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, one limitation of WhatsApp is that when a message is deleted, there is no built-in feature to retrieve or view that deleted message. This can be frustrating if you want to see a message that was deleted. Fortunately, there are some third party apps that can help recover and view deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone.
How WhatsApp Delete Messages Work
When a WhatsApp message is deleted, it is not actually removed from your phone immediately. The deleted messages remain on your phone for up to 30 days before being permanently deleted. During this time, the messages are marked as deleted but are recoverable using data recovery apps.
Here is how WhatsApp delete messages work:
- When you delete a message, it is marked as “deleted” in the WhatsApp database on your phone.
- The message will remain in the database for 30 days after being deleted.
- After 30 days, the message is permanently removed from the database and can no longer be recovered.
- Messages are also deleted from the sender’s phone when you delete them.
- You can still see previews of deleted messages in WhatsApp notifications until you open WhatsApp.
So in the 30 day window after being deleted, the messages are recoverable using third party apps before they are permanently deleted from the phone’s storage.
Top 3 Apps to Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone
Here are the top 3 apps recommended to retrieve and view deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone:
1. iMyFone D-Back
iMyFone D-Back is one of the most popular iPhone data recovery apps with a high recovery rate. It can recover not just WhatsApp messages, but also photos, contacts, notes and other data lost due to accidental deletion, device damage or any other reason.
Key features:
- Recovers deleted WhatsApp messages even without backup.
- Allows preview of recoverable data before restoring.
- Retrieves text, photos, videos, audio, contacts and call history.
- Supports the latest iPhone models and iOS versions.
- User-friendly interface.
iMyFone D-Back provides 3 different data recovery modes – Smart, Recover from iOS Device and Recover from iTunes Backup. You can choose the appropriate mode depending on how the WhatsApp messages were deleted.
2. FonePaw iOS Data Recovery
FonePaw iOS Data Recovery can dig deep into the iPhone storage to find residual data and recover deleted WhatsApp messages. It supports all models of iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
Key features:
- Advanced scanning algorithm goes deep into device storage.
- Allows preview and selective recovery of WhatsApp messages.
- Recovers up to 18 types of lost iOS data.
- retrieves deleted WhatsApp messages from iTunes or iCloud backups.
- 100% safe recovery of data.
FonePaw iOS Data Recovery works even when the WhatsApp messages are not showing in the 30-day backup. It thoroughly scans the iPhone storage to find any residual data related to the deleted messages.
3. EaseUS MobiSaver
EaseUS MobiSaver is another reliable iPhone data recovery software that can help retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone. It supports the latest iPhone 14/14 Pro/14 Pro Max running up to iOS 16.
Key features:
- Recovers WhatsApp messages deleted without backup.
- Allows preview before recovery.
- Extracts WhatsApp data from iTunes and iCloud backup.
- Recovers photos, videos, contacts, notes and other data.
- Safe and read-only recovery prevents data overwriting.
EaseUS MobiSaver quickly scans the iPhone to find deleted WhatsApp messages that are still recoverable. You can also recover WhatsApp data from iTunes and iCloud backup files stored on the computer.
How to Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone using iMyFone D-Back as an example:
Step 1.
Download and install iMyFone D-Back on your computer. Launch the program and connect your iPhone to the computer using the USB cable.
Step 2.
From the home screen, select “Recover from iOS Device” option. On the next screen, select WhatsApp under the deletion recovery mode.
Step 3.
The program will now scan your iPhone to retrieve deleted WhatsApp data. The scanning process may take a few minutes depending on the amount of data on your device.
Step 4.
Once the scan is completed, you will see a list of all recoverable deleted WhatsApp messages. You can preview the messages before recovery.
Step 5.
Select the WhatsApp messages you want to recover and click on “Recover” button to restore them to your iPhone or export them to your computer.
And that’s it! The selected deleted WhatsApp messages will be recovered to your iPhone or computer. You can now access those important messages that were accidentally or intentionally deleted.
