Where are deleted WhatsApp chats stored on Android - briefly?
When you delete a chat in WhatsApp on an Android device, the data is not permanently erased but rather hidden from view. The actual storage location of these deleted chats is within the device's internal memory or SD card, typically in the app's private data folder.
Where are deleted WhatsApp chats stored on Android - in detail?
When a user deletes a chat from WhatsApp on an Android device, the data is not immediately removed from the device's storage. Instead, it becomes inaccessible to the user and is temporarily stored until it can be permanently erased or overwritten by new data. The process involves several steps and components within the Android ecosystem.
Firstly, WhatsApp stores chat data in a local database on the device. This database is encrypted for security purposes, ensuring that even if the data is accessed without authorization, it remains unreadable. When a user chooses to delete a chat, WhatsApp marks the corresponding entries in the database as deleted but does not physically remove them from the storage.
The Android operating system manages data storage through a complex hierarchy of files and directories. Deleted chat data resides in a specific folder within the device's internal memory, typically under the WhatsApp directory. The exact path may vary depending on the Android version and device manufacturer, but it generally follows this structure: /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases.
The database file used by WhatsApp to store chat data is usually named msgstore.db or similar. This file contains records of all messages, media attachments, timestamps, and other relevant information. When a user deletes a chat, the corresponding entries in this database are flagged as deleted rather than being physically removed from the file.
It's important to note that even though the data is marked as deleted, it can still be recovered using specialized software or techniques. This is because the actual data remains intact until it is overwritten by new information. The process of overwriting can take time and depends on various factors such as the amount of new data being generated and the device's storage capacity.
In summary, deleted WhatsApp chats on Android devices are initially stored in an encrypted database within the WhatsApp directory on the internal memory. The data is not immediately erased but rather marked as deleted and remains in this state until it can be overwritten by new information or permanently removed through advanced data recovery techniques.