iPhones retain all your text messages and iMessages unless they've been manually deleted or set to auto-delete after a specific time frame. Navigating through the Messages app to find an old message can be cumbersome if it involves endless scrolling. Thankfully, there are effective ways to retrieve old messages without the hassle.

Find old messages using the search option

Step 1: Open the Messages app from your iPhone's home screen. On the main screen that displays all your conversation threads, you'll see a Search bar at the top. Tap on it to begin your search.

Step 2: Enter relevant keywords or phrases from the message you're trying to find into the search box. As you type, the Messages app will display all messages containing those words, sorted from newest to oldest. Browse through the results to locate the specific message.

Keep in mind that this method works best if you remember some part of the message you're searching for. Even a single word can significantly narrow down the results and help you find the message quickly.

Get to the top of any conversation

Step 1: Launch the Messages app and select the conversation thread where you want to find old messages.

Step 2: Once the conversation is open, tap at the very top of your screen—the status bar displaying the time, battery level, and other status icons. Tapping anywhere on this bar will work, but tapping near the clock is often easiest.

If you're using an iPhone X or later model with a notch, tap on either side of the notch at the top of the screen.

Step 3: The conversation will scroll up to the point where messages are currently loaded. You may notice a progress indicator as older messages load. Wait for it to disappear, then tap the top of the screen again to scroll further back in time. Repeat this process until you reach the messages you're interested in.

This method leverages a handy iPhone feature that quickly scrolls to the top of the current view. It's a simple trick that works in many apps, not just Messages. Tapping the status bar can save you from a lot of manual scrolling.

Using these methods, you can efficiently locate old messages on your iPhone without the tedious scrolling. Whether you use the search function or quickly jump to the top of a conversation, finding past messages becomes a straightforward task.