Recovering deleted WhatsApp messages can be tricky, especially if you don’t want to uninstall the app. The good news is, there are a few different methods you can try to get those messages back.
Why Would You Want to Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages?
There are a few common reasons why someone might want to recover deleted WhatsApp messages:
- You accidentally deleted an important message or conversation.
- Someone else got ahold of your phone and deleted messages.
- You want to retrieve old messages that you previously deleted.
- You need to recover deleted messages for legal reasons.
Whatever the reason, being able to get those messages back can be very helpful. Keep reading to learn some techniques for WhatsApp message recovery without uninstalling the app.
Method 1: Restore From Google Drive Backup
One of the easiest ways to recover deleted WhatsApp messages is to restore them from your Google Drive backups. Here’s how it works:
- First, make sure WhatsApp backups to Google Drive are enabled on your phone. To check this, open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Enable backup if it’s disabled.
- Check the date of your most recent Google Drive backup. Ideal if it’s from before the messages were deleted.
- Next, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. Don’t worry, your chat history will remain intact.
- When prompted, restore your chat history from the Google Drive backup during WhatsApp setup.
This will overwrite your current WhatsApp data and restore everything to the state of your last Google Drive backup. If the backup is recent enough, your deleted messages should reappear!
Key Things to Know About Google Drive Backup
- Backups happen automatically when your phone is charging, connected to WiFi, and WhatsApp is open.
- The most recent backup does NOT get overwritten. Multiple backups are stored.
- Media files larger than 100MB cannot be backed up.
- Uninstalling WhatsApp does NOT delete Google Drive backups.
Method 2: Use WhatsApp’s Built-In Restore Feature
WhatsApp has a handy built-in restore feature that lets you undelete messages within 7 days of deletion. Here’s what to do:
- In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat History.
- Tap “Restore” next to the conversation with the deleted messages.
This will restore conversation history from the past 7 days. Note that media files will not be restored.
Key Things to Know About WhatsApp’s Restore Feature
- Only lets you restore messages deleted in the past 7 days.
- Restored messages may not appear in chronological order.
- Can restore text messages only, not media files.
- You can only use it once per day for each conversation.
Method 3: Use WhatsApp From Your Computer
An underrated trick is to use WhatsApp from your computer to find deleted messages. Here’s how it works:
- Install and set up WhatsApp for desktop on your computer.
- Log in using the same phone number as your mobile device.
- Your full message history will sync from your phone to your computer.
- Search for deleted conversations/messages on your computer.
The desktop app provides access to your full WhatsApp chat history. So even if a conversation was deleted from your phone, you can still search and find it on your computer.
Key Things to Know About WhatsApp for Desktop
- Provides access to your full WhatsApp chat history.
- Syncs message deletions from mobile to desktop with some delay.
- Let’s you search for deleted content on the desktop app.
- Requires an active internet connection on your computer.
Method 4: Use a Third-Party App
Several third-party apps exist that can recover deleted WhatsApp messages from your phone. Some top options include:
Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery
Dr.Fone is a popular data recovery suite for smartphones. The WhatsApp recovery feature can restore deleted messages and attachments from both iPhone and Android devices.
Key Features:
- Recovers deleted WhatsApp messages and attachments.
- Allows preview of recoverable data.
- Exports restored messages to computer.
- Compatible with iPhone and Android.
iMyFone iBypasser – WhatsApp Recovery
iMyFone iBypasser is designed to recover deleted WhatsApp messages from iOS devices like iPhone.
Key Features:
- Recovers deleted iPhone WhatsApp messages & attachments.
- Allows preview of messages before restoring.
- Retrieves messages even without backup.
- Saves messages directly back to WhatsApp.
FoneDog Toolkit- iOS Data Recovery
FoneDog Toolkit has a WhatsApp recovery feature for restoring deleted messages on iPhones and iPads.
Key Features:
- Recovers deleted WhatsApp messages, photos, videos.
- Extracts WhatsApp data from iTunes and iCloud backups.
- Saves restored WhatsApp data to computer.
- Supports the latest iPhone models.
These are just a few examples. There are many apps that can get the job done. Just be sure to research any third-party app thoroughly before downloading.
Method 5: Request Deleted Messages from Recipients
If all else fails, you can try requesting copies of deleted WhatsApp messages from the people you were chatting with. The messages may still exist on their devices or backups. To do this:
- In WhatsApp, tap on the conversation where messages were deleted.
- Politely ask the recipient if they still have access to the deleted messages.
- Request that they forward or screenshot the messages for you.
- If they agree, the deleted messages can be recovered via the recipient’s chat history.
Do keep in mind that the recipient is not obligated to provide copies of their chat history. But it’s still worth a shot in some cases!
Preventing Message Loss in the Future
To avoid dealing with deleted WhatsApp messages again in the future, here are some handy tips:
- Enable Google Drive backups – As mentioned, these backups are key for easy message restoration.
- Be careful when deleting – Go slowly and double check before deleting conversations.
- Make your own backups – Occasionally export chats to your computer or take screenshots.
- Protect against deletion – Use apps that prevent other users on your phone from deleting your WhatsApp messages.
Following best practices like these will minimize the risk of losing important WhatsApp messages permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover deleted WhatsApp messages without backup?
It is very difficult to recover deleted WhatsApp messages without a backup. Your best options are using Google Drive or iTunes backups. Some third-party apps claim to restore messages without backups, but results vary.
How long are deleted WhatsApp messages stored?
WhatsApp stores deleted messages for approximately 30 days before permanently erasing them from their servers. Locally deleted messages persist for 7 days and can be recovered using WhatsApp’s built-in restore feature.
Can police recover deleted WhatsApp messages?
Yes, in certain cases police and law enforcement may be able to recover deleted WhatsApp messages through advanced forensics. They can extract data either from your device directly or by requesting archives from WhatsApp.
Do deleted WhatsApp messages stay on the server?
WhatsApp keeps deleted messages on its servers for up to 30 days. During this time, messages remain recoverable using various data recovery methods. After 30 days, the deleted data is purged from WhatsApp’s servers.
Is it possible to read deleted WhatsApp messages?
Yes, with the right tools and techniques, it is possible to read deleted WhatsApp messages. Options include restoring from backup, using data recovery apps, checking the desktop app, and asking the recipients.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted WhatsApp messages is possible using techniques like Google Drive backup, built-in restore features, WhatsApp desktop, third-party apps, and requesting copies from recipients. Choose the method that best fits your needs. Avoid future message loss by backing up regularly and being cautious when deleting.