How to find old messages in WhatsApp after deleting them on Android - briefly?
To retrieve old messages in WhatsApp on Android after they have been deleted, you can restore your chat history from a backup if one was created before the messages were deleted. This process involves uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp, then restoring the backup during the setup process.
How to find old messages in WhatsApp after deleting them on Android - in detail?
Retrieving old messages in WhatsApp after they have been deleted can be challenging, but there are several methods you can try on an Android device. Below is a detailed guide to help you recover your lost WhatsApp messages:
Using Local Backup
- Check for Existing Backups: WhatsApp automatically creates local backups of your chats daily at 2 AM and saves them in the internal storage or SD card (if available). To check if a backup exists, go to File Manager > WhatsApp > Databases. Here you will find files named
msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12, whereYYYY-MM-DDrepresents the date of the backup. - Restore from Backup: To restore your chats, uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store. During the setup process, you will be prompted to restore your chats from the most recent local backup available. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restoration process.
Using Google Drive Backup
- Ensure Drive Backup is Enabled: Before deleting any messages, make sure that WhatsApp backups are set to automatically save to Google Drive. You can check this in WhatsApp settings under
Chats > Chat Backup. - Restore from Google Drive: If you have a recent backup on Google Drive, uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp. During the setup process, tap "Restore" when prompted to restore your chats from Google Drive. This will retrieve your messages along with any media files.
Using Third-Party Recovery Tools
If local or cloud backups are not available, you can use third-party recovery tools designed for Android devices:
- Download and Install a Recovery Tool: There are several reliable recovery tools available on the Google Play Store such as Dr.Fone - Recover (WhatsApp Data) or EaseUS MobiSaver. Download and install your preferred tool.
- Scan for Deleted Messages: Launch the recovery tool and follow the instructions to scan your device for deleted WhatsApp messages. The scanning process may take some time depending on the size of your data.
- Recover Messages: Once the scan is complete, you will be presented with a list of recoverable messages. Select the ones you want to retrieve and follow the prompts to save them back to your device or export them to a file.
Important Considerations
- Regular Backups: To avoid losing important messages in the future, ensure that WhatsApp backup is enabled and set to automatically save to Google Drive.
- Data Privacy: Be cautious when using third-party recovery tools as they may require root access or additional permissions that could potentially compromise your data privacy.
By following these detailed steps, you should be able to recover old messages in WhatsApp even after they have been deleted on an Android device.