How to See the Date & Time on iPhone Text Messages (iOS 16 Update)

Timestamps used to appear at the top of each text message on your iPhone. Now, iPhone message timestamps for individual texts seem to have disappeared, but they’re only hidden. You don’t always need to know what time a text was received, but if you wonder how to see the date and time someone texted you, we have the answer. And it's surprisingly easy. For those occasions when you do need to know when a text was sent or received, here’s how to uncover the iPhone text message timestamp next to each message.

How Can I Tell What Date & Time a Text Was Sent on the iPhone?
We've gone over how to find text messages using the Search bar, and how to save photos from the Messages app. Now, we'll learn how to see an iMessage timestamp for every message in a text thread:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap to open the text thread you're curious about.
3. You'll see the day each thread started at the top of the messages.
4. To see the timestamp, place a finger on any text message, then drag it to the left side of the screen.
5. Now you'll see the time each text in the thread was received.
6. When you let go, the iPhone message timestamp will retreat into its hiding spot once again.

That’s all there is to it! How often do you find yourself checking timestamps? Let us know and share other tips you’d like to see in the comments below.

[TaroFields]

Thanks. This works on iphone SE ios 15. Don't hold the message bubble; just drag it left. There really should be an option to always show this.

[teatonaz]

NEED the option to see the time/date full time. The old way was better

[jensineeichermuller]

That works for MY messages I sent out. But not for the messages I received and that’s what I really need rn

[jimmoritz]

I agree. It did the same for me.
That’s not how it works. Just grab the right edge of the messages screen and slide it but to the left. It doesn’t work if you tap and hold the message itself and drag to the left.
Now works every time for me.

[missybosa]

Nope. Doesn’t work. I get a drop down to copy, paste, translate, etc. no date or time stamp shows up

[AA-cmji]

Nope doesn’t show, crap desisn from iphone

[garyglaser]

Yeah, but when you let go of it, it doesn’t keep it on the screen so you can’t take a screenshot of it. Also, it doesn’t give you a date if you have a message from five days ago it doesn’t give any date just the time.

[drbobtech]

This should be always on with option to hide. Stupid design!!!

[billm]

title of the video says to see the date and time, video only showed the time, I need the date and year. Title misleading and made be watch video and did provide what it stated, I guess i fell for the click bait title

[JuanRodriguez-mmeo]

That’s one of the reasons I’m going back to Sam sung

[georgeadams]

Help! Can text msg on icloud be old but have a date on em as if they are not so old ?? Please some one,

[McPixelWizard]

On mine, you don’t tap it; you just touch it and slide it to the left at the same time

[scooterstop]

Thank you!! That has been driving me crazy!!

[deepaklad]

I sometimes see date and many times days. Does not help much. No remedy is seen

[richardmerryman]

Why does some messages show the full date along with the timestamp, but others just show the day (Monday, Tuesday, etc.). I'm looking to enable the 'full' date to be shown (e.g., Monday, January 10, 4:06 PM for example). No way to edit this to show the full date? I know you can pull out the time, but that's not what I'm looking to do.

[diletselam]

I have iphone 12 and this isnt working on my phone, i still can't see the time

[rexmoore]

This is why I love the internet thanks

[ronabliss]

🤣 I was looking for the time… HIDDEN UNDERNEATH the message! Too intent on sliding it to the left and I just happened to glance to the right and spotted it at the edge of the page! 😜

[TonyZ]

Dam thank you so much new to iPhones …..

[lafl]

It does work n I have an old 6 +iPhone I swiped left