How To Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages

Your Quick Answer:

To recover deleted messages on Android, you have to delete the WhatsApp application and reinstall it again from Play Store. You’ll have to re-register with the same account and restore the backup.

To do the same on iPhone, go to your WhatsApp application, and click on Settings on the menu bar at the bottom of the screen. Click on “Chats” and then on “Chat Backup”. After this, check if your backup was done recently and then uninstall the app.

Go to your App Store and install the app again. Type in your phone number, and after the app finds a backup file, click on the option that says “Restore Chat History”.

To recover deleted messages without backup, go to File Manager and search for the WhatsApp folder and then click on Databases. Rename the file “msgstore.db.crypt15 ” to “msgstore_old.db.crypt15 ” and the file “msgstore-20YY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt15 ” to “msgstore.db.crypt15 “. Then uninstall and reinstall the app and type in your phone number and click on “Restore”.

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How To Recover Deleted Whatsapp Messages:

Try the following steps:

🔯 On Android:

Step 1: Delete WhatsApp & Reinstall

The first step you have to follow in order to recover deleted messages on your android device is to go to your home screen and uninstall the WhatsApp application. After this, go to the Play Store and search for WhatsApp. Click on the “Install” option in the search results to download and install the app again.

Step 2: Enter Same Number as on the Registration

Now that you have installed the app again, you will be logged out of your account. You will be asked to re-register now by adding your phone number. Use the same number that you had used before deleting the app, as this will allow you access to the same account.

Step 3: Backup Shows & Tap on ‘RESTORE’

Once you type in your phone number, the app will take some time to see if there are any saved backups that you could use. Then the latest backup will show, and you have to click on the option that says “RESTORE” to get all the data like messages and chats back.

Step 4: It will Recover All Messages

After you click on the “RESTORE” option, your WhatsApp will slowly bring the backup to life, and messages and old chats will begin to be added slowly to your WhatsApp “CHATS” menu. This may take some time depending on your internet and the size of the backup but once it’s done your deleted messages will be recovered.

🔯 On iPhone:

Step 1: Navigate to Settings> Chats

To recover deleted messages on your iPhone using your iCloud backup, you have to open the WhatsApp application and go to the Settings menu, which is at the bottom of the screen to the complete right end. Then click on the option here that says “Chats” to move to a new tab.

Step 2: Go to Chat Backup

Now, in the options that will appear in front of you, you have to click on one that says “Chat Backup”.

In the next tab, you will be able to view when you created your last backup. If the backup wasn’t done recently, do it now as a backup done before uninstalling the app is necessary to safely restore messages.

Step 3: Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp

Come out of the WhatsApp application and uninstall the app from the home screen by long pressing on it. After that, go to your App Store and search for WhatsApp. Once you find it, download and install the app to your device again and open the app once it is done.

Step 4: Click on “Restore Chat History”

You have to agree to the terms and conditions and type in your phone number attached to your normal WhatsApp account. Now go ahead and wait for the app to look for a backup. Once it is done, you will get an option with the backup that says “Restore Chat History” after which you will be able to see all your deleted messages!

How To Recover Deleted Whatsapp Messages Without Backup:

Try the following steps below:

Step 1: Open File Manager > WhatsApp > Databases

To recover deleted messages when you don’t possess a backup, you have to go to your home screen and look for the File Manager app.

Depending on your android, it may even be called “Files”. Scroll down to reach a folder called “Whatsapp”. In the next tab, select the “Databases” folder.

Step 2: Find msgstore.db.crypt15 File and Rename to msgstore_old.db.crypt15

Now search for the file “msgstore.db.crypt15”, select it and click on the three dots icon. There might be a different icon depending on the version of Android.

click three dot and then rename option 1.0

Once you’ve clicked on it, select the option to “Rename”. Now change the name to “msgstore_old.db.crypt15”.

Step 3: Find msgstore-20YY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt15 and Rename to msgstore.db.crypt15

After that look for the file with the name “msgstore-20YY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt15” and select it. Click on the three dots icon and the Rename option and change the name to “msgstore.db.crypt15”.

click three dot and then rename option 2.0

Step 5: Uninstall & Reinstall WhatsApp

Now you have to go to your home screen and look for the WhatsApp app. Long press on it and uninstall it.

Head to Play Store next, and download and install the WhatsApp app again by searching for it in the search bar and clicking on the “Install” option after finding it in the search results.

Step 6: Tap on ‘RESTORE’ to Recover

Use your phone number to get back to your account, and then the app will look for backups on your device, after which you will be asked if you would like to recover all the data that you lost. You have to tap on the option “RESTORE” and all the chats and messages that were deleted will be restored.

Why Do Whatsapp Messages Disappear:

1. You have Turned On New Disappearing Messages option

If your messages are disappearing on a regular basis after a certain time interval, it may be because you have turned on the Disappearing messages mode which helps keep your messages safe and ensures they’re not misused. But the downside of it is that you won’t be able to see your old messages or get them back.

2. You didn’t Backup before Uninstallation

It is very important to back your messages up before uninstalling your app, as this ensures all your messages are saved in the form of a backup file. When you don’t back up before uninstalling, you will not be able to restore data properly, and your messages and chats will disappear.

3. Your Chat is Deleted by Yourself

Another very common reason why your messages are deleted is you. By mistake or purposely, you may have deleted one or more messages to ensure your own privacy perhaps and to avoid the misuse of sensitive information. However, you may no longer have any recollection of it. If this is the case, your messages will be deleted but they can be restored.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How to recover 1-year-old WhatsApp messages without backup

To restore 1-year-old WhatsApp messages without backup, you have to go to your File Manager and then click on WhatsApp, and then on Databases. After this you’ll have to change the name of the file “msgstore.db.crypt12” to “msgstore_old.db.crypt12” and then rename “msgstore-20YY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12” to “msgstore.db.crypt12”. When you install the app and restore your backup after this, you will be able to recover those messages.

2. Can WhatsApp chats be recovered if not backed up?

Yes, Whatsapp messages that you may have forgotten to back up, can be recovered, and that too, quite easily, on your android device. However, there is no direct option for it on the Whatsapp application and you have to use the Whatsapp Databases folder for the same.

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