How to find out about deleted messages in WhatsApp/Viber - briefly?
To discover deleted messages in WhatsApp or Viber, users can utilize specialized software that retrieves data from device backups. However, it's important to note that this method may not always be successful and depends on the time frame since deletion and the type of backup used.
How to find out about deleted messages in WhatsApp/Viber - in detail?
To determine if a message has been deleted in WhatsApp or Viber, users can rely on several methods and indicators. While neither platform provides an explicit notification for deleted messages, there are subtle clues that can reveal this information.
- Double Ticks: When a message is sent but not delivered (indicated by one tick), it means the recipient's phone was off or they had no internet connection at the time of sending. If you see two ticks but no read receipt, it might suggest that the message has been deleted.
- Read Receipts: WhatsApp allows users to turn off read receipts, which means you won't see when a message has been read. However, if someone turns on read receipts temporarily to read your message and then deletes it, the double ticks will remain visible but without the "Read" label.
- Forwarded Messages: If a forwarded message is deleted by the recipient, you might still see the forwarded icon next to your original message, indicating that the content was shared but no longer exists in the recipient's chat log.
- Quoted Replies: If someone quotes your message and later deletes it, the quoted text will appear as a standalone reply without the context of what you originally sent.
Viber
- Message Status: Like WhatsApp, Viber shows different status icons for messages (Sent, Delivered, Seen). If you see "Delivered" but not "Seen," it might imply that the message was deleted before being read.
- Hidden Chats: Viber allows users to hide chats. If a contact hides their chat with you after reading your message and then deletes it, you won't be able to see any indicators of the message's existence.
- Message Reactions: If someone reacts to your message (using emojis) and later deletes it, the reaction will still be visible in your chat log, indicating that a message was there but has since been removed.
- Group Chats: In group chats, if a member deletes their own message, other participants won't see an explicit notification. However, they might notice gaps in the conversation flow or missing content when reviewing the chat history.
Third-Party Tools and Backups
- Backups: Both WhatsApp and Viber offer backup features that store chat histories on cloud services (Google Drive for Android, iCloud for iOS). If a message is deleted after the last backup, it will not appear in future restores. Checking backups can sometimes reveal deleted messages if they were included in the most recent backup before deletion.
- Third-Party Apps: There are third-party apps and services that claim to recover deleted WhatsApp or Viber messages by scanning device storage. However, their effectiveness varies, and users should exercise caution when using such tools to avoid potential security risks.
In conclusion, while neither WhatsApp nor Viber provides a direct way to notify users about deleted messages, observing changes in message status indicators, quoted replies, or reaction icons can help infer whether a message has been removed. Regularly backing up chats and being cautious with third-party recovery tools are also essential strategies for preserving and potentially recovering lost communication data.