Tips for Recovering Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone
Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when trying to restore deleted WhatsApp messages on your iPhone:
- Stop using your iPhone immediately after the messages are deleted. Continued usage overwrites deleted data making recovery difficult.
- Don’t reinstall WhatsApp if you want to recover deleted messages. Reinstalling clears all local data.
- Backup your device regularly either locally or to iCloud. This provides another source for recovery.
- Use a professional data recovery app for best results in retrieving deleted data.
- Choose an app that provides free trial version to preview recoverable data.
- Opt for an app that gives you selective recovery of only the deleted WhatsApp messages.
Why Deleted WhatsApp Messages Get Removed Permanently After 30 Days?
WhatsApp deletes messages permanently from your phone after 30 days for the following reasons:
- Save storage space: Keeping all deleted messages indefinitely will take up a lot of storage space on your phone.
- Privacy: Permanently removing messages after sometime ensures conversations remain private.
- Security: Keeping deleted messages increases risks of data theft if the phone falls into wrong hands.
- Performance: Large accumulated deleted data affects app performance and takes up RAM usage.
- Organized interface: It keeps your WhatsApp interface organized without too many deleted threads.
So the 30 day window gives users enough time to recover deleted messages if needed, while ensuring storage space, privacy, security and performance is not affected in the long run.
Can You Recover Permanently Deleted WhatsApp Messages?
Once WhatsApp messages are permanently deleted after 30 days:
- They cannot be recovered directly from the iPhone storage using data recovery apps.
- However, you might still be able to retrieve them from an iTunes or iCloud backup.
- WhatsApp does not store user chats on its servers, so there is no way to recover from WhatsApp directly.
- Your only option is to check any available backups made before the 30 day period.
So if you have a backup on iTunes or iCloud that was created before the 30 days expiry, then you still have a chance to recover permanently deleted WhatsApp messages from that backup. Otherwise, there is no way to retrieve the messages once they are permanently deleted by WhatsApp.
Precautions to Prevent Accidental WhatsApp Message Deletion
To avoid losing important WhatsApp messages, here are some precautions you can take:
- Enable chat backup in WhatsApp settings to regularly backup your chats.
- Backup your iPhone data to iTunes or iCloud frequently.
- Be careful when deleting messages and media.
- Install a trustworthy anti-virus app to prevent malware attacks.
- Don’t jailbreak your iPhone as it makes the device more vulnerable.
- Avoid installing unauthorized third party apps or plugins.
- Keep your iPhone OS and WhatsApp updated.
- Set up device security with Face ID, passcode or fingerprint.
- Avoid clicking unknown links which could be phishing attempts.
Following these simple precautions will help prevent any intentional or accidental deletion of important WhatsApp messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WhatsApp notify the sender if you delete a message?
Yes, when you delete a WhatsApp message for yourself, it also gets deleted from the sender’s device. So the sender will know the message has been deleted.
Can you recover deleted WhatsApp messages without backup?
It is possible to recover recently deleted WhatsApp messages within 30 days even without backup using data recovery apps like iMyFone D-Back. But once permanently deleted, recovery without backup is not possible.
Can WhatsApp messages be retrieved online?
No, there is no way to recover deleted WhatsApp messages online. WhatsApp does not store chat history on its servers. You need physical or iTunes/iCloud backup access to retrieve deleted WhatsApp data.
What happens if I delete WhatsApp and install again?
If you delete and reinstall WhatsApp, all your local WhatsApp data including messages will be erased. Your only option will be to restore from Google Drive or iCloud backup.
Is it possible to recover deleted WhatsApp messages from another phone?
No, you cannot directly recover deleted WhatsApp messages from another phone. The messages will also be deleted from the sender’s phone when you delete them. Recovery is possible only from your own device backup.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp does not have an in-built feature to recover deleted messages, third-party apps provide an excellent solution. Apps like iMyFone D-Back make it easy to retrieve accidentally or intentionally deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone, as long as you act within 30 days. Following proper backup procedures and precautions is also important to avoid permanent data loss. So now you don’t have to worry about losing important WhatsApp messages ever again.