On my older iPad (MD520C/A) with iOS 10.3.4, I decided to shorten up some text threads to make more space. I went into one thread, selected a number of items and hit Delete. Then, all threads disappeared except the one from which I deleted items.

I could not figure out how to get them back so I did a reset, but that didn't help.

This is not the end of the world on my iPad as I always transfer pix et cetera to my iMac, and I don't keep any critical data on the iPad. However, it is very disconcerting that such a major loss of data can happen by executing a simple procedure.

It is something I'd like to avoid when I help my wife make space on her iPad Mini2 (FE276C/A) iOS 12.3.4.

Any ideas about what may have occurred? How to avoid another unplanned loss?

Unless you were backing up iPad content with some third-party app, they are gone.

I had a similar experience awhile back when I went to do exactly what you were trying to do. I did not lose all other threads, but I did lose in its entirety the thread I was trying to shorten. I am still not clear on what I did, but I think the "Delete" and "Delete All" options appear in places on the screen that are very close in proximity and my automatic tap response went astray.

I have noticed that with the new iOS it is much harder to do what happened to each of us. It seems that deletions require a second confirmation of "Delete". Live and look.

What do you mean by text threads?

I define them as, for example:

A text conversation with myself and both daughters that we go back to for any topic....the only criterion being the ability to talk with that group. We may have had dozens of different conversations over an long period of time.

OR

A conversation that begins with either of my daughters.....and continuing conversations as above.

OR

A conversation that begins with my wife and both daughters.....and continuing conversations.

Et cetera.

Assuming you are using the Messages app it should be possible to delete individual texts within a conversation by selecting the text and pressing the delete key. At least it works that way in Catalina (MacOS 10.15.4). The only explanation I can come up with for what happened in your case is somehow the other conversations were somehow selected in the Sidebar when you hit the delete key. However I was unable to replicate the behavior you encountered.

I did a FindAnyFile search for a file containing the content of a specific text to find out where the conversations are stored in Catalina and found they are in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.ichat/Data/Library/Messages/Archive/yyyy-mm-dd (where ~/ indicates the Library in the User folder). And that history goes back a long time and conversations could be restored from there. In Mojave you may have to search for Package Contents 🤷‍♂️

But ryck's issue has to do with iOS, not MacOS.

I guess what I was asking was "where are these text threads occurring?" If they're taking place in the Messages app on your iPad, then this article might be of use.

How to Delete Messages in iOS 12, iOS 11, iOS 10, iOS 9, iOS 8, & iOS 7

Yes, that looks helpful. Thanks. I don't want to try anything on my wife's iPad Mini (just in case) but will wait until I have a few more separate threads built up on my iPad, and then give it another try.....with the help of this article.

EDIT: Bob_00001's experience with his iPhone 5 (in the thread next door), using the above article, makes things look promising.

I think it was a fluke on your end since you said you "went into one thread and selected a number of items…". It sounds as if you did it properly but accidentally (?) selected an incorrect deletion option.

Well, you'll find out the next time you try it. Good luck and let us all know the outcome.