Where are deleted messages stored on Android phone in WhatsApp - briefly?
On an Android phone, when a message is deleted from WhatsApp, it is not permanently removed but rather hidden from the recipient's view. The deleted messages are stored in the device's local storage until they are manually cleared or overwritten by new data.
Where are deleted messages stored on Android phone in WhatsApp - in detail?
When a user deletes a message on WhatsApp from an Android device, the message is not entirely removed from the device but rather hidden and potentially recoverable under certain conditions. Here's a detailed breakdown of where deleted messages are stored:
Local Device Storage
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SQLite Database: WhatsApp uses SQLite databases to store messages locally on the Android device. Even when a message is deleted, it remains in these databases until the space is overwritten by new data. This means that with the right tools and knowledge, it is possible to recover deleted messages from these databases.
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Media Storage: Any media files (images, videos, audio) sent via WhatsApp are also stored locally on the device. When a message containing media is deleted, the actual file remains in the device's storage until manually deleted or overwritten by new data. These files can often be found in the
WhatsApp/Mediadirectory within the internal storage of the device.
Backup Storage
- Google Drive Backups: WhatsApp provides an option to back up chats to Google Drive. If this feature is enabled, deleted messages may still exist in the most recent backup stored on Google Drive. These backups include all messages and media until the time of the last backup. To access or restore these messages, users need to uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp, followed by restoring from the Google Drive backup.
Server-Side Storage
- WhatsApp Servers: When a message is deleted on one device, it is not automatically deleted from all devices where the user is logged in. For instance, if a user has WhatsApp Web or the desktop version of WhatsApp open, the deleted message may still be visible there until the user manually refreshes or logs out and back in.
Recovery Methods
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Third-Party Software: There are third-party software tools available that can scan the device's storage for remnants of deleted messages and potentially recover them. These tools work by identifying the patterns left behind by deleted data in the SQLite databases.
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Backup Restoration: As mentioned, restoring a backup from Google Drive can also bring back deleted messages. However, this will restore all messages up to the time of the last backup, not just the deleted ones.
Important Considerations
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Data Security: While it is possible to recover deleted messages, users should be cautious about data privacy and security. Recovering messages may expose sensitive information to unauthorized access.
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Overwriting Data: New data sent or received via WhatsApp can overwrite the space where deleted messages were stored, making recovery increasingly difficult over time.
In summary, deleted messages on an Android device using WhatsApp are primarily hidden and remain in local SQLite databases, media storage directories, and potentially on Google Drive backups. The exact recoverability depends on various factors including the passage of time, new data creation, and the use of third-party tools or backup restoration methods.