WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging applications in the world. It is widely used by people of all ages to communicate with friends and family, both locally and internationally. However, we sometimes accidentally delete important messages, or WhatsApp itself can face technical glitches that may cause us to lose all of our chats. This can be a really frustrating experience, especially if you have a lot of sentimental or important information contained in those conversations. Fortunately, there are various ways to recover all deleted messages on WhatsApp. In this blog post, we will explore some methods you can use to restore your WhatsApp chats and give recommendations on how to protect them in the future.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before we dive into the different ways to recover deleted messages on WhatsApp, here are some things you will need for the process:
1. A phone with WhatsApp installed
2. A backup file of your WhatsApp conversations
3. A third-party recovery software (optional)
What Requires Your Focus?
To successfully recover all deleted messages on WhatsApp, your focus needs to be on the following points:
1. Act quickly: the sooner you realize that you have deleted important messages, the better your chances of recovery are.
2. Have a backup: ensure that you have a recent backup file of your chats. This will make the recovery process much easier.
3. Avoid overwriting data: if you want to recover your chats from your device’s internal storage, avoid installing new apps or taking pictures, as these actions will overwrite the deleted data and make it harder to retrieve.
4. Choose the right recovery method: some methods work better than others depending on the situation, so choose the one that works best for you.
Different Methods to Recover All Deleted Messages on WhatsApp
Method 1: Using WhatsApp’s built-in backup feature
WhatsApp has a built-in backup feature that automatically saves your chats on Google Drive (for Android) or iCloud (for iPhone) every day at 2 am. Here’s how to use this feature to recover deleted messages:
1. Uninstall WhatsApp from your device
2. Reinstall WhatsApp and verify your phone number
3. When prompted, select the option to restore your chats from backup
4. Choose the backup file you want to restore and wait for the process to complete
Pros:
– Free to use
– Quick and easy to perform
– You can recover deleted messages from your last backup
Cons:
– You can only recover messages if you have a backup file
– The backup file needs to be recent (less than 7 days old)
– You may lose recent messages that were not backed up
Method 2: Using a third-party app
There are several third-party applications that claim to be able to recover deleted messages on WhatsApp. Here’s how to use one such app, called FoneLab:
1. Download and install FoneLab on your computer
2. Connect your phone to your computer
3. Select ‘WhatsApp & Attachments’ from the options displayed and click ‘start scan’
4. Preview the deleted messages and select the ones you want to recover
5. Click on ‘Recover’ and save the messages to your computer
Pros:
– No need to have a backup file to recover messages
– You can recover deleted messages from several months ago
– FoneLab supports a range of devices, including Android and iOS
Cons:
– Most third-party apps are not free
– There’s a risk of losing your data if you choose the wrong app
– The recovery process can take a long time
Method 3: Using local backup files
WhatsApp’s built-in backup feature also stores backups of your conversations on your device’s internal storage. Here’s how to recover deleted messages using local backup files:
1. Download and install a file manager app (e.g. ES File Manager) on your device
2. Navigate to your device’s WhatsApp folder and locate the ‘Database’ folder
3. Rename the file named "msgstore.db.crypt12" to "msgstore_backup.db.crypt12"
4. Find a backup file you want to restore and change its name to "msgstore.db.crypt12"
5. Reinstall WhatsApp and verify your phone number
6. When prompted, select the option to restore your chats from backup
Pros:
– Free to use
– You can recover deleted messages from backups stored locally on your phone
– Can be used even if you don’t have an active internet connection
Cons:
– The backup file needs to be recent (less than 7 days old)
– You may lose recent messages that were not backed up
– The process could be complicated for people with limited technical knowledge
Method 4: Using email conversations
If you have important conversations that you didn’t want to delete, you can forward them to your email address. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open WhatsApp and navigate to the conversation you want to forward
2. Tap and hold on the message you want to forward
3. Tap on the arrow icon and select ‘Forward Message’
4. Choose your email address as the recipient and send the message
5. Find the email and save the conversation to your device
Pros:
– It’s free to use
– You can recover important conversations that you didn’t want to lose
– This method doesn’t require you to have a backup file
Cons:
– You will only recover conversations that you actively forwarded to your email
– Time-consuming if you want to forward all your conversations
– Forwarded messages will not include the exact timestamps and media files
Why Can’t I Recover All Deleted Messages on WhatsApp?
There are a few reasons why you might not be able to recover all deleted messages on WhatsApp. Here are some of them:
1. You have never backed up your chats before
2. You have deleted the backup files accidentally
3. You have deleted the messages more than a week ago
4. WhatsApp has been uninstalled from your device
If you have never backed up your chats before, you won’t be able to recover your deleted messages using the built-in backup feature. You have to rely on third-party recovery software in this case. If you accidentally deleted the backup files, you might not be able to recover your messages using the backup feature either. You might have to use local backup files if you have them or use a third-party software. If the messages were deleted more than a week ago or if WhatsApp has been uninstalled from your device, the chances of recovering those messages are slim, but not impossible.
Implications and Recommendations
Here are some implications and recommendations to keep in mind when recovering your deleted WhatsApp messages:
1. Back up your chats regularly to avoid losing important conversations in the future
2. Be careful when deleting messages and make sure you only delete those that you don’t need anymore
3. If you have deleted your backup files accidentally, do not save any new data as this may overwrite the deleted files and make them unrecoverable
4. Always use reliable third-party recovery software, and only download and install apps from trusted sources.
5 FAQs about Recovering All Deleted Messages on WhatsApp
Q1: Can I recover deleted messages from a specific contact?
A: Yes, you can. Depending on the method you choose for recovery, you can select specific contacts to recover messages from.
Q2: Can I recover messages that were deleted more than a year ago?
A: It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to recover messages that were deleted more than a year ago. You have to have a backup file from the time the messages were still available.
Q3: Is it safe to use third-party recovery software?
A: It’s safe as long as you choose reliable software from trusted sources. Make sure to read reviews before downloading any third-party software.
Q4: Can I recover deleted media files and voice messages?
A: Yes, you can. Most of the recovery methods mentioned in this blog post can recover deleted media files and voice messages.
Q5: Do I need a computer to recover deleted messages?
A: No, you don’t. Most of the methods mentioned in this blog post can be performed directly on your phone.
Final Words
Losing important WhatsApp conversations can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but luckily, there are ways to recover all deleted messages. Don’t forget to regularly back up your chats and use the right recovery method for your situation. Follow the recommendations mentioned in this blog post to help protect your data in the future.