WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. Given its widespread use, many WhatsApp users often wonder if it’s possible to retrieve old or deleted conversations from the app. The short answer is yes, WhatsApp conversations can be retrieved through various methods. However, the process depends on several factors like whether the conversations were deleted or backed up, the platform used, and time elapsed since deletion.
Can you retrieve deleted WhatsApp conversations?
If you have accidentally deleted a WhatsApp conversation, it is possible to retrieve it as long as the conversation has been backed up either locally on the device or to iCloud (for iOS) or Google Drive (for Android). Here are the methods to retrieve deleted WhatsApp conversations:
From Local Backup
– WhatsApp automatically creates local backups on the device storage. These backups contain messages, media files, and other data.
– On Android devices, local backups are stored in the WhatsApp/Database folder. On iOS devices, they can be found in Settings > Chat > Chat Backup.
– To restore chats, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. On the setup screen, tap “Restore” when prompted to restore conversations and media from local backup.
From Google Drive Backup (Android only)
– WhatsApp backs up conversations to Google Drive for Android users. The frequency can be set to daily, weekly or monthly.
– To restore, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. At setup, select the “Restore” option and verify your phone number. WhatsApp will restore conversations from the latest Google Drive backup.
From iCloud Backup (iOS only)
– For iPhone users, WhatsApp conversations are included in iCloud backups. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups to check.
– You can restore the iCloud backup to retrieve WhatsApp messages. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Restore from latest backup.
Can you recover permanently deleted WhatsApp conversations?
If WhatsApp chats have been permanently deleted and cleared from backups, it becomes much more difficult to retrieve them. However, advanced data recovery software can find remnants of deleted WhatsApp conversations on the device storage or SD card and recover them. Here are some options:
Android Data Recovery Software
– For Android phones, data recovery apps like Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, DiskDigger can recover lost WhatsApp messages by scanning the phone’s internal memory and external SD card.
– These tools can extract residual data related to conversations like text messages, media files, contact details etc.
– The success rate depends on the time elapsed since deletion – quicker recovery increases chances.
iPhone Data Recovery Software
– For iOS devices, tools like iMyFone D-Back, Fonelab, iSkysoft can recover WhatsApp conversations from iPhone backups or directly from the device.
– They dig deep into the phone’s storage to find chat histories, even extracting partial messages.
– Quick action is recommended for best recovery prospects from iOS devices.
Can WhatsApp conversations be retrieved online?
Unlike other messaging platforms like Telegram or Signal, WhatsApp does not store conversations on its servers. All chat data is end-to-end encrypted and stored locally on each user’s device. As a result, there is no direct online method to retrieve WhatsApp conversations from WhatsApp’s servers. However, here are some indirect options:
Via Google Drive/iCloud Backup
– WhatsApp conversations are included in Google Drive and iCloud backups. You can download these backups to a computer and view WhatsApp chat files.
– On Android, use Google Takeout to export Drive backup. On iOS, download iCloud backup to computer.
– Use a parsing tool like WhatsApp Viewer to open WhatsApp database files from the backup and view conversations.
By Accessing Someone Else’s Backup
– If you need to access WhatsApp chats stored on someone else’s Google or iCloud backup, get access to their accounts and download the backup.
– Again use a parsing tool to open WhatsApp chat files from their backup and access conversations.
– Note that accessing another person’s backup without consent raises privacy concerns.
Can you retrieve WhatsApp conversations from broken phone?
If your phone is broken, crashed, stuck in bootloop or has a broken screen, you may be unable to directly access WhatsApp to retrieve conversations. But there are still ways to recover and backup your chats from the damaged device:
Via USB Cable and PC
– Connect your Android phone to PC via USB cable in Recovery or Download mode if the screen is unresponsive.
– Use Android debugger tools like ADB or Fastboot commands to access device storage and pull WhatsApp database files.
– For iPhone, put it in Recovery mode and use iTunes or iMazing to create a backup extractable on computer.
Via Cloud Backup
– If your phone is connected to internet, take a cloud backup of WhatsApp conversations via Google Drive or iCloud.
– You can later restore this backup to a new phone or download it to computer to view chats.
Via SD Card
– If your phone supports SD card, remove it and use a card reader to access WhatsApp media and databases folders.
– Alternatively, insert SD card into another phone, take backup and transfer to new phone.
Can you recover old WhatsApp conversations from many years ago?
