WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app used worldwide. With over 2 billion active users, it is available on multiple platforms, including iOS and Android. WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption to secure your messages and keep them private. However, there are times when you accidentally delete a message or a chat history that you desperately need. Once deleted, it is not a straightforward process to retrieve the message, and it can cause unnecessary anxiety when you are unable to access your valuable data.
The good news is that there are ways you can recover deleted messages in WhatsApp. In this guide, we will explore some methods that can help you recover your deleted messages and give you additional tips to safeguard your data for the future.
Video Tutorial:
Things You Should Prepare for
Before you start following the methods to retrieve deleted messages, below are some things you should prepare to ensure you have a smooth experience:
- Your phone: You will need to have your phone with you because the deleted messages are stored on your phone’s memory.
- WhatsApp backup: Depending on how you set up your WhatsApp backup, you may need to restore the backup to retrieve your deleted messages.
- A computer: Some methods require you to connect your phone to a computer, so ensure you have a computer readily available.
Method 1: Recovering Deleted Messages from WhatsApp Backup
If you have set up WhatsApp backup, you can easily recover your deleted messages by restoring your chat history from the backup. The backup is automatically created on a regular basis by WhatsApp, but you can also set up a manual backup. Below are the steps to recover deleted messages:
Steps:
- Uninstall WhatsApp on your phone.
- Reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or App Store.
- During the setup process, enter the same phone number that you used before, and verify your phone number.
- You will see a prompt to Restore your chat history. Click on Restore, and your deleted messages will be recovered.
Pros:
- Easy to recover your deleted messages
- Does not require any technical knowledge
Cons:
- You need to have set up WhatsApp backup before deleting your messages.
- You risk losing new messages that were not backed up.
Method 2: Using Third-Party Recovery Software
There is specialised software available online that can recover deleted messages in WhatsApp. This software scans your phone’s memory to retrieve the deleted message data. Below are the steps to recover deleted messages:
Steps:
- Download and install a third-party recovery software, such as EaseUS MobiSaver or iMyfone D-Back.
- Connect your phone to your computer and launch the software.
- Select WhatsApp as the app you want to recover data from and select scan.
- After scanning, the deleted messages will be displayed for you to preview. Select the deleted messages you want to recover and click on recover.
Pros:
- Can recover deleted messages even if you didn’t have a backup.
- You can choose which messages to recover.
Cons:
- Third-party software may be a security risk. Be sure to download reputable software from a trusted source.
- The scanning process can take a while, depending on your phone’s memory.
Method 3: Recovering Deleted Messages by Extracting WhatsApp Backup
If you have a WhatsApp backup on your phone and don’t want to restore the entire backup, you can extract the backup to get the deleted messages you desire. Below are the steps to recover deleted messages:
Steps:
- Connect your phone to your computer.
- Navigate to your phone’s storage folder, locate your WhatsApp backup folder, and copy it to your computer.
- Download and install a program that can extract data from the backup file, such as WhatsApp Viewer or WhatsApp Xtract.
- Load the WhatsApp backup file in the program and select the messages you want to recover.
- After selecting the messages, click on the export button, and your deleted messages will be saved on your computer.
Pros:
- You can extract specific messages and do not need to restore the entire backup.
- You can recover deleted messages without internet connectivity.
Cons:
- You need to have set up WhatsApp backup before deleting your messages.
- The process of extracting data can be time-consuming.
Why Can’t I Read The Deleted Messages in WhatsApp?
There are a few reasons why you may not be able to read the deleted messages in WhatsApp. Below are some of the reasons:
- The messages are not stored on WhatsApp’s server.
- You did not have a backup of your messages before deleting them.
- You used a third-party app to delete the messages permanently.
However, there are fixes available for some of these reasons:
- To ensure all your chats are backed up, go to your WhatsApp settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and select Backup Now.
- You can use the methods above to recover deleted messages even if you didn’t have a backup.
- Avoid using third-party apps to delete your WhatsApp messages as they may remove them permanently.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips to safeguard your data and ensure that you can recover deleted messages in the future:
- Set up automatic WhatsApp backup in your phone settings.
- Use reputable third-party software to recover deleted messages.
- Avoid deleting messages permanently using third-party software.
5 FAQs About Reading Deleted Messages in WhatsApp
Q1. How do I set up automatic backup on WhatsApp?
A1. Go to WhatsApp settings > Chats > Chat Backup. You can set up automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups.
Q2. Are there any free third-party software available for recovering deleted messages?
A2. Yes, there are free software options available, but be sure to research the software and download reputable options from trusted sources.
Q3. Can I recover deleted messages on WhatsApp after uninstalling and reinstalling the app?
A3. Yes, as long as you have a backup of your messages. When you reinstall WhatsApp, click on restore chat history during the setup process.
Q4. Can I recover deleted messages on WhatsApp if they were deleted on the other participant’s end?
A4. No, if the other participant deletes a chat, you cannot retrieve it from WhatsApp.
Q5. Can I recover deleted messages on WhatsApp that were a part of a deleted chat?
A5. Yes, if you have set up WhatsApp backup, you can restore your chat history and recover deleted messages.
In Conclusion
Accidentally deleting valuable messages can be a frustrating experience, but you don’t have to live with the anxiety. Using the methods above, you can easily recover deleted messages, even if you did not back up your chats. Remember to take precautions in the future and set up automatic backups to avoid losing your data permanently. Hopefully, this guide has helped you recover your deleted WhatsApp messages.