Some users have all Keep syncing turned on which means certain messages that were saved to Keep might still be there even after the chat was deleted.
Go to the Home tab in Line and look for Keep at the top. If you or the other person ever saved any messages from that conversation to Keep, they will still be there.
Another thing worth knowing
Line on desktop. If you have Line installed on a computer and you were logged in, the desktop app stores its own local copy of messages. This is completely separate from your phone backup. A lot of people forget they even have it installed.
Check your PC or Mac for the Line desktop app. If it is there and you were using it around the time of those messages, just open it up and the conversation might still be sitting there completely intact.
The Google Drive Backup Detail Nobody Explains Well
When Line backs up to Google Drive on Android, it stores the backup file in a hidden app data folder in your Google Drive. You cannot see it by browsing Drive normally. To access it go to Drive settings, tap Manage Apps, find Line, and you can see the backup size and in some versions delete or restore from there.
The point is your backup might exist in Google Drive even if you do not see it when you open Google Drive normally. Check the app data section specifically.
If these were messages in a group chat on Line, those messages are stored on Line servers for a limited period. Reaching out to Line support with your account details and approximate timing is actually worth trying. They do not always help but some users have had success with this approach for group chat content.
Okay I want to push back a little on the direction this thread is going because I think there is an important nuance being missed.
The Backup Dependency Problem
Everyone is saying just restore from backup but that assumes you had backup enabled in the first place. According to Line own documentation, automatic backup is off by default on Android. It only runs if you manually turned it on. So for a lot of users, there is no backup to restore from.
That is not a knock on the advice in this thread, it is just context that matters.
Where I Agree With the Thread
The SQLite database recovery approach that fluxstellar explained is genuinely the most technically sound method when no backup exists. The data does not vanish immediately on deletion. It is still in the database until it gets overwritten. So the advice to stop using the phone and put it on airplane mode (TitanMatrix mentioned this) is probably the single most important thing anyone has said here.
Where I Would Add a Counterpoint
On newer Android versions (12 and above), Google has significantly tightened app data access. Even with root, some of these recovery tools struggle to access the Line app database directly because of scoped storage restrictions. So the third party tool route that works perfectly on Android 9 or 10 might fail completely on a newer device.
The Practical Middle Ground
For newer Android phones, your realistic options are:
- Line built in backup if it was enabled
- Google Drive app data backup if it was enabled
- Line desktop app if you had it synced
- Contacting the other person in the chat like Krytexis suggested (underrated honestly)
For older Android phones, the Dr.Fone and deep scan tools have a much better chance of working well.
I want to respectfully counter something Tekvanta said because I think it slightly overstates the Android 12 problem.
Yes, scoped storage is a real thing on newer Android. But here is what a lot of guides miss: if your Android phone is still under the same user session and the app data has not been cleared, some recovery tools that use backup API access (not direct file system access) can still pull the Line database without needing full root.
Dr.Fone specifically uses a different method on newer Android. It uses the Android Backup protocol which does not require root and is not blocked by scoped storage. The success rate is lower than on older devices yes, but calling it a near total failure is a bit much.
The Real Variable Is Time
I think both sides of this debate are correct but the most important factor is not the Android version. It is how much time has passed since the deletion. Fresh deletion on Android 12 can still be recovered. Old deletion on Android 9 might be unrecoverable if the storage space has been written over.
What I Would Actually Suggest
Given the Android version complexity that Tekvanta rightly raises, here is a realistic priority list:
- Line built in backup (works on all versions, no technical knowledge needed)
- Line desktop app check (Cynerion made a great point about this)
- Keep feature check (also from Cynerion, overlooked by most)
- Ask the other person in the chat
- Google Drive app data backup
- Third party tools as a last resort, with realistic expectations
The debate about Android versions matters for step 6. For steps 1 through 5, the Android version does not affect your odds at all.
