How to Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages

This guide shows you how to recover deleted WhatsApp messages on both Android and iPhone. You’ll learn the quickest methods using your built-in backups, plus what to do if you never enabled backups. The steps below cover the most common scenarios and work for the current versions of WhatsApp.

What You’ll Need

• Your phone with WhatsApp installed
• Access to the same phone number used for the WhatsApp account
• A Google Drive account (Android) or iCloud account (iPhone) if you used cloud backups
• If restoring from a local backup on Android, a file manager app and a USB cable or SD card reader (if the backup is on external storage)

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Restore from Google Drive (Android)

1. Uninstall WhatsApp from your phone. You can do this from the app drawer or Settings > Apps.
2. Reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.
3. Open WhatsApp and accept the terms. Enter your phone number and verify it with the SMS or call code.
4. When prompted, tap Restore to restore your chat history from Google Drive. Wait for the restore to finish. This can take a few minutes depending on your backup size and internet speed.
5. After the restore completes, tap Next to finish setting up your profile. Your messages, including the deleted ones, should now appear.

Method 2: Restore from iCloud (iPhone)

1. Delete WhatsApp from your iPhone. Press and hold the app icon, then tap Remove App and confirm.
2. Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.
3. Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
4. When prompted, tap Restore Chat History. WhatsApp will download your most recent iCloud backup.
5. Wait for the restore to complete, then tap Done. Your deleted messages should be back.

Method 3: Restore from Local Backup (Android)

1. On your Android phone, open a file manager app and navigate to Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Databases. If you have an SD card, check SD Card > WhatsApp > Databases as well.
2. Look for files named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14 (or similar). The most recent one is usually msgstore.db.crypt14. These are your local backups, created automatically every day at 2 AM.
3. If you want to restore an older backup (for example, from before the messages were deleted), rename the current msgstore.db.crypt14 to something like msgstore_old.db.crypt14 (or just move it to another folder).
4. Rename the backup file you want to restore to msgstore.db.crypt14 (exactly this name).
5. Uninstall WhatsApp, then reinstall it from the Play Store.
6. Open WhatsApp, verify your phone number, and tap Restore when prompted. WhatsApp will restore from the local backup file you renamed.

Method 4: If You Never Had Backups

Unfortunately, if you never enabled backups and the messages are not on any device, there is no official way to recover them. WhatsApp does not store your messages on its servers after delivery. Third-party recovery tools that claim to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages without a backup are not reliable and often require root access or violate WhatsApp’s terms. Your best bet is to check if you have an old backup on Google Drive or iCloud from a previous phone.

Common Mistakes

• Not verifying your phone number before restore: If you enter a different number, WhatsApp will not offer the restore option.
• Using the wrong Google account: Make sure you’re logged into the same Google account that was used for the backup on your Android phone.
• Restoring on the wrong platform: You cannot restore an iCloud backup to an Android phone or a Google Drive backup to an iPhone.
• Opening WhatsApp before the restore finishes: Interrupting the restore process can corrupt the data. Let it complete fully.
• Forgetting to rename the local backup file: If you don’t rename the file to msgstore.db.crypt14, WhatsApp won’t recognize it.

Tips

• Enable automatic backups now: Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup and set a daily or weekly backup to Google Drive or iCloud. This way, you won’t lose messages again.
• Back up before switching phones: Always create a fresh backup before moving to a new device.
• Check backup frequency: The backup you restore will only contain messages up to the last backup time. Any messages received after that backup will be lost.
• Use WhatsApp’s export feature for important chats: For critical conversations, use Export Chat (in chat settings) to save a text file or email it to yourself.

Troubleshooting

• Restore option doesn’t appear: You may be using a different phone number, or the backup is not associated with the account. Double-check the number and the Google/iCloud account. Also, ensure you have a stable internet connection.
• Restore fails or gets stuck: Free up storage space on your phone, as the restore needs room for the data. Try again on a Wi-Fi connection instead of mobile data. If it still fails, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp and try again.
• Restored but messages are missing: The backup you restored may be older than when the messages were deleted. Try restoring an older local backup file (if available) or check if you have an older cloud backup.
• Local backup file is corrupted: If the file is corrupted, WhatsApp will ignore it. You can try renaming a different backup file (e.g., an older one) and attempt the restore again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover deleted messages without uninstalling WhatsApp?

No, the official restore process requires reinstalling WhatsApp. There is no in-app option to selectively recover deleted messages from a backup.

How long does the restore take?

It depends on the size of your backup and your internet speed. A small backup might take a few minutes, while a large one can take 30 minutes or more.

Will I lose my current messages if I restore?

Yes, restoring a backup replaces your current chat history with the backup data. Any messages received after the backup was created will be lost. If you want to keep them, export the chats you care about before restoring.

Can I recover deleted messages from a contact who also deleted them?

No, if the other person deleted the messages from their side, you cannot recover them from your backup if they were never delivered to your phone. If they were delivered, they would be in your own backup.

Is there a way to recover messages without a backup?

No, WhatsApp does not store messages on its servers after delivery. Without a backup, the data is gone. Be cautious of third-party apps that promise recovery; they often don’t work and may compromise your privacy.

Does restoring from a backup affect my media files?

Yes, photos and videos that were included in the backup will be restored. However, if you disabled media backup in your settings, only the messages will be restored, and media may be missing.

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