Want to know how to recover old or deleted WhatsApp messages? In the age of instant messaging, losing an important conversation can cause anything from minor inconveniences to major problems, especially if those messages contained valuable data or personal memories. Whether you accidentally deleted a chat, need to restore messages on a new Android or iOS device, or want to find out if it's possible to read messages deleted by other users, here you'll find a comprehensive and up-to-date guide on all the available options and methods for recovering messages and conversations on WhatsApp.
Key aspects to consider before recovering deleted messages
Before attempting to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, there are several essential points to consider. WhatsApp does not store deleted messages on its servers ; once a user deletes a message, it disappears from both their own chat and the other person's. The possibility of recovering messages will depend on:
- The existence of a previous backup performed before deletion.
- The frequency of these backups (daily, weekly, monthly, or custom).
- Your device's operating system (Android or iOS), since each platform has its own particularities.
- Using notifications and third-party applications which, depending on the configuration and permissions, could store fragments of messages.
Keep in mind that recovering messages may mean losing the most recent messages if they weren't in the backup. Also, not all types of content are recoverable (for example, some media files may not be included in certain backups).
How to recover old messages or deleted chats on WhatsApp
WhatsApp offers several automatic and manual ways to restore deleted messages . Below, we explain the most effective options depending on the scenario:
1. Restore messages from a backup
WhatsApp automatically backs up your data to both the cloud (Google Drive on Android, iCloud on iPhone) and locally (internal storage or microSD). To take advantage of these backups:
- Check if a recent backup exists from before the message was deleted.
- Uninstall WhatsApp from your device.
- Reinstall WhatsApp and follow the setup process by entering your phone number.
- When asked if you want to restore messages from backup, you accept and wait for the completion of the process.
If the backup is in the cloud (Google Drive/iCloud), make sure you're using the same account (Google/Apple ID). If the backup is local, you'll need access to the original storage or microSD card where it was saved.
2. Recover older versions of backups (Android only)
WhatsApp keeps up to seven recent local backups daily in the /WhatsApp/Databases/ folder on your Android device. If you need to restore an older version:
- Access your Android's file manager and navigate to /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/.
- Copy the file corresponding to the desired day and rename it to msgstore.db.cryptXX (depending on the WhatsApp version).
- Uninstall WhatsApp and install it again; During setup, select the option to restore from local backup.
Warning: This action will overwrite all conversations up to the date of that backup. Make a copy of your most recent backup before restoring older versions.
3. Restore deleted messages and chats on iPhone (iCloud and iTunes)
For iOS devices, the process is similar but geared towards the Apple environment:
- Open WhatsApp on iPhone, go to Settings> Chats> Backup and check the latest available copy in iCloud.
- Delete WhatsApp from your iPhone and install it again from the App Store.
- During setup, after verifying your number, select Restore chat history from iCloud.
- Alternatively, connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes, select the device, and restore a recent backup.
Keep in mind that iCloud backups may depend on available storage and your Apple ID account settings.
How to view WhatsApp messages deleted by other users
Have you ever received the typical "This message was deleted" notification and been overcome with curiosity? Although WhatsApp doesn't officially allow you to recover the content of messages deleted by other senders, there are ways to view parts of those messages using the notification history or external applications . Here we explain how they work, their advantages, and limitations:
A. Using notification history on Android
- Android includes a feature to view your full notification history (in Settings > Notifications > Notification History).
- If it was activated at the time you received the message (and you were not open with WhatsApp in that chat), you will be able to see the original content, limited to a few 100 characters of text (the notification limit).
- This method does not allow you to retrieve media files, only the text that generates a notification.
B. Third-party applications for recovering deleted messages
There are apps dedicated to recording incoming WhatsApp notifications . Some of the most popular and secure are:
- WAMR: Automatically saves the content of WhatsApp notifications, even messages that are later deleted. It allows you to recover text, images, videos, and audio files (unless the files were already downloaded when they were deleted).
