WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging platforms in the world, with over 2 billion active users. As we increasingly rely on WhatsApp to communicate and share media with friends, family and work contacts, the app stores a lot of important data like messages, photos, videos, documents and more.
If you use WhatsApp on your computer through WhatsApp Web or Desktop app, your chat history and media get synced from your phone. So if you lose or damage your phone, you can still access your WhatsApp data on your PC. However, sometimes your PC can also lose this valuable data due to accidental deletion, system crashes, formatting, etc. In such cases, you need a way to recover and restore WhatsApp data on your PC.
How is WhatsApp data stored on PC?
When you use WhatsApp Web or Desktop app, it creates a backup of your WhatsApp data from the phone on your PC. Here is how WhatsApp data is stored on PC:
- Databases: The chat history is stored in encrypted databases with .crypt extension. These databases contain all your chats.
- Media Files: The media like photos, videos you exchange on WhatsApp as attachments get downloaded and stored on your PC.
- Backups: Regular backups are stored in the AppData folder.
So in case of any data loss, you need to restore these databases, media files and backups on PC to recover your WhatsApp data.
How to recover deleted WhatsApp data on PC?
If you accidentally deleted some WhatsApp chats, media or other files from your PC, then don’t worry. You can use the following methods to recover deleted WhatsApp data on your PC:
1. Restore from Backup
WhatsApp automatically takes backups on your PC from time to time. You can restore chats and media files from these backups in case of accidental deletion.
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Restore
- Select the backup date you want to restore from.
- WhatsApp will restore your chats and media files from that backup.
2. Use Data Recovery Software
If you don’t have a proper backup to restore from, use a dedicated WhatsApp Recovery software. It scans your PC’s hard drive and retrieves deleted WhatsApp files from it. Some top software options are:
| Software | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery |
|
| iMyFone D-Back |
|
3. Retrieve from AppData Folder
When your WhatsApp data syncs from phone to PC, some remnants remain stored in AppData folder even after deletion. You can try to recover WhatsApp media files and databases from the following locations:
- C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Roaming\WhatsApp
- C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Roaming\WhatsApp\Databases
- C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Roaming\WhatsApp\Media
How to recover WhatsApp data after PC crash?
System crashes and boot failures on PC can also lead to loss of your important WhatsApp data. In such cases, you can use the following solutions to get back your lost data:
1. Recover Data from PC Hard Drive
Even after a system crash, the WhatsApp databases, media files, etc. remain stored on the PC’s hard drive. You can use data recovery software to extract these files from the hard disk and restore your WhatsApp data.
2. Sync WhatsApp from Phone
Once you are able to boot your PC again after crash, simply sync WhatsApp from your phone. This will restore all your chats and media files that were synced previously.
3. Retrieve from External Device or Cloud Backup
If you had taken backup of your WhatsApp data on an external hard drive or cloud storage, you can easily restore it back on your PC after system recovery.
How to recover WhatsApp data after formatting PC?
Formatting your PC’s hard drive erases all data, including your WhatsApp databases, media files, backups, etc. But there are still ways to get back your lost data after formatting the PC.
1. Extract WhatsApp from Formatted Hard Drive
With the help of data recovery software, you can extract the WhatsApp data that was erased when your PC was formatted. The software scans the drive sectors and looks for recoverable data.
2. Sync WhatsApp Data from Phone Again
Once you set up WhatsApp account on your newly formatted PC, you can simply sync your chat history from the connected phone. This will restore all old WhatsApp data.
3. Retrieve WhatsApp Backup from External Device
If you have the habit of backing up your WhatsApp data externally on cloud drives or external HDDs, then you can easily restore from these backups post formatting your PC and get back all your valuable data.
Tips to avoid WhatsApp data loss on PC
Prevention is always better than cure. Follow these expert tips to avoid loss of your important WhatsApp data stored on PC:
- Set up regular WhatsApp backups on external hard drive or cloud storage.
- Be cautious while deleting WhatsApp files and media on your PC.
- Scan your PC with good anti-virus software to prevent malware attacks.
- Maintain regular PC maintenance practices like disk cleanup.
- Handle your PC carefully and protect it from physical damage.
Conclusion
Losing your WhatsApp data on PC can be frustrating but with various DIY techniques and software solutions, the data is quite recoverable in most cases. Always backup your important WhatsApp chats and media files as a precaution. In case of accidental deletion, formatting or crashes, quickly employ suitable recovery methods as outlined in this article. With the right approach, you can get back your lost or deleted WhatsApp data on PC.