How to restore a chat in WhatsApp if it was deleted without a backup copy - briefly?
If you've accidentally deleted a chat in WhatsApp and don't have a backup, your options are limited. Unfortunately, WhatsApp doesn't provide a built-in feature to restore chats without a prior backup. However, you can try contacting the other party involved in the conversation for them to send the deleted messages again.
How to restore a chat in WhatsApp if it was deleted without a backup copy - in detail?
Restoring a deleted chat in WhatsApp without a backup can be challenging, but not impossible. Here are the detailed steps you can follow:
- Check Recent Deletions: If the chat was recently deleted, it might still be present in your phone's local storage. To check this, go to your phone's file manager and navigate to the WhatsApp > Databases folder. Look for files named "msgstore.db.crypt12" or similar. These are your message database files.
- Rename the File: If you find a recent backup file (it will have a date and time stamp), rename it by removing ".crypt12". For example, change "msgstore-2023-09-15.db.crypt12" to "msgstore-2023-09-15.db".
- Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp: After renaming the file, uninstall WhatsApp from your phone. Then, reinstall it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Restore the Chat: During the setup process, when WhatsApp asks if you want to restore a backup, allow it to do so. The app will detect the renamed file and use it to restore your chats.
- Verify the Restoration: Once the restoration is complete, open WhatsApp and check if your deleted chat has been recovered.
Important Notes:
- This method only works if you have a recent local backup of your messages. If you haven't backed up your chats recently or at all, this method won't be effective.
- Renaming the file incorrectly can lead to data loss, so ensure you follow the steps carefully.
- WhatsApp does not provide an official way to recover chats without a backup. The above method is based on user experiences and may not work for everyone.
- Always remember to regularly back up your WhatsApp chats to avoid such situations in the future. You can set up automatic backups in WhatsApp's settings.