While saving a contact list to a SIM card is a well-known practice, storing messages there can stump even phone enthusiasts. But we won't be caught off guard, as we've already dived into the deepest depths of technology. So, take a deep breath and follow us. We'll show you how to effectively recover deleted SMS from a SIM card.
Can SMS be recovered from a SIM card?
Saving messages to a SIM card is possible, but it's more of a relic of the past. This solution was mainly used in the technological Pleistocene, when phones were commonly called "cell phones," and accidentally turned on mobile internet burned in your pocket like a brand forged with a hot iron.
A message to all confused teenagers: before we exhaust the topic, we'll try to throw in a few more boomer fun facts 🙃. Don't go anywhere!
As a rule, a SIM card is not a storage medium intended primarily for data storage. It primarily serves to identify the subscriber, and a small archive is an additional convenience. There is very little space to utilize. Depending on the type of card, it can hold a maximum of 500 contacts, and messages from a few dozen to a few hundred. Due to the limited storage space, older data also had to be overwritten by newer data.
Modern smartphones by default save messages to the device's internal memory. This data is often regularly synchronized with the user's account in a cloud service. Android phone owners usually choose Google Drive, while iPhone enthusiasts often lean towards iCloud. This ensures all SMS are securely stored in various locations.
So, if you have a relatively new smartphone, and the SIM card you're currently using was activated in the last few years, all your data should already be in the device's memory. You're more likely to expect lost messages with SIM cards that have been with you for a long time. Nevertheless, despite the passage of time, there's still a chance that the data you're looking for hasn't been permanently deleted and you can track it down.
We've covered the theory, so it's time for practice 💪. Find out how to recover deleted SMS, as well as other data.
Computer software for recovering SMS from a SIM card
The native software on your smartphone is unlikely to offer effective tools for recovering SMS from a SIM card. You'll need to turn to specialized solutions provided by other manufacturers. Reputable options include:
- iMyFone D-Back,
- FoneLab Data Recovery,
- Eassiy Data Recovery.
All three of the above are available in versions adapted for iPhones and Android phones. Use the version intended for your system.
Software that allows data recovery sometimes comes in the form of mobile apps, but often you'll need to use a computer. In such a situation, you'll need a USB cable to connect your phone. Remember to accept the permissions for device connection and data sharing.
After launching the program, you'll be able to select the scope of data you want to recover. Among the available options, you'll find choices such as photos, contacts, call history, and of course, text messages. Then, follow the on-screen instructions. Once the scan is complete, you'll be able to save an archive containing all the data that was successfully recovered from the selected media. We're keeping our fingers crossed that your desired messages from the SIM card will be among the restored files.
The mentioned software has a wide range of functionalities. It not only allows you to recover deleted SMS from a SIM card. With its help, you can also restore data that was lost from other media, such as the device's internal memory or SD cards. This way, you can even access messages that you might have deleted in a hurry and later realized was too hasty a decision.
Is it worth storing SMS on a SIM card?
Absolutely not 🙅♂️! It's quite an anachronistic solution that doesn't meet the standards of modern Vikings. Mobile operating systems are increasingly less likely to offer options for synchronizing data with a SIM card. You have to go to great lengths to perform such an operation, and it will be even more difficult in the future.
So, if our tips have helped you access old SMS, secure them using reputable solutions. Store sensitive data in your phone's memory and additionally, regularly send a backup copy to the cloud. You can set up automatic synchronization at any time interval. This will give you a full sense of security without having to manually repeat the operation. There's also nothing to stop you from keeping important files on your computer for extra assurance.
