How to Restore Android Messages From Google Drive

Sodiq has written thousands of tutorials, guides, and explainers over the past 3 years to help people solve problems relating to Android, iOS, and Windows devices. He also enjoys reviewing consumer tech products (smartphones, smart home devices, etc.) and previously worked with GearBest in that capacity.

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Restore Android Messages From Google Drive By Resetting Your Phone

Backing Up Messages to Google Drive

On your Android smartphone, you can back up almost all kinds of data. By default, when you back up your device, it backs up and saves text messages to your connected Google Drive account. This means, for now, there’s no way to back up only SMS messages.

That said, check out how to automatically back up text messages to Google Drive on an Android smartphone.

Step 1:OpenSettings> go toGoogle.

Step 2:Tap onAll Services> chooseBackup.

Step 3:ChooseSMS and MMS Messagesoption to backup > tap onConfirm.

Step 4:Tap onBack up nowto begin the process.

You can now check the backup of your text messages on the same page without going to the Google Drive app. Tapping on it only shows details of the backup. But how do you restore that backup, and most importantly, how do you restore your SMS text messages?

Using Factory Data Reset

Currently, the Android OS is built so that you can’t restore backups made to Google Drive directly. SeveralAndroid users have complainedand searched for a fix, but it just cannot be done. It’s saddening, but that’s how the Android OS is wired, at least for now.

The only workaround is tofactory reset your device. Only then can you restore your text messages (alongside other backup data). After a factory reset, all data backup will be restored.

Restore Google Drive SMS Backup Using Third-party App

There are a handful of applications on the Google Play Store that can help you backup and restore SMS text messages from your Google Drive account. We recommendSMS Backup & Restoredesigned by SyncTech Pty Ltd.

Launch the app after installation, grant it the necessary permission it requests, and follow the steps below to backup and restore messages on your Android device.

Backup SMS Messages

Step 1:On the app’s homepage, tap onSet Up A Backup.

Step 2:Toggle offPhone callsto back up your SMS messages > tapNextto continue.

Step 3:Toggle onGoogle Drive> tapNextto continue.

Step 4:Now, tap theLog Inbutton toconnect the appto your Google Drive.

On the next page, you will need to select the type of access you want the app to have to your Google Drive. We recommend giving the app limited access.

Step 5:Select the second option —Only access to files and folders opened or created with SMS Backup & Restore.

Step 6:Select theGoogle Drive account> tapOkto continue > tapAllowto grant the app access to your Drive account.

Step 7:With yourGoogle Drive accountconfigured, tapSaveto proceed with the SMS backup process.

Step 8:TapNextto proceed.

After that, the backup process will commence, and you will get notified of its completion.

By tapping the Set Up A Schedule button on the homepage, you can create an automatic or recurring schedule for backing up your messages. The app lets you schedule SMS backup daily, weekly, or hourly.

Restoring SMS Messages

Step 1:On the app’s homepage, tap thehamburger menuicon > chooseRestore.

Step 2:Toggle onMessagesto select the most recent SMS data or tapSelect Another Backupto restore a different backup data. Tap theRestorebutton at the bottom to continue.

Step 3:The app will display a prompt requesting to be yourdefault SMS apptemporarily.TapOkto continue. TapYesto make theSMS Backup & Restoreapp your default messaging app.

Step 4:TheSMS restoration processwill commence. When it is done, tap theClosebutton to proceed.

Step 5:The app will prompt you to change your default message app to the official Android Messages app via a pop-up. TapOk.

Step 6:Go back to your home screen or your app tray and launch theMessagesapp.

Step 7:TapSet As Defaultto set the Messages app as default > tap onYesto continue.

Step 8:Do that, and deleted SMS text messages will begin to appear as new messages in your phone’s notification panel.

Note that you’d typically have to wait about 15 minutes to an hour for restored messages to reappear in the Messages app. The volume of messages in the backup entirely determines this.

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Last updated on 05 August, 2024

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