How can I recover a message deleted by a contact in WhatsApp on an iPhone - briefly?
To recover a message deleted by a contact in WhatsApp on an iPhone, you can use the built-in "Undo" function immediately after deletion or rely on your iCloud backup if the message was deleted some time ago.
How can I recover a message deleted by a contact in WhatsApp on an iPhone - in detail?
Recovering a message deleted by a contact in WhatsApp on an iPhone involves several steps, depending on whether you have backups or not. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:
Check Recent Deletions
Firstly, if the deletion was recent, it might still be possible to retrieve the message directly from the chat:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the specific chat where the message was deleted.
- Tap on the contact's name at the top of the screen to open the chat info page.
- Scroll down and tap on "Export Chat." This will create a backup of the current chat, including any messages that haven’t been permanently erased yet.
- Save the exported file to your iCloud Drive or another storage option.
- Open the exported file using a text editor or any other suitable application to view the message content.
Use WhatsApp Backup
If the above method doesn’t work, you can use WhatsApp's built-in backup feature:
- Go to "Settings" on your iPhone and select "WhatsApp."
- Tap on "Chats" and then "Chat Backup."
- Ensure that the "Include Videos" option is enabled if you want to back up media files as well.
- Tap on "Back Up Now" to create a new backup of your WhatsApp data. This process will overwrite any existing backups, so be cautious.
- After the backup is complete, delete and reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.
- Open WhatsApp and follow the prompts to set up your account again. When prompted, restore your chat history from the backup you just created.
- Once the restoration process is complete, check the specific chat for the deleted message.
Restore from iCloud Backup
If you have an iCloud backup that includes WhatsApp data, you can restore it to your iPhone:
- Go to "Settings" on your iPhone and select your name at the top.
- Tap on "iCloud" and then scroll down to "iCloud Backup." Make sure that the toggle is enabled.
- To restore from an iCloud backup, you will need to erase your device:
- Go back to "Settings," select "General," and then tap on "Reset."
- Choose "Erase All Content and Settings" and follow the prompts. This process will delete all data on your iPhone.
- After your iPhone has restarted, go through the setup process until you reach the "Apps & Data" screen.
- Select "Restore from iCloud Backup," sign in with your Apple ID, and choose a backup to restore from.
- Once the restoration is complete, open WhatsApp and follow the prompts to set up your account again. When prompted, restore your chat history from the available backup.
- Check the specific chat for the deleted message.
Third-Party Software
If you haven’t been able to recover the message using the above methods, consider using third-party software designed for data recovery:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer and use professional recovery software like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver.
- Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the software to scan your device for deleted WhatsApp messages.
- Once the scan is complete, preview the recovered messages and select the ones you want to save.
- Restore the selected messages back to your iPhone or export them to a readable format.
Important Considerations
- Regularly backup your WhatsApp chats to avoid losing important data.
- Be aware that recovering deleted messages might not always be possible, especially if the message was permanently erased from both the sender’s and receiver’s devices.
- Always ensure that you have the necessary permissions and backups before proceeding with any recovery methods.
By following these detailed steps, you can maximize your chances of recovering a deleted message in WhatsApp on an iPhone.