WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms globally, offering its users the ability to send text, voice, and video messages with ease. As a vital communication tool, many people store important personal and professional conversations on WhatsApp. But what happens when you accidentally delete an important message or an entire chat? Is it possible to recover WhatsApp deleted messages?
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various methods and tools you can use to recover deleted messages on WhatsApp for both Android and iPhone devices. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted a message or a whole conversation, we’ve got you covered.
Why Do WhatsApp Messages Get Deleted?
Before diving into the recovery methods, it’s essential to understand how and why WhatsApp messages get deleted. There are several reasons why someone might lose access to their messages, including:
- Accidental Deletion: Sometimes, while managing chat threads, you might unintentionally delete important messages or even an entire conversation.
- Uninstalling the App: If you uninstall WhatsApp without creating a backup, you risk losing all your conversations.
- Device Issues: Technical problems with your phone, such as a crash or malfunction, can lead to the loss of messages.
- Switching Devices: When moving from one phone to another, if a proper backup is not restored, it can lead to lost data.
- Account Hacks: In rare cases, malicious activity may lead to the deletion of messages.
Luckily, WhatsApp offers several ways to recover deleted messages, especially if you have a backup in place. Let’s explore each method.
1. Using WhatsApp’s Backup System
The easiest way to recover deleted WhatsApp messages is by restoring them from a backup. WhatsApp provides options for both Google Drive (for Android) and iCloud (for iPhone) backups.
For Android Users (Google Drive Backup)
If you have enabled Google Drive backups for WhatsApp, you can recover deleted messages by restoring a previous backup. Here’s how:
- Check for Backup: Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Make sure that you have a recent backup.
- Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp: To restore from the backup, you will need to uninstall WhatsApp and then reinstall it from the Google Play Store.
- Restore Backup: Once reinstalled, open WhatsApp and verify your phone number. You will then be prompted to restore your chats and media from Google Drive. Select the most recent backup to recover your deleted messages.
- Complete Restoration: After the restoration process, your deleted messages should reappear in the chat threads.
For iPhone Users (iCloud Backup)
For iPhone users, WhatsApp offers iCloud backups. To recover deleted messages:
- Check for iCloud Backup: Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Ensure that you have a recent iCloud backup.
- Reinstall WhatsApp: Uninstall WhatsApp and reinstall it from the App Store.
- Restore from iCloud: After verifying your phone number, WhatsApp will prompt you to restore your chats and media from iCloud. Choose the most recent backup to recover your messages.
- Complete Restoration: Once the restoration is finished, your deleted chats should appear.
2. Recovering Messages Without a Backup
If you don’t have a backup in place, it’s still possible to recover deleted messages, but the process becomes more challenging. Here are a few methods you can try:
Recovering Messages on Android (Local Backup)
Android users benefit from a local backup option. WhatsApp automatically creates a local backup of chats every day at 2:00 AM, and these backups are saved on the phone’s internal storage. Here’s how to restore them:
- Access Local Backup Files: Use a file manager app to navigate to the WhatsApp local backup files. Go to
File Manager > WhatsApp > Databases. - Find Recent Backup: In the Databases folder, you will find several backup files named
msgstore.db.crypt12(for the latest backup) and files named with dates (for older backups). - Rename the File: To restore a previous version of your messages, rename the file from
msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12tomsgstore.db.crypt12. - Reinstall WhatsApp: Uninstall WhatsApp and reinstall it. When prompted to restore a backup, choose the local backup.
- Recover Deleted Messages: Your deleted messages should now be restored from the local backup.
Recovering Messages on iPhone (Third-Party Tools)
If you don’t have an iCloud backup and are looking for ways to recover deleted messages on an iPhone, third-party recovery tools might help. Some of the most popular tools include:
- Dr.Fone: This tool allows you to scan your iPhone for deleted WhatsApp messages and recover them.
- iMyFone D-Back: Another reliable tool for recovering WhatsApp chats, even without an iCloud backup.
To use these tools:
- Download and Install: Install the software on your computer.
- Connect Your iPhone: Connect your iPhone to the computer and follow the on-screen instructions to scan for deleted WhatsApp messages.
- Recover Messages: Once the scan is complete, you can preview and recover the messages you need.
3. Recovering Messages from Someone Else’s Chat
If you accidentally deleted a message, but the person you were chatting with still has it, you can easily recover it by asking them to resend the message. Additionally, if the deleted message was part of a group chat, other members of the group will still have access to it, and they can forward it back to you.
4. Using WhatsApp Data Recovery Tools
In addition to third-party apps specifically designed for iPhones, several general WhatsApp data recovery tools can be used on both Android and iPhone devices. These tools can help recover deleted messages, media, and even call logs. Some popular options include:
- Tenorshare UltData: This tool allows you to recover deleted WhatsApp messages from both Android and iPhone devices.
- EaseUS MobiSaver: A cross-platform tool that offers data recovery for Android and iPhone WhatsApp messages.
These tools usually require you to connect your device to a computer, and they will scan the internal storage for any recoverable files.
5. Preventing Future Loss of WhatsApp Messages
While it’s possible to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips to help you safeguard your messages:
- Enable Automatic Backups: Make sure that you enable automatic backups on WhatsApp to either Google Drive (for Android) or iCloud (for iPhone). This ensures that even if you delete a message, you can easily recover it.
- On Android: WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back up to Google Drive.
- On iPhone: WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back up to iCloud.
- Use Third-Party Backup Solutions: In addition to WhatsApp’s built-in backup options, you can use third-party backup apps like Google One (for Android) or iTunes (for iPhone) to create additional backups of your data.
- Be Cautious with Deletions: Before deleting any messages, double-check to ensure you won’t need them later.
- Regularly Export Chats: WhatsApp allows you to export chat history, including media files. This is a good option for archiving important conversations.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted WhatsApp messages doesn’t have to be a stressful process. Whether you’ve lost messages due to accidental deletion, device malfunctions, or uninstalling the app, there are multiple ways to retrieve them, especially if you have a backup system in place.
For Android users, Google Drive and local backups are the best options, while iPhone users can rely on iCloud backups. In cases where no backup exists, third-party recovery tools can be a lifesaver, providing a way to scan and recover lost data.
Finally, always ensure that you have a backup system in place to prevent the loss of important messages in the future. With these methods and precautions, you can ensure that your WhatsApp conversations remain safe and recoverable.
