Yes

Back at the company I used to work for, it was so far back that it was where I first learned to email. The very wise but pain-in-the-butt IT guy who trained us said to never ever delete your sent emails. Of course it could be that he was specifically speaking of corporate emails but anyway his slant on it was so that you could CYA if it ever became necessary. To this day I won't delete a sent email and if I did texting (which I don't) I wouldn't delete those either.

Deleting personal messages is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from deleting emails in a work context. Businesses need to keep records of what's done. Emails are like written correspondence used to be and deleting emails is like shredding essential business files - not a good idea, the info might be needed at a later date. Personal messages, something else entirely.

I use the stock LG messaging app on my phone through Verizon and don't see away to get it back after I send. Maybe Verizon messaging or another app but I really doubt it. Mary

By definition, crafty, deleting is deleting. Deleted things usually can't be recovered but don't need to be.

Most messages are fluffy anyway and without lasting importance. If any contain important info, like a phone number or address, that should be somewhere else where access is easier.

Periodic spring cleaning (deleting) of text messages and emails (if not done when received) is a best practice for better performance of apps/devices and to avoid needless use of memory.

What specifically are you asking? Are you wanting to delete old sent messages stored on your phone? (Very possible) Or are you wanting to delete a message you sent to someone so they dont see it? ( not possible)

Years ago you used to be able to unsend an AOL email if it was to another AOL address. Googled out of curiosity and found something called tiger text that will let you unsend a text even after it has been read. Didn't check it out, free app in the Apple and Google store. Mary

Maybe I misunderstood the question?

Jane, are you talking about deleting past communications, saved text messages, or instead is your question about when you send a message and then change your mind and wish to retrieve it, to undo the send?

Thanks, all!

I was talking about text messages sent to me. The messages and conversation might be important in the future. My concern is the person sending the text to my phone could possibly delete their messages.

There might be possible consequences to these texts. I want to ensure those texts remain on my phone. I know I can screenshot them, but it was a long discussion and would take time. I'm willing to do that if the sender had a way to delete their messages. My phone is a iphone and I do keep a backup of my phone on icloud, but if you delete anything, it deletes from icloud.

These messages might have legal consequences. I don't want to lose them.

Thank you all again.

Jane

I have seen news stories of court cases where they subpoena the carrier to get at deleted text messages from an account. I would probably screen shot and put in a safe place just to be extra sure if it's that important. Mary

jane, you positively absolutely should not have communications that "may have legal consequences" using text messages. I can't imagine what that might be but you should avoid it if you can. Please don't say here what it is but I have to wonder if there's a little melodrama in your comment.

If this is what you have, copy the text or screen capture, email it to yourself, and then save it by printing a hard copy and also including the text in whatever digital file backups you do.

If you have a verbal conversation with someone about something that "may have legal consequences", type up a memo summarizing the discussion and do the same, a hard copy and a digital backup.

Be sure you have your settings set so the messages aren’t automatically deleted after a certain period of time. I have mine set to keep messages (casual conversation) for 30 days. Then ‘poof’ they are gone! There may be a way to recover them, I‘ve never had the need.

My texts are set to save internally but I can set them to save on the SD card for back up. That option is in my messaging app settings. Mary

Putting messages on an SD card isn't really backup. You seem to have an odd notion/misunderstanding about this, thinking it's something unique or special. You said something similar about other files in the past day. I wonder why?

Why would saving text messages be desirable? Same is true about emails - if one of either contains important info, then put that info somewhere more easily accessible and more secure. Then keep your email and text message stores tidy and current.

A 30 day rule for messages is quite sensible.

I don't save them to an SD card but some might want to for what ever reason, it's an option on the phone you can use. People have their reasons for doing things the way they do them I guess. I save a few emails if I need to refer back to something but nothing of dire importance. Sometimes it might be because it's the last email or text message you got from someone before they suddenly passed. I think you don't like modern technology, he he. My 5th back up was my Mom's house but since it was sold 2yrs ago I don't think the new owners would have appreciated storing my files. Mary

Thanks to the responses, I checked my settings on my phone and have it set to save 'forever.' Thank goodness! That never occurred to me.

Elma, I am not melodramatic. I find your comments a bit uncomfortable. I have good reason for wanting to keep these text messages or I would not have sought help. Actually, you were the first response and your answer was, 'yes.' It seems that answer was incorrect, deleting sent texts cannot be deleted by the person who sent them.

Without getting into the details of why I want to protect those texts, I will just say that this individual threatened both me and my husband. These texts were disturbing and scary. I'm sure he was angry, however I want to protect my family in case he pulls something.

Enough said. I truly appreciate the opinions and ideas I received here. It appears that texts sent to me cannot be deleted by the person who sent them. That was my biggest concern.

Jane

Gosh crafty, enough prevaricating, okay?

You said " I can set them to save on the SD card for back up" and my comment is - that's not back up.

Done.

jane, when you send or receive a message or an email, you have a copy, the other side has a copy. You can keep or delete your copy as you choose, they can keep or delete their copy as they choose. What you do or don't do does nothing to their copy, and vice versa.

If your original question had been phrased "can the other person delete my copy", then the answer is no. But that wasn't the question you asked nor the question I answered. Sorry if there was any misunderstanding.