How to recover a deleted message in WhatsApp on an Android phone?

How to recover a deleted message in WhatsApp on an Android phone - briefly?

To recover a deleted message in WhatsApp on an Android phone, use the backup feature. Open WhatsApp, go to 'Settings' > 'Chats' > 'Chat Backup'. If there is a recent backup, you can restore it to retrieve your messages.

How to recover a deleted message in WhatsApp on an Android phone - in detail?

Recovering a deleted message in WhatsApp on an Android phone can be achieved through several methods, each with its own set of steps and requirements. This guide will provide detailed instructions for the most common and effective approaches.

Backup Restoration

WhatsApp provides a built-in backup feature that automatically saves your chats to Google Drive. To recover deleted messages using this method:

  1. Uninstall WhatsApp: First, you need to uninstall WhatsApp from your device.
  2. Reinstall WhatsApp: Download and reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.
  3. Verify Your Number: Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number during the setup process.
  4. Restore Backup: When prompted, tap on "Restore" to restore your chat history from the most recent backup.

Local Backup Restoration

If you have not linked your WhatsApp account with Google Drive or if the backup is not up-to-date, you can try restoring from a local backup:

  1. Connect Your Device: Connect your Android phone to your computer using a USB cable.
  2. Access Internal Storage: Open the internal storage folder on your computer.
  3. Locate WhatsApp Folder: Navigate to the "WhatsApp" folder, then the "Databases" subfolder.
  4. Identify Backup Files: Look for backup files named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12. The date in the filename indicates when the backup was created.
  5. Rename Backup File: Rename the desired backup file to msgstore.db.crypt12.
  6. Restore Message History: Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then restore your message history during the setup process.

Third-Party Software

If the above methods do not work, you can use third-party software designed to recover deleted WhatsApp messages:

  1. Download and Install: Choose a reputable data recovery tool, download it, and install it on your computer.
  2. Connect Your Device: Connect your Android phone to your computer using a USB cable.
  3. Scan for Deleted Messages: Follow the instructions provided by the software to scan your device for deleted WhatsApp messages.
  4. Recover Messages: Once the scan is complete, select the messages you want to recover and follow the prompts to save them to your computer or restore them directly to your phone.

Important Considerations

  • Regular Backups: To avoid losing important messages in the future, ensure that WhatsApp backup to Google Drive is enabled and set to a frequency that suits your needs (daily, weekly, monthly).
  • Data Security: Be cautious when using third-party software. Ensure that you download it from a trusted source to protect your data from potential security risks.

By following these detailed steps, you can effectively recover deleted messages in WhatsApp on an Android phone.