Galaxy S8 - unable to find the folder where deleted text messages from the Messaging App go ??

[Wannabee]

I have tried all solutions recommended in the forum, but I can find no trash bin ??

I tried the following:

To find the trash bin on a Samsung S8, you need to:

1. Open the My Files app.
2. Tap the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner.
3. On the menu that opens, select "Settings".
4. On the settings menu, scroll down to make sure trash is turned on.
5. Once it's turned on, go back to the My Files app main page.
6. Tap the 3 vertical dots in the upper right hand corner.
7. On the menu that opens, select "Trash" and it should open the trash bin.

This procedure does not work on my Galaxy S8 ??

No Trash selection is seen ??

The "Show hidden files" is enabled.

Does anyone know where the folder is actually located on the Phone ?

[realaud]

If you are using Samsung messages and delete text messages, the app has its own trash folder.  Look for it in the side menu.  The messages get automatically deleted forever after 30 days. If you are using Google messages, there is no trash, and the messages are gone forever unless you backed them up somewhere.  You will not find them in the file manager trash--it's a separate space that exists only within the app.

[Wannabee]

Thank you for responding.  I am sorry to say there is no separate bin for deleted texts in the Messaging app that came with my Samsung phone. 

There is also no side menu item "Trash or Recycle" in the Messaging app that came with my Samsung phone.

It looks to me to be a very basic open license messaging app.

[realaud]

Samsung messages does have a trash bin. Make sure of which messaging app you are using. If you are using Google messages, you will see your initial in the top right corner when you open the app. This app has no trash bin. If you are using Samsung messages, you will see three vertical dots in the top right. Tap the dots, and you will see an option for trash. The only messaging apps that come oreinstalled are Google and Samsung, so you are using one of them.

[Wannabee]

I have attached pictures of thr messaging app that came with the Samsung phone.  As you can see,  no options for trash or recycle can be found ?  It does not identify whether it is Google or Samsung mesages,  just Messages.   Cheers

[realaud]

That appears to be the Samsung Messages app. You can block spam messages by long pressing the message, tapping the menu bars on the bottom right and selecting block.

[Wannabee]

There seems to be some confusion here ...

I do not have an issue with How to Block spam messages.

My issue is that I cannot locate the folder on my phone where deleted messages from my message app, are sent to !!   If indeed there is a folder called Trash or Recycle to access.  The images I sent you are what happens when I try all the previous suggestions re the Three dots within the app.

Cheers

[realaud]

Sorry, got caught up in another thread asking how to report and block spam - my fault for not reacquainting myself with this thread before responding.  In any case, I see you have a different version of messages than I do.  my version is 15.5.33.1 but, to my knowledge, Samsung messages has always had a trash bin--I don't use it, so I don't know for sure when they added it.  My photos show the menu I get when I tap the 3 dots on when I first open the app (the messages screen).  I don't know why you have such an outdated version of messages unless your phone is so old it will not install a newer version.  The S8 seems extremely old (in phone years), so maybe your version was before they added the trash bin.

By the way, the instructions you enumerate in your first post is for locating the trash bin for the file manager, NOT the messaging app, which are two different things.  The messaging app trash is only located within the messaging app.  The file manager trash is for everything else.

[Wannabee]

!)  yes,  my Galaxy S8 is an older phone that Samsung stopped supporting many years ago.  No updates of any kind are being issued.   Being a retired senior citizen on a small fixed budget, prevents me from getting a new phone unless a truck runs over my current phone ..  lol

2)  My original post was trying to find out if using "My Files", might allow me to drill down to a data folder on the phone, where the deleted messages might go ?    I guess from your response,  this is not possible.

3) I have not yet looked into downloading a third party Messaging app? Perhaps this is the way to go?

Thanks for trying to help

Cheers

[realaud]

I personally think Google messages is better, however, it has no trash, so deleted messages are gone, gone, gone. You can archive messages so you don't accidentally delete them, though. Some people use Textra, but I don't know its capabilities. They do have backup programs to backup messages, but you either have to remember to do it, or schedule a regular backup. I recommend SMS backup and restore

Have you tried downloading a more recent version of messages from the Galaxy store?  Even though it hasn't been automatically updated, you might be able to get a current version - doesn't hurt to try.