How to recover deleted WhatsApp messages

Losing a chat on WhatsApp can feel bad, more so when the note had value or care. The good news is that lost chats can often come back. This guide shows how, in clear steps, with no rush and no tricks. The key is backup. If no backup was made, the odds drop fast. Still, many users do have one, even if they did not plan it. Before you start, stop using the app right away. New chats can erase old data and lower your chance of a fix.

Open WhatsApp and tap the menu icon. Go to chats, then backup. Look for the last save date. This date must be older than the chat you lost. If the backup is newer, the old chat is gone.

On Android, backups are saved to Google Drive and also kept on the phone. On iPhone, backups are saved to iCloud only and make sure you are signed in to the same Google or iCloud account you used before.

You must remove WhatsApp from the phone. I know you will be worried about your account but that’s not a problem, its safe. This works for both Android and iPhone and you only have to press and hold the app icon, then a couple of options will pop-up. Click on delete app and its gone. With this move, all the data in the app will be cleared and the backup can now bring all information back afresh. Next, check your network connection, If your network assess is poor, this can disrupt the restore process.

Go to the app store and install WhatsApp again. Open it and agree to the terms. Enter your phone number. You will get a code by text. Enter the code to prove it is you. Once this step is done, WhatsApp will look for a backup on its own.

When asked, tap restore. This step can take time, based on backup size and net speed. When this step is in progress, do not close the app and do not lock the phone. Let the process finish.

Once done, tap next. Your chats should now show up, up to the backup date. But, any chat sent or got after that date will not be there.

If no Drive backup is found, you may still have a local save. Use a file app. Go to the WhatsApp folder, then databases. You will see files with dates. Pick the file dated before the chat loss.

Rename it to msgstore.db.crypt14. Make sure no extra text is left. Now repeat the app delete and install steps. When asked, restore the backup. The app should now load the local file.

iPhone users can only use iCloud backup to restore their WhatsApp chat. Local restore is not an option.

Check iCloud space. If space is full, restore can fail. It is also vital that WhatsApp is allowed to use the iCloud Drive, and it should be active as of the time the restore is attempted. If the backup date works, the restore will bring back the chats.

If no backup was made before the loss, WhatsApp cannot bring the chat back. The app does not keep spare chat logs on its own. Be wary of tools that claim magic fixes. Many do not work and some can risk your data.

If your WhatsApp chats mean the world to you (like, deadass important), you gotta know how to bring 'em back if they vanish one day. Open up WhatsApp on your phone real quick. Click the three dots on the top right to drop the menu. Slide into Settings, then Chats, and hit the Chat backup option. Set it to daily if chats matter to you. Use Wi-Fi for backup to avoid fail runs. Also keep enough cloud space free so saves do not stop.

Lost chats feel heavy, but with a few steps you may be able to get them back. With the right backup, your chat can return. If not, at least you now know how to guard them next time.