Okay can I just say this thread has been genuinely helpful and I am bookmarking it because I know I am going to need it eventually
But I want to add something that has not come up yet. If you are in a situation where none of the backup or recovery options work, there is a way to at least prevent this going forward without relying on memory to manually back things up.
Setting Up Automatic Line Backup So You Never Have This Problem Again
On Android
- Open Line
- Go to Settings then Chats
- Tap Back up and Restore Chat History
- Tap the Google Drive backup option
- Sign in to the Google account you want to use
- Set the backup frequency to Daily
- Tap Back Up Now to create your first backup right away
Once this is set, Line will automatically push a backup to your Google Drive every day. Even if you delete messages, you only lose at most one day worth of content.
On iPhone
- Go to Line Settings
- Tap Chats
- Tap iCloud Backup
- Toggle it on
- Set frequency to Daily or Every Week depending on how active you are
Bonus: Export Important Chats Manually
For really important conversations like business chats or things with sentimental value, Line lets you export chats as text files.
Open the chat, tap the contact or group name at the top, scroll down to find Export Chat, and save it to your files or email it to yourself. It is a simple plain text file but it means even a worst case scenario deletion does not wipe that conversation forever.
This takes about 30 seconds per chat and for the important ones it is absolutely worth doing.
I know this thread has covered a lot but I want to do a quick FAQ because people searching for this will have different specific questions and it is helpful to have direct answers in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions About Recovering Line Messages
Q: Can Line messages be recovered after factory reset?
A: Only if you had a Google Drive or iCloud backup set up before the reset. A factory reset wipes local storage completely. Without a backup, the messages are gone.
Q: How long does Line keep backups?
A: Line backups stored on Google Drive are kept until you delete them manually or remove the app data from Drive. There is no automatic expiry. iCloud backups follow Apple retention rules and are kept as long as you have iCloud storage available.
Q: Does Line keep deleted messages on its servers?
A: For standard one to one chats, Line does not store message history on their servers after delivery. Group chats may have some server side retention for a limited window. This is why local backup is so important.
Q: Will the other person know I restored a backup?
A: No. Restoring your own backup is completely local to your device. The other person sees nothing on their end.
Q: Can I recover messages without a backup on iPhone?
A: It is very difficult. iOS app sandboxing means you cannot access the raw database like you can on Android. Your best bet is an older iTunes or Finder backup, or the Line desktop app if it was synced.
Q: Is rooting my Android worth it just to recover messages?
A: Generally no. Rooting has its own risks including voiding warranty and potential security issues. Given the advice in this thread, there are enough non root options to try first. Root access only becomes worth considering if every other method has failed.
Q: What should I do first right now?
A: Airplane mode immediately. Then check Line backup settings. Then check Line desktop app. Then consider third party tools only after those steps. As Fluxorix laid out really clearly, that order gives you the best overall chance.
Coming back to add one thing after reading the full thread. Astrynex covered the FAQ really well and Fluxorix did a good job resolving the Android version debate.
One thing I want to highlight that got a bit buried: the Line desktop app point from Cynerion is probably the most overlooked recovery option in all of these discussions.
Most people do not realize that Line desktop keeps its own independent message database. It is not dependent on your phone backup at all. If you were using Line on both your phone and computer at the same time as those messages, they are almost certainly still on your computer right now with zero recovery effort needed.
Just open the Line desktop app and check. It takes 10 seconds and could save you hours of trying other methods.
If you do not have it installed but you want to for future protection, Line desktop is available for Windows and Mac at LINE｜always at your side.. Once installed and logged in, it syncs your message history going forward, so while it will not recover the deleted messages it gives you a second copy of everything from that point on.
The Full Checklist in Order
Looking at everything in this thread, here is the final order I would follow:
- Airplane mode right now
- Line desktop app check
- Line Keep feature check
- Line built in backup restore
- Google Drive or iCloud app data backup
- Ask the other person in the conversation
- Third party recovery tools as last resort
- Line support contact for group chat content
Good luck GridXDevWorks. Let us know which method worked for you.