Many WhatsApp users have accidentally deleted important chats and media from their chat history and wanted to recover them. The good news is – in many cases, it is possible to recover deleted WhatsApp data like messages, photos, videos etc.
Why Does WhatsApp Data Get Deleted?
There can be several reasons for accidental deletion of WhatsApp data:
- The user might have intentionally cleared chat history or deleted specific chats.
- The user might have unintentionally clicked on “Delete for everyone” option while deleting messages for self.
- WhatsApp gets automatically deleted when the user uninstalls the app from their device or wipes data while changing phones.
- Data loss can also happen due to OS crashes, device corruption, etc.
So while WhatsApp itself does not provide any built-in chat recovery options, the deleted data may still be present on your device’s storage or backup.
Can I Recover from WhatsApp Itself?
Unfortunately, there are no WhatsApp tools to directly recover deleted messages and media. WhatsApp deletes data from its servers immediately when you delete it on any device.
However, it may still be possible to restore deleted WhatsApp data from your phone’s local storage or Google Drive backup.
Restoring from Google Drive Backup
If you had enabled WhatsApp chat backup to Google Drive:
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Upon reinstalling, verify your number and tap “Restore” when prompted.
- WhatsApp will restore your most recent backup which may contain the deleted messages.
The time frame of backed up data depends on your auto backup frequency. If you had not backed up in a long time, your deleted messages may not come back.
Local Storage Recovery
Even without backup, WhatsApp stores data locally on your Android / iOS device. Using data recovery apps, you may be able to restore deleted WhatsApp messages, photos, videos from this local storage.
How to Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages
Here are the best methods to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, media, history and chats:
1. Restore from Google Drive Backup
As discussed above, this should be your first attempt to directly restore deleted data using WhatsApp’s built-in restore option.
If the desired data was deleted a long time ago and not present in the latest backup, this method will not work.
2. Use WhatsApp Data Recovery Apps
A much more effective way is to use a dedicated WhatsApp recovery app for your device – Android or iPhone.
These apps work directly on the phone’s storage to extract deleted WhatsApp data that is not overwritten. Some of the best WhatsApp recovery apps include:
For Android:
- Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery
- iMyFone D-Back
- FonePaw Android Data Recovery
For iPhone:
- Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery
- iMyFone D-Back
- Tenorshare UltData
These apps scan your phone’s storage and extract recoverable WhatsApp data allowing you to preview and selectively restore it.
Key Features:
- Recovers all message types – text, images, videos, GIFs, documents
- Recovers individual as well as group chats
- Previews data before restoring
- Retrieves contacts and call history
- Suppports WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business
3. Manual Extraction from Local Storage
You can also manually dig into your phone’s local storage and try extracting deleted WhatsApp files using a computer.
This method is complex but can work in some cases where recovery apps fail.
On Android: WhatsApp database and media files are stored locally under Phone Storage > WhatsApp > Databases. You can copy this data to a computer and use sqlite browsers or apps to view deleted messages.
On iPhone: Navigate to Backup > com.whatsapp.WhatsApp and copy the backed up Databases folder to your computer. Use sqlite tools to browse messages.
However, this method needs you to root/jailbreak your device in some cases. It is also tedious and may not recover all data.
Can I Recover Deleted WhatsApp Without Backup?
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted WhatsApp chats and media without backup by using data recovery apps for Android and iPhone.
These apps work directly on your phone’s storage to find and restore deleted WhatsApp data that is not yet overwritten by new data. Enabling WhatsApp chat backup is recommended, but not mandatory.
Tips to Prevent WhatsApp Data Loss
To avoid dealing with WhatsApp data loss and recovery hassles in the future, follow these tips:
- Enable auto backup daily or weekly to Google Drive.
- Export important chats to PDF to retain a copy externally.
- Be careful while deleting messages & media.
- Back up WhatsApp data locally to your PC.
- Disable auto-download of media to save phone storage.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp itself does not provide deleted data recovery, there are several reliable methods to restore your lost messages and media. With proper backups enabled, you can use WhatsApp’s built-in restore option. For older deletions, third party data recovery apps are the most effective approach. With the right tools, recovering deleted WhatsApp history is not difficult.