WhatsApp only retains backups for a limited period. For Android, it’s data from the last one year. For iOS, it depends on your iCloud storage tier. So recovering very old WhatsApp conversations from years ago directly via backups may not be possible. Here are some ways to try:
Check Local File Storage
– WhatsApp stores older local database files in the Databases folder on Android and Documents folder on iOS devices.
– These retain conversations from years ago as long as you haven’t deleted them. Plugin phone to PC and browse for very old databases.
Use Data Recovery Software
– Even if you have deleted very old chat databases, data recovery apps may be able to find remnants and extract conversations.
– Perform deep scan of internal storage and external SD card using recovery software to look for old chat traces.
Access via Old Backups
– Do you still have a very old phone, backup drive or computer with WhatsApp backups from years ago?
– Restore this old backup to a device to access ancient chat history.
Can deleted WhatsApp messages be retrieved without software?
It is possible to retrieve deleted WhatsApp conversations without using any specialized software, but only if backups exist. Here are some DIY methods to try:
Android Local Backup
– Navigate to WhatsApp/Databases folder using a file manager app.
– Look for a backup file like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12. Copy and rename it.
– Uninstall, reinstall WhatsApp. Restore conversations when prompted using renamed backup.
iCloud Backup
– On iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
– Tap on your device backup > Download > WhatsApp. This will download WhatsApp backup files.
– Use Browse function in iMazing or iBackup Viewer to view WhatsApp conversations within backup.
Google Drive Backup
– On Android phone, install Google Takeout app from Play Store.
– Use it to export your Google Drive backup to device. WhatsApp data will be included.
– Browse WhatsApp folder in exported zip file to find chat database files.
Can you recover WhatsApp chats without phone?
Losing your phone makes WhatsApp chat recovery trickier, but there are still ways to get back your conversations without the phone:
Via Google Drive or iCloud Backup
– As long as phone backups exist on Google Drive or iCloud, you can restore them to a new phone or access via computer.
– For Google Drive – download backup via Takeout or Android device. For iCloud – via computer.
From Local PC Backup
– If you had taken a backup of WhatsApp chats from phone to computer, you can simply restore this local backup using WhatsApp on new device.
Using WhatsApp Web
– If WhatsApp Web was used with the lost phone, conversation history is retained in linked browser.
– You can access old chats by simply linking new phone to same WhatsApp Web instance.
Can WhatsApp voice messages be retrieved if deleted?
Yes, deleted WhatsApp voice messages can be recovered from:
Local Backups
– Undelete WhatsApp and restore from local backup to retrieve deleted voice notes.
– WhatsApp stores voice messages as .OGG files which will be restored.
iCloud and Google Drive Backups
– Deleted voice messages remain recoverable from cloud backups till they are erased.
– Restore backup to device or access it on computer to find .OGG files.
Data Recovery Tools
– Data recovery software can dig out deleted voice note .OGG files from device storage or SD card.
– Success depends on time since deletion – the sooner the better.
Can you recover WhatsApp messages after factory reset?
Factory reset erases all data on an Android or iOS device, including WhatsApp conversations. But there are still a few options to try retrieving them:
Via Local Backup
– WhatsApp backups reside outside the factory reset deletion scope. Reinstall WhatsApp post reset and restore from latest local backup.
From iCloud/Google Drive
– Cloud backups are also preserved after factory reset. Just redownload on device post reset.
Using Data Recovery Software
– If backups don’t exist, use data recovery tools to extract WhatsApp chat remnants from phone storage or SD card post factory reset.
How can I view someone else’s WhatsApp conversations secretly?
Legally accessing someone else’s WhatsApp chats without consent raises privacy issues. But here are some technical methods people attempt:
Via Cloud Backup Access
– Obtain access to Google or iCloud account of the target device and secretly view backed up WhatsApp conversations.
Using Spyware
– Install spyware like mSpy or FlexiSPY on target phone to secretly monitor incoming and outgoing WhatsApp messages.
Via Physical Access
– Get temporary physical access to target device and create local WhatsApp backup which can be viewed later.
Via WhatsApp Web
– Link your device to same WhatsApp Web instance as target account to see their conversations.
Conclusion
In summary, retrieving deleted WhatsApp conversations is possible if backups exist on the device, cloud services or external storage. For permanently deleted chats without backups, data recovery software provides the only hope. Accessing someone else’s chats illegally raises ethical and privacy concerns. Regular local and cloud backups are a good idea to avoid WhatsApp message loss. Handle WhatsApp data responsibly by avoiding viewing others’ chats without consent.