Quick Answer
Unfortunately, there is no direct way to retrieve deleted blocked contacts on WhatsApp. Once you block and then delete a contact, their number is permanently removed from your block list with no way to recover it through WhatsApp. However, there are a few alternative methods you can try to find deleted blocked numbers:
- Check your phone’s call history or contacts list – the number may still be there if you had saved it before.
- Use a third party app like dr.fone to scan and extract all WhatsApp data including deleted blocks.
- Manually go through old chat history to see if you can find references to the number.
- Ask the person to message you again so the number appears once more.
If none of these work, the number is likely gone for good from WhatsApp. Be careful about adding contacts to your block list to avoid losing their numbers permanently.
What happens when you delete a blocked contact on WhatsApp?
Here are the key things that occur when you delete a blocked contact on WhatsApp:
- The contact is removed from your Blocked contacts list within WhatsApp.
- All previous chats and messages from that number are still preserved.
- You will no longer receive any messages or calls from that number.
- The contact’s phone number is permanently deleted from your block list.
- There is no WhatsApp tool or setting to later retrieve their number or unblock them.
- You can no longer find, search or identify the blocked contact within WhatsApp.
In essence, deleting a blocked contact on WhatsApp erases their number from your block list and removes the block. However, your chat history together remains saved on your phone.
Why can’t I view deleted blocked contacts on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp does not allow users to view or recover deleted blocked contacts for a few key reasons:
- Privacy – WhatsApp prioritizes privacy and security of user data. Retrieving deleted block contacts could compromise privacy.
- Intentional blocking – The block feature is designed for users to intentionally stop unwanted communication. Undoing this can defeat the purpose.
- Prevents harassment – Enabling recuperation of deleted blocked contacts could potentially enable harassment if unwanted numbers are resurfaced.
- Technical architecture – WhatsApp systems are optimized for performance. Data for deleted blocks may not persist.
- Discourage blocking – If blocking was easily reversible, users may block contacts more casually rather than deliberately.
Therefore, to uphold user privacy and prevent misuse, WhatsApp does not provide any options to retrieve or view deleted blocked contacts. The only way is to re-obtain the number and block again.
Can I find deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers from call history?
Yes, you may be able to find deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers from your phone’s call history log if:
- You had called or received calls from the contact before blocking.
- Your phone’s call history still has records of those calls.
- The caller ID for those calls was the contact’s number.
However, this method has some limitations:
- The call history may have been cleared after you blocked the contact.
- Calls where the number was hidden will not appear.
- Newer calls may overwrite older call log entries.
- You may have to sift through many entries to find the one you need.
So while call history is one option, it is not guaranteed to help retrieve deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers in every case. You will have to check if relevant records still exist.
Steps to find deleted blocked numbers in call history:
- Open your phone’s Phone app.
- Go to Call History tab.
- Tap the search icon and enter relevant keywords if needed.
- Browse through the list of calls to find the deleted contact.
- Tap on the entry to view number if displayed.
- Block the number again on WhatsApp if required.
Can I find deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers from contacts?
You may be able to recover a deleted blocked WhatsApp number from your phone’s contacts list if:
- You had saved the contact’s number in your phone book before blocking.
- That saved contact entry still exists in your contacts list.
However, there are some caveats:
- You may have deleted the contact after blocking on WhatsApp.
- Contacts are often synced across devices so it may be deleted everywhere.
- You’ll have to sift through all contacts to find the one you need.
So while contacts list is one place to check, the number may or may not still be there.
Steps to find deleted blocked numbers in contacts:
- Open phone Contacts app.
- Search for the contact name if you remember it.
- Browse through all contacts looking for the right person.
- Tap the entry to view the recovered number.
- Block the number again in WhatsApp if needed.
Can third-party apps recover deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers?
Yes, specialized third-party apps can often recover deleted blocked contacts by extracting WhatsApp data from your phone:
- dr.fone – WhatsApp Transfer – This app creates complete backups of WhatsApp data including blocked contacts.
- WhatsRemoved+ – It scans WhatsApp databases to recover deleted blocks along with chat history.
- iMyFone D-Back – It extracts blocked contacts from WhatsApp and allows you to view and export them.
Such apps bypass WhatsApp limitations to find deleted blocks. However, some factors affect recovery:
- The number may be gone if WhatsApp data was recently cleared.
- Rooted Android phones allow more data recovery than non-rooted.
- Extensive WhatsApp usage after blocking reduces recovery chances.
But specialized apps offer the most reliable solution in most cases.
Steps for recovering deleted blocks via apps:
- Download and install a data recovery app on your phone.
- Run the app and scan your WhatsApp data.
- Check the recovered contacts list for the deleted block.
- Save the number from the app to your phone.
- Block the number again within WhatsApp.
Can I find deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers in chat history?
It may be possible to find deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers by checking your chat history if:
- You had past conversations with that contact before blocking.
- Those chat conversations still exist in your message history.
- The contact’s number is visible in any of the chats.
However, chat history recovery has some limitations:
- You may have cleared chat history after blocking.
- New messages may have pushed out old chats.
- It can be very time consuming to manually browse.
- The number may not be visible in all or any chats.
But with some effort, you might find references to the deleted block in older conversations.
Steps to find blocked numbers in chat history:
- Open the WhatsApp chat screen.
- Tap and hold any chat and select “Select chats”.
- Browse through and open older conversations.
- Look for any mention of the deleted number.
- If found, block the number again via WhatsApp.
Can I find deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers from call logs on iPhone?
Yes, you can potentially find deleted blocked WhatsApp numbers on an iPhone by checking call logs in the Phone app if:
- You had received calls from or made calls to that contact before blocking.
- The recent call history was not cleared after blocking.
- The number is still visible in the call log entry.
However, the call history may have limitations:
- Old call log entries may be overwritten by new calls.
- Call history syncing may have removed the entry across devices.
- Calls made using WiFi calling may not be present.
So you need to manually comb through the call logs to find the blocked entry based on timestamps or contact names if feasible.
Steps to check call logs on iPhone:
- Open the Phone app and select Recents tab.
- Browse through the call history entries.
- Check older entries by scrolling down.
- Tap any entry to see number if visible.
- Re-block the number from WhatsApp if found.
Should I block contacts on WhatsApp if I want to delete them later?
It is generally not recommended to block contacts on WhatsApp if you intend to unblock them later, for a few reasons:
- Blocking permanently deletes the contact’s number which cannot be retrieved natively within WhatsApp.
- Frequent blocking and unblocking can be inconvenient and tedious.
- Blocking is better suited for contacts you want to prevent from messaging indefinitely.
- Consider disabling notifications or archiving chat instead of blocking if temporarily avoiding a contact.
- Maintain phone number records separately so you can re-add contacts if needed after blocking.
Instead, use WhatsApp blocking only for contacts you wish to block permanently. For short-term blocking, use other tools like muting or archiving chats. Also maintain contact details externally so you can retrieve numbers whenever required.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp itself does not allow retrieving deleted blocked contacts, there are a few alternative methods that may help recover those numbers in some situations. Checking your phone’s call logs, contacts list, or WhatsApp chat history could reveal references to the number if you had saved it before blocking. Dedicated third-party apps can extract deleted blocks by reading WhatsApp databases directly. However, complete recovery is not guaranteed, so blocking contacts permanently still means losing their numbers from WhatsApp itself. Be cautious when using the block feature to avoid losing contacts you may need again later.