WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows users to send messages, photos, videos, documents and make voice and video calls. However, there may be times when you accidentally delete an important message or media that you wanted to keep.
The good news is – with some effort, it is possible to recover deleted WhatsApp messages and media like photos and videos. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore all the possible methods to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages and media.
Can You Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages and Media?
When you delete a WhatsApp message or media, it is not immediately erased from your device storage or WhatsApp servers. Instead, it stays in your device storage or WhatsApp servers for about 30 days before being permanently deleted.
So if you act quickly, you have a chance to recover recently deleted messages and media within this 30 day period. However, the faster you try to recover deleted data, the better are the chances.
Factors That Affect Retrieval of Deleted WhatsApp Data
There are a few factors that impact your ability to recover deleted WhatsApp messages and media:
- Time since deletion – The sooner you try after deletion, the better the chances.
- Device used – Retrieval on Android is easier than iOS.
- WhatsApp backup – Backups store your chat history and media.
- Root/Jailbreak – Rooted Android or jailbroken iOS devices allow better data recovery.
Keeping these factors in mind will help you use the optimal recovery method.
How to Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages and Media
Here are the top techniques used to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, photos, videos and other media:
1. Restore from Local WhatsApp Backup
WhatsApp takes regular local backups on Android and iOS devices. You can use these backups to restore deleted messages and media if they were created before deletion.
On Android, WhatsApp takes daily backups at 2 AM which are saved locally. To restore from local backup:
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- When prompted, tap ‘Restore’ to retrieve data from Google Drive backup.
On iOS, WhatsApp backs up data to iCloud regularly. To restore from iCloud backup:
- Delete and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Tap ‘Restore’ when prompted to retrieve iCloud backup.
This will retrieve deleted data if the backups were created before deletion. Backup frequency impacts success rate.
2. Use WhatsApp Cloud Backups
WhatsApp also takes periodic cloud backups on Google Drive (Android) and iCloud (iOS). You can restore from these backups to retrieve deleted data:
- Android: Uninstall, reinstall WhatsApp and tap ‘Restore’ to get Google Drive cloud backup.
- iOS: Delete, reinstall WhatsApp and tap ‘Restore’ to retrieve iCloud backup.
Cloud backups are taken less frequently than local ones. But you can manually back up to the cloud before attempting recovery.
3. Use Data Recovery Apps
There are specialized data recovery apps for Android and iOS that can retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages and media from device storage:
- Android: Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, iMyFone D-Back.
- iOS: Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, iMyFone D-Back.
These apps scan your device storage and find all deleted WhatsApp data that has not been overwritten. Some apps may require root (Android) or jailbreak (iOS).
4. Retrieve from Google Drive/iCloud Backups
If the deleted WhatsApp data is no longer on your device, you may still find it in your Google Drive or iCloud backups:
- Android: Download Google Drive backup to computer. Use an extractor tool to unpack and view backup files.
- iOS: Download iCloud backup to computer. Use extractor to unpack and access WhatsApp media and databases.
This method needs a bit more technical expertise but can recover data unavailable through other means.
Tips to Avoid Accidental Deletion
Follow these tips to prevent regrettable deletions in the future:
- Enable chat backup to cloud regularly.
- Be careful while deleting data and use the trash feature.
- Install a WhatsApp backup tool for easy backups.
- Back up important chats/media to another device.
- Enable Google Photos auto-backup to save media.
Can You Recover Permanently Deleted WhatsApp Data?
If it has been over 30 days since a WhatsApp message or media was deleted, it is likely permanently deleted from your device storage, Google Drive or iCloud.
At this stage, complete recovery becomes very difficult. However, there are a few last ditch methods that may work:
- Scan device with data recovery software to find any remnants of deleted data.
- Contact Google/Apple Support to retrieve backups from their servers.
- Use a subpoena to compel WhatsApp to recover deleted data from their servers.
But there is no guarantee of recovering permanently deleted WhatsApp data through these methods.
Conclusion
It is possible to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages, photos and other media using local or cloud backups. Data recovery apps can also restore deleted data if acted upon quickly. Following preventative measures like regular backups can help avoid permanent data loss.
We hope this guide has helped you understand how to recover deleted WhatsApp data on Android and iOS devices. Let us know if you have any other questions!