Yes, it is possible to restore deleted WhatsApp messages from your computer. There are a few different methods you can use to retrieve deleted WhatsApp chats, media, and messages that were accidentally erased or lost from your phone.
Requirements for Restoring WhatsApp Messages from PC
In order to restore deleted WhatsApp messages from your computer, you will need:
- Your phone with WhatsApp installed and set up
- A computer
- A USB cable to connect your phone to your computer
- A WhatsApp backup stored either locally on your computer or in Google Drive
- A third-party WhatsApp recovery software (optional)
As long as you have backed up your WhatsApp data on your computer or to Google Drive, you should be able to recover and restore deleted messages, even after they have been erased from your phone.
Method 1: Restore from Local Backup on Computer
One way to restore deleted WhatsApp messages is by using a local backup saved on your computer. Here are the steps:
- Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable.
- On your phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap “Back Up” to create a new backup of your WhatsApp data.
- On your computer, navigate to WhatsApp>Databases and locate the most recent backup file. It will be named something like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12.
- Copy this file and paste it into a separate folder on your computer.
- Download and install WhatsApp on your computer via WhatsApp Web.
- Scan the QR code from your phone to link WhatsApp Web to your account.
- Close WhatsApp on your phone completely.
- On your computer, delete the existing msgstore database file for your linked account.
- Copy the backup msgstore file you pasted into the separate folder and paste it into the WhatsApp Databases folder, replacing the existing file.
- Open WhatsApp on your computer. The restored backup should now show all of your previously deleted chats and messages.
Following these steps will overwrite your existing WhatsApp data on your computer with the locally saved backup file containing the deleted messages. Just make sure the backup you are restoring is more recent than when the messages were deleted.
Method 2: Restore from Google Drive Backup
If you have WhatsApp backups saved to Google Drive, you can also restore deleted messages from there:
- On your phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap “Back Up” to create a new backup to Google Drive.
- On your computer, install WhatsApp if you haven’t already.
- Scan the QR code from your phone to link the WhatsApp Web app.
- In WhatsApp Web, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap “Restore” and select the backup date you want to restore.
- The selected backup from Google Drive will be restored, including any deleted messages from that date.
This method is useful if you don’t have local backups saved on your computer and have relied on Google Drive backups in the past. Just make sure you pick a backup date before the messages were deleted.
Method 3: Use Third-Party Software
There are also dedicated third-party software programs designed to recover deleted WhatsApp messages:
- Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery: This software can restore WhatsApp data from both local iPhone backups and iTunes backups saved on your computer. It supports the latest iOS versions.
- iMyFone D-Back: Works to recover deleted WhatsApp chats on iPhone by scanning backups on your computer or extracting data from iCloud.
- Tenorshare UltData: Claims to recover lost WhatsApp messages and attachments from iPhone directly without needing a backup.
These tools automate the entire recovery process for you. Most offer free trial versions so you can preview and validate the deleted WhatsApp data before paying to restore it completely.
Which Messages Can Be Restored?
The WhatsApp messages that can be recovered and restored include:
- Deleted individual chats or group conversations.
- Media attachments like photos, videos and documents.
- Deleted messages and call history.
- Stickers, audio files and voice messages.
- Contacts and group info if also deleted.
As long as the messages were backed up or are still stored in your phone’s memory, recovery software should be able to retrieve them for you.
Tips for Successful Recovery
Here are some tips to ensure successful WhatsApp message recovery:
- Back up WhatsApp regularly both locally and to Google Drive.
- Don’t overwrite previous backups after deleting messages.
- Stop using WhatsApp immediately after realizing important data is deleted.
- Connect phone to computer and create a new backup first.
- Scan QR code from phone on WhatsApp Web before restoring backup.
- Restore from a date before the messages were deleted.
The more backups available from before the deletion, the greater your chances of retrieving the lost WhatsApp data.
Conclusion
It is possible to recover and restore deleted WhatsApp messages, chats, media files, and other data using either backup files saved locally on your computer or to Google Drive. Third-party software apps are also available for recovering lost WhatsApp data for iPhone and Android users.
Just make sure you stop using WhatsApp right away and don’t overwrite previous backups. With the right backup files and software tools, you have an excellent chance of getting back your important deleted WhatsApp content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I restore deleted WhatsApp messages without backup?
It is very difficult to restore deleted WhatsApp messages without a backup. Your best chance is using third-party data recovery software that can scan your phone’s storage and attempt to retrieve deleted WhatsApp files. However, this is not guaranteed to work. Backing up regularly is the only surefire way to be able to restore lost data.
How far back can I restore WhatsApp messages?
You can restore as far back as your most recent backup. So if you backup daily, you can restore deleted messages from the previous day. Google Drive can store WhatsApp backups for years. However, the further back you restore, the more likely that some chat history could be missing.
Can I restore deleted WhatsApp messages from another phone?
No, you can only restore deleted WhatsApp messages from your own phone and account. The backups are encrypted and tied specifically to your phone number and device. You cannot transfer them to a new phone and restore messages. You’d have to use your original phone to restore deleted data.
Are restored WhatsApp messages marked as read?
When you restore deleted conversations, the messages will retain their original read/unread status at the time of backup. So if you had unread messages that were deleted, restoring them will still show them as unread again.
Summary
– Deleted WhatsApp messages can be restored from local backups on your computer or Google Drive backups.
– Stop using WhatsApp right away after critical data is deleted to prevent overwriting backups.
– Third-party iPhone and Android apps may allow recovery without backups in some cases.
– Regularly back up WhatsApp to maximize the chat history you can restore.
– Restored chats and messages retain their original status and timestamp.
Being able to recover lost WhatsApp data gives peace of mind to anyone who has accidentally deleted important chats, media or files. Follow best practices for backing up and restoring data to ensure your WhatsApp messages remain safe from accidental deletion.