Have you ever wished you could see an unsent message on Messenger?
Everyone who actively uses Messenger wants to be able to see an unsent message at some point. It’s easy to feel frustrated when someone unsends a message on Messenger before we get a chance to see it.
What were they going to say?
Why didn’t they send it?
You’ll be happy to learn that it’s possible to see an unsent message on Messenger.
In this article, we’ll share some practical tips to help you see messages that have been unsent, so you don’t have to feel like you’re missing out anymore.
What Is an Unsent Message?
An unsent message is a message that has been retracted after being sent to another user on Messenger. However, unlike other platforms like Instagram and Telegram which allow you to remove sent messages without a trace, Messenger informs the other party whenever you unsend a message.
Once you use the unsend message function, the highlighted message is permanently removed and is immediately replaced with the text: “you unsent a message.”
How to See Unsent Messages on Messenger
Begin by logging into your Facebook account. Facebook Messenger does not allow users to see a message that has been unsent, and we doubt the platform will ever launch this feature.
This would defeat the purpose of unsending messages. However, there are some ways to view messages that have been unsent by another user. 
The good news is that it is easy and quick, so as long as you follow the steps below, you can see any messages that have been unsent on Messenger.
Check for New Message Notifications
Once you have the Messenger app installed on your device, you will receive notifications for every new message. You have more chances of seeing an unsent message if:
- A new message notification appears when your phone’s screen is locked.
- Your mobile data was turned off when the other party unsent the message.
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll know when the person you’re chatting with is going to delete a message, so the second scenario is a little less likely.
However, if you suspect that a message will be deleted, you can turn off your internet connection once you receive the message. This way, you will still have access to the unsent message until you turn your mobile data back on.
Turn on the Notification History on Your Device
If you’re unable to see the unsent messages from your device notifications, then your notification history settings might be the issue. If your notification history is turned off, you will be unable to receive new message notifications on your device.
However, this feature is mostly available on Android devices, so if you own an Apple device, you may be unable to turn on your notification history.
How to See Unsent Messages on Android Devices
If you own an Android device, here is a step-by-step guide on how to turn on your notification history.
- Go to your device settings.
- Click on “Notifications.”
- Go to “Manage Notifications” or “Advanced Settings.”
- Click on “Notification History” and turn it on.
Now you can see recent notifications on your Android device. Once this setting is enabled, you can receive instant notifications from Messenger and any other apps you have installed.
This setting enables you to see unsent messages on your Android device without installing a third-party app.
How to See Unsent Messages on Apple Devices
Unfortunately, enabling notification history is a feature that is yet to be introduced to Apple devices. While you do not have the option of turning on your notification history, you can still see unsent messages on Messenger by modifying your notification settings.
To modify your notification settings, follow the steps below:
- Go to your device settings.
- Click on “Notifications.”
- Go to “Show Previews.”
- Click on “Always.”
- Choose Messenger from the list of apps displayed on the notifications page.
- Click on “Banners,” “Lock Screen,” and “Notification Centre.”
- Enable the option to “Always Show Previews.”
Modifying your notification settings should let you receive new message notifications from Messenger.
Install a Third-Party App
The third approach to seeing unsent messages on your mobile device requires you to download and install a third-party app. Many users swear by this method, as it is one of the most reliable ways to recover unsent messages on Messenger.
Unfortunately, this option is currently not available for iPhone users, so if you own an iPhone, you will have to use an alternative.
There are many apps on the Google Play Store which can help you view unsent messages. There are many out there that have good ratings, that can help you with this process.
Here’s a simple guide on how to see unsent messages on Messenger using a third-party app.
- Download the third-party app from Google Play Store.
- Turn on Messenger notifications on your device.
- Enable notification access on the third-party app.
- Grant the app permission to access your camera, contacts, media, location, and microphone.
- Allow the app to store new notifications.
You can now see unsent messages on Messenger. However, you will be unable to recover messages that were unsent before you downloaded the third-party app, as these apps only allow users to see messages that are deleted after installation.
Final Thoughts
Although Facebook does not allow its users to see a message that has been unsent on Messenger, there are some tips and tricks that can help you get around this.
In this article, we’ve discussed three methods that can help you get ahead of the curve and see what someone has messaged you and then deleted.
While some methods are more reliable than others, we recommend trying out a mix of different strategies to help you decide which one is more suitable for the device you’re using.
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