iMobileTool SMS Manager Review — Features, Pros, and Setup Tips

Recovering Deleted Messages with iMobileTool SMS Manager: Step-by-StepLosing important text messages—whether they’re sentimental, legal, or contain essential information—can be stressful. iMobileTool SMS Manager is a desktop utility designed to help you back up, export, and recover SMS and iMessage conversations from iOS devices and backups. This guide walks you through the recovery process step‑by‑step, explains what to expect, and offers troubleshooting tips to maximize your chances of restoring deleted messages.

Before you begin: what iMobileTool SMS Manager can and can’t do

• It can extract messages from an attached iPhone/iPad, from an iTunes/Finder backup, or from an iCloud backup (when you provide the proper credentials or downloaded backup file).
• It can recover deleted messages that still exist in the device database or within an accessible backup.
• It can’t recover messages that were overwritten and no longer exist in any device database or backup accessible to you.
• It may require a device backup or a recent sync to have the deleted messages present; recovery success depends on when the deletion occurred relative to your last backup.

Preparation

1. System requirements and installation

   • Download the latest iMobileTool SMS Manager for Windows or macOS from the official site.
   • Install and run the app; allow any driver/software prompts needed to recognize your iOS device.

2. Gather credentials and hardware

   • Have your iPhone/iPad and its Lightning/USB-C cable ready.
   • If you plan to recover from an iCloud backup, make sure you know your Apple ID and password and have two‑factor authentication access if enabled.
   • If using Finder/iTunes backups, know whether the backup is encrypted (you’ll need the password).

3. Create a fresh backup (recommended)

   • Before attempting recovery, make a fresh encrypted backup via Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows). This preserves the current device state in case something goes wrong. Encrypted backups save Health, Keychain, and other sensitive data.

Step-by-step recovery from a connected device

1. Connect your iPhone/iPad to the computer

   • Use a reliable cable and unlock your device when prompted. On first connection, tap “Trust” on the device.

2. Launch iMobileTool SMS Manager

   • The app should detect your device and display device details (model, iOS version, storage).

3. Scan the device for messages

   • Choose the option to scan data from the connected device.
   • Select “Messages” (and attachments if you want media recovered).
   • Start the scan; wait for it to complete. Scan time depends on message volume and device size.

4. Preview and locate deleted messages

   • The interface typically shows both existing and recoverable deleted conversations. Deleted items are often highlighted or listed separately.
   • Use search, sorting, or conversation filters to find specific messages by contact, phone number, or keywords.

5. Recover or export messages

   • Select the conversations or individual messages you want to restore.
   • Choose recovery options:
     • Export to computer as HTML, PDF, CSV, or TXT (useful for archiving or printing).
     • Restore back to device (if the app supports direct restoration; note this may require the device to be jailbroken or require special steps).
   • Follow on-screen prompts. For exports, pick a destination folder; for restore, confirm and allow any permissions.

Step-by-step recovery from an iTunes/Finder backup

1. Locate or create a backup

   • If you already have a local backup, note its path. If not, create a fresh backup via Finder/iTunes (an encrypted backup is recommended).

2. Open iMobileTool SMS Manager and select “Recover from Backup”

   • The app should list available local backups. Choose the relevant backup by date.

3. Scan the backup

   • Select “Messages” and start scanning the backup file.
   • Preview results; deleted messages recovered from the backup will be shown if present.

4. Export or restore

   • Export messages to HTML/PDF/CSV/TXT or, if supported, restore them to your device following the app’s instructions.

Step-by-step recovery from iCloud

1. Prepare iCloud access

   • Verify Apple ID, password, and 2FA access. iMobileTool may prompt to sign in or to load a downloaded iCloud backup file.

2. Download/select an iCloud backup

   • The app may list available iCloud backups associated with your Apple ID. Select the backup dated before/around when the messages still existed.
   • Download the backup or let the app access it for scanning.

3. Scan and recover

   • Select “Messages,” scan the backup, preview recovered items, and export or restore as above.

Security note: when giving third‑party tools iCloud credentials, review the tool’s privacy/security documentation. Prefer using locally downloaded backups when possible.

Interpreting results and limitations

• If deleted messages appear in the scan, they can usually be exported. Directly restoring messages to a non‑jailbroken device may be limited by iOS restrictions.
• If nothing is found:
  • The messages may have been overwritten by new data.
  • They might not have been present in the chosen backup or the device database at the scan time.
• Message attachments (photos, videos) may be larger and take longer to extract; some might be missing if they were stored in iCloud Photos rather than locally.

Troubleshooting

• Device not detected: try another cable/USB port, unlock the device, confirm “Trust” prompt, update iTunes/Finder, or install device drivers (Windows).
• Scans failing or freezing: close other apps, restart the computer and device, try a different computer if possible.
• Encrypted backup not readable: supply the correct backup password; if forgotten, the backup is inaccessible.
• iCloud sign-in errors: confirm credentials and 2FA codes; try downloading the iCloud backup via Apple first if the tool has trouble.

Best practices to increase recovery success

• Back up often and use encrypted backups.
• After noticing deletion, stop heavy use of the device (to reduce overwriting) and attempt recovery ASAP.
• Export recovered messages to multiple formats and locations (local disk, external drive, cloud archive).
• Keep app and OS versions up to date for compatibility.

When to seek professional help

• If messages are critically important (legal/evidentiary), consider a professional data‑recovery service—especially if physical damage or severe database corruption exists.
• For complex iCloud or encryption issues, contact Apple Support for account and backup guidance.

Recovering deleted messages with iMobileTool SMS Manager is often straightforward when a backup or the device database still contains the data. Follow the steps above, act quickly after deletion, and keep backups to minimize the risk of permanent loss.