How to undo the deletion of a chat in WhatsApp - briefly?
If you've accidentally deleted a chat in WhatsApp, don't panic. You can recover it by uninstalling and then reinstalling the app. During the reinstallation process, WhatsApp will prompt you to restore your chats from the last backup.
How to undo the deletion of a chat in WhatsApp - in detail?
Accidentally deleted a chat on WhatsApp and wondering how to get it back? While WhatsApp doesn't provide an immediate "undo" button for deleted chats, there are still some methods you can try to restore your conversations. Here’s a detailed guide on how to undo the deletion of a chat in WhatsApp:
Backup and Restore
WhatsApp regularly backs up your chats to Google Drive (on Android) or iCloud (on iOS). To recover a deleted chat, you can restore from this backup. However, keep in mind that restoring will overwrite your current messages with the ones from the backup, so any new messages after the backup won't be saved.
- Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp: First, uninstall WhatsApp from your device. Then, download and install it again from the Google Play Store or App Store.
- Set Up Your Account: During setup, enter your phone number and verify it with the code sent to you via SMS.
- Restore from Backup: When prompted, choose "Restore" to recover your chats from the most recent backup. This process can take a few minutes depending on the size of your backup.
Using Local Backups (Android Only)
If you have local backups enabled on Android, you might be able to restore a specific chat without affecting newer messages.
- Navigate to Your File Manager: Open your file manager and go to the WhatsApp folder located in your device's internal storage or SD card.
- Find the Backup Folder: Look for the "Databases" folder within the WhatsApp directory.
- Rename the Backup File: Rename the backup file you want to restore. For example, if the filename is
msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt12
, rename it to justmsgstore.db.crypt12
. - Restore WhatsApp: Uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp. When prompted during setup, choose "Restore" to get your chat back.
Contacting Customer Support
If the above methods don't work, you can try contacting WhatsApp support for further assistance. However, keep in mind that WhatsApp doesn’t guarantee recovery of deleted chats through customer service.
- Open WhatsApp: Go to the settings in your WhatsApp app.
- Help and Feedback: Tap on "Help" or "Help Center."
- Contact Us: Select “Contact Us” and then choose the issue related to your deleted chat. Follow the prompts to submit a request.
Preventive Measures
To avoid losing important chats in the future, consider enabling automatic backups:
- On Android: Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Backup. Tap on "Backup" to save your chats to Google Drive.
- On iOS: Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Tap on "Back Up Now" to save your chats to iCloud.
By following these steps, you should be able to recover or at least mitigate the loss of deleted chats in WhatsApp.