How to restore a chat in WhatsApp if you deleted it - briefly?
If you accidentally deleted a chat in WhatsApp, there are still ways to recover it. The simplest method is to uninstall and then reinstall the app, which will restore your chat history upon logging back in with the same phone number.
How to restore a chat in WhatsApp if you deleted it - in detail?
Restoring a deleted chat in WhatsApp can be a straightforward process, depending on the circumstances and the device you are using. Here's a detailed guide to help you recover your lost messages:
For Android Devices:
- Backup Option: If you have enabled Google Drive backup for your WhatsApp chats, restoring deleted conversations is quite simple. Go to your file manager or the internal storage of your device and locate the 'WhatsApp' folder. Inside this folder, find the 'Databases' subfolder. Here, you will see files named 'msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12'. These are backups created by WhatsApp.
- Restoring from Backup: To restore your chats, uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store. After verifying your phone number during setup, you will be prompted to restore your chat history from a backup. Tap 'Restore' to retrieve your deleted messages.
- Manual Backup: If you manually back up your chats to email or cloud storage, you can also use these files for restoration. Download the backup file to your device and follow the same uninstall-reinstall process. During setup, when prompted to restore from a backup, select 'Restore' to recover your messages.
For iOS Devices:
- iCloud Backup: If you have iCloud backup enabled for WhatsApp, restoring deleted chats is straightforward. First, ensure that the iCloud backup of your chats includes the conversation you want to restore. Go to 'Settings' > [Your Name] > 'iCloud' > 'Manage Storage' > 'WhatsApp', and check the backup size.
- Restoring from Backup: Uninstall WhatsApp from your device. Reinstall it from the App Store and follow the setup process. When prompted to restore chat history, tap 'Restore Chat History'. This will recover your deleted conversations along with any media attached to them.
Important Notes:
- Regularly backing up your chats is crucial for ensuring that you can restore deleted messages when needed. You can set up automatic backups in WhatsApp settings (Android: 'Chats' > 'Chat Backup'; iOS: 'Settings' > 'Chats' > 'Chat Backup').
- If no backup exists, it may not be possible to recover the deleted chat. WhatsApp does not store messages on its servers, so without a local or cloud backup, your data cannot be retrieved.
- Always ensure that your device has enough storage space for backups. Insufficient storage can prevent successful backups and restorations.
By following these steps, you should be able to restore your deleted WhatsApp chats effectively.