Retracted
See what they deleted.
Every message you receive, kept on your iPhone.
Someone deleted a message before you could read it? Retracted kept it — privately, on your iPhone.
Requires iOS 27 · iPhone
What you get
See what they deleted
Deleted and unsent messages stay readable in the conversation, right where they were.
Instant alerts on Instagram
Get notified the moment someone unsends a message on Instagram.
Every conversation, one place
Instagram, WhatsApp, iMessage, Messenger, Telegram. Search everything you’ve received, across apps.
Private by design
No account, no server, no ads, no analytics. Nothing ever leaves your iPhone. Lock it with Face ID.
How it works
- 1
Install Retracted
Open the app: the setup takes about two minutes.
- 2
Add the shortcut
iOS 27 lets a shortcut react to your notifications. Retracted gives you that shortcut, ready to use.
- 3
Turn on one switch
From then on, every message you receive is kept on your iPhone — even if the sender deletes it.
Good to know
- Retracted keeps messages received after you set it up. It can’t recover anything from before.
- It reads what your notifications show: notification previews must be on, and a conversation you have open doesn’t send notifications.
- Text only: photos, videos and voice messages aren’t kept.
- Only Instagram tells you when a message is unsent, so alerts are Instagram-only. For other apps, the deleted message is still kept in the contact’s thread.
- When many messages arrive within seconds, iOS may skip some.
- Requires iOS 27.
Pricing
Free
€0
- Every message is kept, unlimited
- The last 24 hours are readable
- Your first unsent message, revealed
Premium
- Yearly€19.99 / year7-day free trial
- Weekly€2.99 / week
- Lifetime€39.99One-time purchase
- Your full history
- Every deleted message
- Full search, full contact threads
Prices in euros; the App Store shows the price for your country. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period, in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions.
Questions
Can I see a message someone deleted?
Yes, if Retracted received it first. It keeps the text of messages you receive, so when the sender deletes or unsends one, you can still read the original in the conversation. It can’t recover messages from before you set it up.
Does it work for messages sent before I installed it?
No. Retracted only keeps messages that arrive after setup. It has no way to recover older ones.
Which apps does it work with?
Instagram, WhatsApp, iMessage, Messenger and Telegram. Only Instagram sends an “unsent” alert, so instant alerts are Instagram-only; for the other apps, the deleted message stays readable in the contact’s thread. Retracted is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of these services.
Does it work on WhatsApp and Instagram?
Yes, for text messages you receive. On Instagram you also get an alert the moment a message is unsent. Photos, videos and voice messages are not kept, and notification previews must be on.
Why do I need a shortcut?
iOS doesn’t let apps read your notifications. Since iOS 27, a Shortcuts automation can react to them, and only you can create and turn it on. Retracted gives you that shortcut ready to use; it forwards each notification to the app on your iPhone.
Is it private?
Yes. There is no account and no server, and nothing leaves your iPhone. Your messages are stored only on your device, and you can lock the app with Face ID.
Is it free?
You can download it for free. The free version keeps every message, lets you read the last 24 hours and reveals your first unsent message. Premium unlocks your full history: weekly €2.99, yearly €19.99 with a 7-day free trial, or lifetime €39.99.
Never miss a deleted message again.