How do I recover deleted conversations in WhatsApp that are a year old - briefly?
To recover deleted conversations in WhatsApp that are a year old, you can use the built-in backup feature if you have previously backed up your data. Restore your chat history from the last backup by uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp.
How do I recover deleted conversations in WhatsApp that are a year old - in detail?
Recovering deleted conversations in WhatsApp, especially those that are a year old, can be challenging but not impossible. Here are the detailed steps you can follow to attempt recovery:
Backup and Restore
WhatsApp automatically creates backups of your chats and media daily at 2 AM local time. These backups are stored on Google Drive if you're using an Android device, or iCloud if you're using an iPhone. To recover a deleted conversation that is a year old:
- Uninstall WhatsApp: First, uninstall WhatsApp from your phone.
- Reinstall WhatsApp: Download and install WhatsApp again from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Verify Your Phone Number: Open WhatsApp and enter your phone number to verify your account.
- Restore from Backup: When prompted, tap "Restore" to restore your chats and media from the backup file. This will include messages that are up to a year old if they were included in the backups.
Local Backup
If you have previously created a local backup of your WhatsApp data on your device:
- Navigate to the Backup Folder: Go to the File Manager or use a computer to access the file system of your phone. Look for the "WhatsApp" folder, usually located in the internal storage or SD card (if applicable).
- Find the Backups: Inside the WhatsApp folder, you should see a subfolder named "Databases." This is where local backups are stored.
- Identify the Backup File: The backup files will have names like
msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt12
or similar. Select the file that corresponds to the date of your deleted conversation. - Restore the Backup: Use a file manager app to copy this backup file back to its original location in the Databases folder, overwriting any existing files.
- Reinstall and Restore: Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then verify your phone number. When prompted, tap "Restore" to restore the chat history from the local backup.
Contact Support
If you are unable to recover the deleted conversations using backups, it is advisable to contact WhatsApp support for further assistance:
- Open WhatsApp: Open the WhatsApp application on your device.
- Navigate to Settings: Tap on the three dots (menu) in the upper right corner and select "Settings."
- Contact Us: Scroll down and tap on "Help," then "Contact us." Follow the prompts to send a message to WhatsApp support. Explain your situation and provide any relevant details that might help them assist you better.
Important Notes
- Backup Frequency: Regularly backing up your chats can prevent data loss in the future. You can change the backup frequency in WhatsApp settings (Chats > Chat Backup).
- Device Compatibility: Ensure that the device you are using to restore the backups is compatible with the backup files. Moving from an Android device to an iPhone or vice versa might cause compatibility issues.
- Data Retention Policies: Be aware that cloud services like Google Drive and iCloud have data retention policies. Old backups might be automatically deleted if not accessed within a certain period.
By following these steps, you should be able to recover your deleted WhatsApp conversations that are up to a year old.