Uninstalling WhatsApp can feel like a quick and easy way to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. But soon after, you may start to miss your old chats, media, and messages that got erased along with the app. So is there any way to get your old WhatsApp data back after an uninstall?
The Short Answer
The short answer is maybe. If you uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp within 30 days and didn’t clear the app data before uninstalling, your messages and media will reappear when you log back in. But after 30 days, your WhatsApp account is deleted from WhatsApp’s servers and your chat history cannot be recovered.
Backing Up Your WhatsApp Data
Before uninstalling WhatsApp, it’s always a smart idea to create a backup of your messages, either locally on your device or to Google Drive. Here’s how to do both:
Local Backup to Device Storage
WhatsApp lets you create local backups of your chat history that save to your device’s storage. To do this:
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now
This will save a copy of your WhatsApp data on your device so you can restore from it later if needed.
Backup to Google Drive
You can also backup your WhatsApp messages to Google Drive. This syncs your chats to the cloud so you can restore them even on a new device.
- Open WhatsApp Settings
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup > Backup to Google Drive
- Select backup frequency (daily, weekly, etc)
As long as you’ve backed up your messages, you’ll be able to recover them if you reinstall WhatsApp and restore from Google Drive.
Reinstalling WhatsApp After Uninstall
If you uninstall WhatsApp but then change your mind and want to reinstall it, the good news is your chat history can be restored as long as the uninstall period didn’t exceed 30 days. Here’s what to do:
- Reinstall WhatsApp from the app store
- Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number
- On the ‘Restore Chat History’ screen, tap Restore to retrieve your chat backup from Google Drive or local device storage.
And that’s it! Your messages, media, and full chat history will be retrieved and put back into WhatsApp.
Can I Recover After 30 Days?
Unfortunately, after 30 days pass from uninstalling WhatsApp, your account is eliminated from WhatsApp’s servers and your chat history is permanently deleted. At that point, there is no way to retrieve your old WhatsApp data.
Some things to note about the 30 day limit:
- The 30 days is counted from when you uninstall WhatsApp, not when you reinstall it.
- Even with a Google Drive backup, your chats cannot be recovered after 30 days.
- The 30 day countdown pauses if you reinstall WhatsApp within the timeframe.
So in summary, make sure you reinstall and restore your chat backup within 30 days if you want your WhatsApp messages back.
When Messages Are Gone for Good
In some cases, your WhatsApp messages are permanently gone and impossible to retrieve, even if you reinstall shortly after uninstalling:
- You cleared app data – Before uninstalling, the app may have prompted you to clear WhatsApp data. This deletes your local chat backup.
- No Google Drive backup – If you never backed up chats to Google Drive, you have no cloud backup to restore from.
- Account banned by WhatsApp – If your account was banned for violating WhatsApp policies, your account and all data is lost.
So unless you have an existing backup, or your account was banned, you can recover chats if you reinstall WhatsApp within 30 days.
Third-party Data Recovery Apps
Some people report success using third-party Android data recovery apps to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages. These tools scan your device storage and can sometimes find residual WhatsApp files. However, official WhatsApp data recovery is only possible within the 30 day window.
Popular WhatsApp Recovery Apps
| App | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery | $39.95 | 4.5 stars |
| FonePaw Android Data Recovery | $69.95 | 4.4 stars |
| EaseUS MobiSaver | $69.95 | 4.3 stars |
These apps can scan for residual WhatsApp files left on your device and recover data like messages, photos, videos, and chat logs. However, success depends on whether files still exist, and advanced recovery costs a premium.
Preventing Data Loss in the Future
To avoid losing your WhatsApp data forever, make sure to regularly back up your chats both to local device storage and Google Drive. This gives you multiple fail-safes in case you ever uninstall the app again. Here are some WhatsApp backup best practices:
- Enable auto backup to Google Drive so your chats are continuously synced
- Manually back up to local storage once a month
- Back up before uninstalling or factory resetting your device
- Create backups on both your old and new phone when upgrading devices
With multiple backups in place, you’ll stay protected against data loss in the future.
Conclusion
In summary:
- You can recover WhatsApp messages if you reinstall within 30 days and restore from a backup.
- After 30 days, your WhatsApp account is deleted and chat history is unrecoverable.
- Make local and cloud backups regularly to prevent permanent data loss.
- Third-party apps may recover some deleted WhatsApp data but have mixed results.
So be sure to back up your chats and act quickly if you change your mind after uninstalling WhatsApp. Follow these best practices and your message history will stay safe even if you delete the app.