How to Retrieve Old SMS Messages

1. Open the text message menu on your cell phone. Don't use a shortcut key as you might to start a text message. Go to the main menu on your phone, then select the text message button. Its icon often looks like the reverse side of an envelope.
2. Scroll down on the text message menu until you find your inbox. Select the inbox. A list of your text messages will appear. They are listed by the date they were received.
3. Scroll to the top or bottom of the list. Your phone may list newer text messages at either the top or the bottom of the list. Your older messages will be on the opposite end.
4. Open each text message to find the date and time it was sent. Your phone's list of text messages may indicate the date without your having to open each one.