How do I recover WhatsApp messages after deleting them on Android without uninstalling WhatsApp?

How do I recover WhatsApp messages after deleting them on Android without uninstalling WhatsApp - briefly?

If you have accidentally deleted WhatsApp messages on your Android device and wish to recover them without uninstalling the app, you can use a backup service or third-party recovery tool. Ensure that you have recently backed up your data either through Google Drive or manually.

How do I recover WhatsApp messages after deleting them on Android without uninstalling WhatsApp - in detail?

Recovering deleted WhatsApp messages on an Android device without uninstalling the app can be a challenging task, but it is not impossible. Here are several detailed methods you can try:

Backup and Restore

WhatsApp automatically creates backups of your chats every day at 2 AM. You can use these backups to restore deleted messages. However, keep in mind that the backup will only include messages up to the time it was last created. Here’s how you can do this:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to Chats > Backup.
3. Tap on BACK UP to create a new backup if you don't have one already.
4. To restore from the backup, uninstall WhatsApp and then reinstall it.
5. Follow the setup prompts and when asked to restore a backup, tap on Restore.
6. Once the restoration is complete, your deleted messages should be back in your chat history.

Using Google Drive Backup

If you have enabled Google Drive backup for WhatsApp, you can also recover your messages from there:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to Chats > Backup.
3. Tap on BACK UP if you need to create a new backup.
4. To restore the messages, uninstall WhatsApp and then reinstall it.
5. During the setup process, tap on RESTORE when prompted.
6. The app will automatically look for backups in Google Drive and restore your messages.

Using Third-Party Software

There are third-party applications designed to recover deleted WhatsApp messages without needing to uninstall the app:

1. Download and Install a reputable recovery software like Dr.Fone - Recover (WhatsApp) or EaseUS Mobisaver.
2. Connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Open the recovery software and follow the on-screen instructions to scan your device for deleted WhatsApp messages.
4. Once the scan is complete, preview the recovered messages and select those you want to restore.
5. Follow the prompts to save the recovered messages back to your device or computer.

Using File Manager (Advanced Method)

For users comfortable with file management, you can try recovering deleted WhatsApp messages manually:

1. Install a File Manager app on your Android device if you don't have one already.
2. Open the File Manager and navigate to WhatsApp > Databases.
3. Look for files named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12 where YYYY-MM-DD is the date of the backup.
4. Rename the file by removing the .crypt12 extension, so it becomes msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.
5. Go back to WhatsApp and navigate to Settings > Chats > Backup.
6. Tap on BACK UP to create a new backup. This will overwrite the current backup with the older one you renamed.
7. Once the backup is complete, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
8. During the setup process, tap on RESTORE when prompted. This should restore your deleted messages from the renamed backup file.

Conclusion

While there are several methods to recover deleted WhatsApp messages on an Android device without uninstalling the app, the most reliable method involves using backups created through Google Drive or local storage. Third-party software and manual file management methods can also be effective but require a bit more technical know-how. Always ensure you have the latest backup available to maximize your chances of recovering lost messages.