The embodiment of the invention discloses a method and device for displaying messages and a terminal, and relates to the technical field of communication. Security of data can be improved. The method in the embodiment comprises the steps that when the messages from an application are received, a database is searched to determine whether an original icon exists in the database or not, the database is used for storing the corresponding relation between the original icon of the designated application and a target icon and display content corresponding to the stored designated application; when the original icon of the application exists in the database, the target icon of the application and the display content corresponding to the application are acquired from the database; the target icon of the application and the display content corresponding to the application are displayed in a notification bar. The method and device for displaying the messages and the terminal are suitable for the message display process.