How to recover a conversation in WhatsApp if your phone was stolen - briefly?
If your phone is stolen and you need to recover WhatsApp conversations, immediately report the theft to your mobile carrier to block the SIM card. Then, use WhatsApp's backup feature on a new device to restore your chat history from Google Drive or iCloud, depending on your previous backup settings.
How to recover a conversation in WhatsApp if your phone was stolen - in detail?
If you've had the misfortune of having your phone stolen and need to recover conversations from WhatsApp, follow these detailed steps:
- Immediately Report Your Phone as Stolen: Notify your network provider about the theft. They can block your SIM card, preventing unauthorized access to your account. This is a crucial first step to ensure that no one else can use your phone or gain access to your WhatsApp messages.
- Use Two-Step Verification: If you had two-step verification enabled on WhatsApp before the theft, it adds an extra layer of security. Even if someone tries to log in from a new device, they will need the six-digit PIN that was sent to your phone number, which they won't have access to.
- Deactivate Your Account: You can deactivate your WhatsApp account by contacting WhatsApp support and providing them with necessary details such as your phone number. This will not delete your messages but will prevent anyone from using your account until you reactivate it on a new device.
- Reinstall WhatsApp on a New Device: Once you have a new phone, download and install WhatsApp from the official app store. During the setup process, you will be prompted to enter your phone number.
- Verify Your Phone Number: After entering your phone number, WhatsApp will send a verification code to that number. Since you've reported your SIM as stolen and it's blocked, you won't receive this code on your old phone. In such cases, contact WhatsApp support for assistance in verifying your account without the code.
- Restore Your Chats: Once your account is verified and active on the new device, WhatsApp will automatically look for backups. If you had enabled backup to Google Drive or iCloud before the theft, all your chat history will be restored. If not, unfortunately, you won't be able to recover past conversations as WhatsApp does not store messages on its servers.
- Enable Regular Backups: To prevent such issues in the future, ensure that you regularly back up your chats. For Android users, go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup and set up a backup frequency. For iPhone users, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and select 'Auto Backup'.
By following these steps, you can regain access to your WhatsApp account and recover your conversations even after your phone has been stolen.