- WhatsRemoved+: Similar to WAMR, it monitors all notifications from WhatsApp and other apps to record what's being sent. It doesn't work if the app is open and the chat is active at the time.
- Tenorshare UltData: Available for Android and iOS, recovers messages and media files, even if you don't have an active backup. Usually requires a PC connection.
- iSkysoft Android Data Recovery, Aiseesoft Fonelab, Recuva, iMobie PhoneRescue, D-Back iPhone WhatsApp Recovery, UltData App, Remo Recover: These are other solid options, many of which are compatible with both Android and iOS and useful for recovering chats, audio files, videos, images, and exporting data.
Important precautions: When using third-party apps, be aware of privacy risks, potential vulnerabilities, and battery drain. Download only from official sources and always check permissions.
Differences and tips on WhatsApp backups (local vs. cloud)
When it comes to protecting your messages, configuring your backup correctly is key. You can choose from:
- Local copy: It's stored only on your device. It offers greater privacy and immediate access, but if you lose your phone or format it, you'll also lose the backup unless you export it manually.
- Cloud copy: Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone). It allows automatic syncing and easy restoration on new devices or after a reset. Also, if you're looking for an option to protect your data, check out this article on Recover your Android data with EaseUS MobiSaver.
Tip: Schedule backups to run as often as you need (daily, weekly, monthly). This will reduce the risk of losing important messages in case of an accident.
What happens if I don't have a backup available?
If you never set up a backup and you've deleted a chat, the chances of recovery are very limited . You can try:
- Check the notification history if you were using Android and the feature was active.
- Use external applications, although they will only be able to retrieve messages after installation or already registered in notifications.
- In some cases, mobile data recovery software can attempt to reconstruct information directly from storage, but it requires advanced knowledge and success is not guaranteed. To learn more about these options, see our article on recover lost data from your Android.
How to avoid losing important messages on WhatsApp
The best strategy to never lose your conversations is prevention . Here are some practical recommendations:
- Set the automatic backup at the frequency that best suits your use.
- If you change devices, be sure to restore your backup before starting to use WhatsApp.
- Check the available space on Google Drive/iCloud and on your phone's internal memory.
- Make manual backups before major updates, SIM changes, or factory resets.
- Be wary of miracle apps, grant only the essential permissions, and review their privacy policy.
Solutions to common problems when recovering WhatsApp messages
- Lack of space: If you don't have enough storage on your phone or in the cloud, the restore may fail. Free up space first.
- Damaged copies: A backup may be corrupted. Try restoring a previous backup if one exists.
- The restore option does not appear: Make sure you're using the same Google Drive/iCloud account and that the backup was created on the same phone number.
- Only texts are restored, not multimedia files: Check that the option to include videos and files was enabled when making the backup.
Other ways to recover lost information on WhatsApp
In addition to traditional methods, there are some features you can explore depending on the context:
- Archived chats: They're not deleted, but hidden. Go to the archived chats section and unarchive them if you need to.
- Transferring chats between devices: Use the official WhatsApp feature to migrate chats between Android and iPhone, following the app's instructions. When doing so, be sure to make a full backup first.
Frequently Asked Questions about WhatsApp Message Recovery
- Where are deleted WhatsApp messages stored? They are not stored on WhatsApp servers but in local backups or in the cloud, if active.
- What happens to deleted chats? You can only restore them if a backup exists prior to the deletion date.
- Can backups be restored to any device? Only if you use the same phone number and Google/iCloud account. Android backups aren't supported on iPhone, and vice versa.
- Can external apps recover old messages? Only messages logged after installation; previously deleted messages will not be accessible.
- What happens if I lose or change my phone? If you have a backup in the cloud (Google Drive/iCloud), simply restore it when you install WhatsApp on your new phone.
- Do I lose messages if I restore an old copy? All messages received after the date of that copy will be lost.
Recovering WhatsApp messages is possible in many cases, provided you have previous backups or have used one of the solutions mentioned above. Remember to protect your privacy and always make regular backups. If you have any questions, comment below or visit our dedicated Android and apps forum for additional help.
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