It's common to have unread text messages in the Messages app on your iPhone. When unread messages mix with messages you've already read, finding important text messages can be a hassle. Luckily, there's an easy way to view only unread messages. Here's how to find unread text messages on iPhone.

Why You’ll Love This Tip

Quickly single out unwanted and outdated text messages that you want to delete.
Search for unread text messages that you might have missed.

How to Find Unread Messages on iPhone

System Requirements

This tip was performed on an iPhone 17 Pro running iOS 26.4. Find out how to update to the latest version of iOS.

With the Filter Unknown Senders feature, you can easily find unread messages on your iPhone. This is useful if you ever see a notification badge on the Messages app but don't see any unread texts. You can easily track down the mysterious missing message and mark it as read. Here's how to filter unread text messages on iPhone:

Open the Messages app.
Tap the Menu icon. (If you don't see Filters, you probably do not have Filter Unknown Senders toggled on. Make sure that the feature is enabled before continuing.)
Tap Unread.
You will now see all of your unread messages.

Now you know where to find unread text messages on your iPhone. Next, find out how to keep your inbox organized by auto-deleting verification codes or pinning important conversations. Be sure to check out our free Tip of the Day for more great Messages app tutorials.