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Secret iPhone Automation Trick – How to Save/Read Deleted Messages

by Gaurav Bidasaria
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Many couples and even friends share a common iPhone or Apple ID. This leads to awkward situations where one of them deletes a message on iPhone before the other gets to read it. Fortunately, there is an automation that you can use to save and read deleted iPhone messages. No, I am not talking about the trash folder. Yes, I am talking about using the Shortcuts app.

Save Messages Before They Get Deleted on iPhone

You can set it up so that all messages from a specific contact will be saved to your Notes app. Not only that, you can also set filters so messages containing specific words will be saved while rest will be ignored. That way, you can avoid clutter and get notified of new messages from your favorite person or group.

Here are the steps to set up this automation using the Shortcuts app.

  1. Open the Notes app.
  2. Create a new note where all the messages will be saved. Name it something meaningful you will remember. I will go with ImportantMessage.
  3. Open the Shortcuts app.
  4. Select Automation tab and then tap on + icon to create a new automation.
  5. Select Messages app here.
  6. Tap on Choose next to Sender.
  7. Select the contact here. Tap on Done.
  8. In Message Contains section, you can further set a filter. Tap on Choose to enter filter words. Some examples can be amount, currency, date, reminder, certain words, etc.
  9. Select Run Immediately so the message is saved immediately when received to the selected note. Tap on Next.
  10. Select New Blank Automation.
  11. Search for and select Append to Note action.
  12. In Text option, select Shortcut Input.
  13. In the Note option, select the Note you created in step 1 above – ImportantMessage.
  14. Tap on Done to save everything.

Pro Tip: Don’t like the Camera Control button on your iPhone 16? You can easily turn Camera Control button into an Action button and open any app.

All messages you receive from that specific contact, containing the chosen words (if you’ve set a filter), will be saved to the selected note in the Notes app.

Notes: The sender won’t know if you have read the message or not if you read it via the Notes app. Since the original message was never opened, you can directly delete it or archive it as you wish.

Now, you can read messages even if they are deleted on your iPhone. Notes app is just an example but you can get creative and choose another app or service if it is supported by the Shortcuts app.

You can now keep your Messages app clean without worrying about someone snooping in on it.

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