What to do if WhatsApp messages are deleted - briefly?
If you've accidentally or intentionally deleted WhatsApp messages, there are a few steps you can take to potentially recover them. Firstly, check your email for any message backups sent from WhatsApp. Alternatively, try restoring the app from an iCloud backup if you use an iPhone, or a Google Drive backup if you're on Android.
What to do if WhatsApp messages are deleted - in detail?
If you find that your WhatsApp messages have been deleted, there are several steps you can take to recover them. The method you choose will depend on whether the deletion was accidental or malicious, and whether you have backups in place.
Firstly, check if the message was deleted from both sides of the conversation. If it was only deleted from your device, the other party may still have access to it. However, if the message was deleted for everyone, recovery becomes more challenging.
For Android users, WhatsApp automatically creates backups of your messages and media in Google Drive. To restore these backups:
- Uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.
- Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
- When prompted to restore a backup, tap 'Restore'. This will restore your messages from the last backup.
For iPhone users, WhatsApp backups are stored in iCloud. To restore these backups:
- Uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.
- Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
- When prompted to restore a backup, tap 'Restore Chat History'. This will restore your messages from the last backup.
If you have not enabled backups or if the deletion occurred before the last backup, recovery becomes more complex. In such cases, third-party software might be able to help recover deleted WhatsApp messages. However, these tools are not foolproof and their success depends on various factors including how long ago the messages were deleted and whether new data has been written over them.
It's crucial to enable automatic backups to prevent such issues in the future. For Android users, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and set up your backup frequency. For iPhone users, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and select 'Auto Backup'.
In conclusion, while recovering deleted WhatsApp messages can be challenging, having backups in place significantly improves the chances of successful recovery. Ensuring that your messages are regularly backed up is a proactive step to safeguard against accidental or malicious deletions.