How to restore a deleted WhatsApp chat on an Android phone - briefly?
To restore a deleted WhatsApp chat on an Android phone, you can use the built-in backup feature. Simply uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then follow the prompts to restore your chat history from the Google Drive backup.
How to restore a deleted WhatsApp chat on an Android phone - in detail?
Restoring a deleted WhatsApp chat on an Android phone can be crucial for retrieving important messages, media, or contacts. While WhatsApp does not have a built-in feature to recover deleted chats directly from the app, there are several methods you can try to restore your lost data.
Method 1: Backup and Restore
WhatsApp regularly backs up your chats to Google Drive. If you have enabled this feature, you can easily restore your deleted chat using this backup.
- Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp: Go to the Play Store, uninstall WhatsApp, and then reinstall it from the store.
- Verify Your Number: Open WhatsApp and follow the prompts to verify your phone number.
- Restore from Backup: When prompted, you will see an option to restore your chat history from a Google Drive backup. Tap "Restore" and wait for the process to complete.
- Complete Setup: After the restoration is finished, tap "Next" to proceed with setting up WhatsApp.
Method 2: Local Backup
If you have disabled automatic backups or if your chat history was not backed up to Google Drive, you might still be able to restore it using a local backup.
- File Manager: Open a file manager app on your Android device.
- WhatsApp Folder: Navigate to the
WhatsApp
folder located in the internal storage (usually/sdcard/WhatsApp/
). - Backup Files: Look for files named
msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12
or similar. These are your local backups. - Rename Backup File: Rename the backup file to
msgstore.db.crypt12
. - Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp: Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp as described in Method 1.
- Restore from Local Backup: When prompted, WhatsApp will detect the local backup and ask if you want to restore it. Tap "Restore" to proceed.
Method 3: Third-Party Software
If the above methods do not work, you can use third-party software designed for data recovery. Tools like Dr.Fone - WhatsApp Recovery can scan your device and recover deleted WhatsApp chats. However, these tools often come with a cost and may require root access on your device.
- Download and Install: Download and install the third-party software on your computer.
- Connect Your Device: Connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Scan for Deleted Chats: Follow the prompts in the software to scan your device for deleted WhatsApp chats.
- Recover Data: Once the scan is complete, select the chats you want to recover and follow the instructions to restore them to your device or computer.
Important Tips
- Regular Backups: Ensure that you regularly back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive. You can do this by going to
WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat backup
and tapping "Backup". - Check Storage Space: Make sure you have enough storage space on your device or Google Drive for the backup process.
- Update Apps: Keep your WhatsApp and file manager apps updated to avoid compatibility issues during the recovery process.
By following these detailed steps, you should be able to restore your deleted WhatsApp chats on an Android phone effectively.