iPhones typically store all your text messages unless you’ve manually deleted them or set them to automatically delete after a certain period. Scrolling through the Messages app to find an old message can be a pain. Luckily, there are a couple of simple methods you can use to jump straight to those old messages without scrolling forever.
Method 1: Using the Search Option
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Open the Messages app on your iPhone. When you’re on the main screen displaying all your conversations, you’ll see a search bar at the top. Tap on it to start your search.
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Type in keywords or phrases that you remember from the message you’re looking for. As you type, the app will display all matching messages, from newest to oldest. Scroll through the results until you find the message you need.
Remember, this method is best if you can recall at least a word or two from the message you’re trying to find. Even a single keyword can significantly narrow down the search results.
Method 2: Jumping to the Top of a Conversation
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Open the Messages app and select the conversation in which you need to find older messages.
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Once you’re in the conversation, tap the very top of your screen - the status bar where the time, battery, and other icons are displayed. Tapping anywhere on this bar will do the trick, but tapping near the clock is usually the easiest spot.
If you have an iPhone X or a later model with a notch, tap on either side of the notch.
- The conversation will automatically scroll up to the oldest loaded message. You might see a little progress indicator showing that older messages are loading. Once that disappears, tap the top of the screen again to load even older messages. Repeat this until you’ve scrolled back far enough to see the message you’re after.
This neat little trick is a built-in iPhone feature that allows you to jump to the top of the current view in many apps, not just Messages. Tapping the status bar can really save you a lot of manual scrolling.
By using these methods, you can easily find old messages on your iPhone without endlessly scrolling. Whether you use the search function or quickly jump to the top of a conversation, locating past messages becomes a simple task.