How to Read Deleted Messages in WhatsApp

Dynamic nature of messaging apps like WhatsApp means people delete a lot of messages, including those that might be needed later. WhatsApp messages that had been deleted by sender immediately disappear from the chat, and can’t be readily accessed even by the person that wrote and deleted them.

Since some deletions are made in error and others are due to poor foresight, it’s quite common for users to regret losing some of their messages and attached multimedia. This is why numerous users are actively searching for a way how to read deleted messages in WhatsApp.

This article will present a few viable methods for accessing deleted messages in this popular app, regardless of which OS platform the phone and the app might be running on.

Part 1. How to See Deleted Messages on iPhone?

If you own an iPhone and have WhatsApp installed on it, you have two different approaches that could solve the issue. Depending on the exact circumstances of the case, users could try to get their messages back from the official cloud storage location endorsed by Apple, or use a third-party solution that has the capacity to resurrect the deleted WhatsApp messages even with no backup.

Method 1. Recover messages from iCloud Backup

If your personal data was backed up to an iCloud account before the messages were deleted, it won’t be too hard to see them again. You can restore your entire message history from the cloud storage with a few simple operations. Here is how to see deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone by retrieving them from a recent online backup:

Step 1. Open WhatsApp, and go to Settings, choose Chats from the menu, and then Chat backup.

Step 2. If you confirmed that a backup is indeed available on iCloud, delete your WhatsApp installation on the iPhone.

Step 3. Reinstall WhatsApp on your iPhone and confirm your phone number.

Step 4. When asked to restore messages, use Apple ID to access iCloud and retrieve the messages.

Method 2. Restore Messages with AnyTrans

In situations when a recent backup is not available, it may still be possible to regain your messages with a third-party app designed specifically for this purpose. AnyTrans by iMobie allows iPhone owners to manage their data in any way they like, and recovery of lost messages is one of its best functions.

This is the sequence of steps that will restore WhatsApp conversations back to your device:

Step 1. Download and run AnyTrans on a computer and connect the iPhone to it via USB cable.

Step 2. Pick the Social Messages Manager tool from the main menu, select WhatsApp and choose Restore WhatsApp.

Step 3. Click on the Restore WhatsApp to device option and click on the Next button.

Step 4. Stay patient while AnyTrans restores all your messages and attachments to your iPhone.

Part 2. How to See Deleted Messages on Android?

Android owners who accidentally delete important WhatsApp messages have several possibilities for getting them back. Again, the best way how to see deleted WhatsApp messages on Android depends on the existence and exact location of backup files and other factors. Choosing the right method can save a lot of time and effort, which is why it makes sense to learn more about all of them.

Method 1. Restore messages from Google Drive backup

Users who regularly back up the content of their Android phones to Google Drive have nothing to worry about, as their WhatsApp messages will remain there until they are needed. The only matter is transferring them back to the device, which can be accomplished with ease. Just follow these steps to return all of your messages back to your Android smartphone and make them visible from WhatsApp:

Step 1. Log into your Google Drive account from your Android smartphone.

Step 2. Uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp on your device.

Step 3. When asked whether to access Google Drive backup, tap on Restore.

Step 4. Tap on the Next button and wait for the messages to appear in your WhatsApp.

Method 2. Recover messages from a local backup

Messages can also be retrieved from a local backup, assuming one was made prior to erasing them. It’s possible to recover messages from an SD card, a PC computer, or directly from the memory of your Android phone (for up to seven days). The recovery procedure is very straightforward, and involves the following steps:

Step 1. Download a file explorer app to your phone if you don’t already have one.

Step 2. Use the file manager app to find the location where a backup file is saved, either internally or on another connected device.

Step 3. When you find the most recent backup, copy it to your Android smartphone, into the folder named Databases.

Step 4. Open WhatsApp, verify your current phone number, and tap on Restore when asked whether to restore messages from local backup.

Method 3. Recover WhatsApp Conversations with DroidKit

There is a powerful app that can restore WhatsApp chats with or without backup, and it works great for all Android devices. DroidKit by iMobie is an app designed to allow Android owners to control their data in all situations and prevent any loss of important personal information. But as a complete solution for Android, DroidKit is much more than that.

• Restore WhatsApp messages to device with no effort.
• Will not erase or leak any existing data on your device.
• Support over 2000+ Android phone models and Android 12.
• Also can help you to recover deleted data, repair crashed devices, rescue locked devices, etc.

Using this app to recover WhatsApp messages is extremely easy and can be performed in just a few steps:

Step 1. Install DroidKit on your computer, and connect the Android device to it.

Step 2. Choose Data recovery from the main menu, and then WhatsApp recovery.

Step 3. Click on the Start button, and wait for your mobile device to be discovered.

Step 4. Choose the appropriate recovery settings and click Next.

Step 5. Allow DroidKit to install WhatsApp Special Version on your device.

Step 6. Scan and preview all deleted data, and recover the files you want.

Part 3. WhatsApp Deleted Messages FAQs

Is it possible to restore the erased WhatsApp messages without backup?

Yes, you can get back your messages even if you haven’t backed them up, but this may necessitate the use of an external data recovery tool. DroidKit and AnyTrans are among the best software products available in the market that can accomplish this task.

How can I see deleted WhatsApp messages without any app?

If you react within one week after deleting the messages, they will stay in the memory of your device and you can easily return them to WhatsApp. To learn how to see deleted WhatsApp messages without any app, please look at the section about recovery from local backup.

Can I recover attached photos and videos along with the messages?

All of the recovery methods described in this article have the capacity to restore media files attached to your WhatsApp messages. That means you are not at risk of losing your photos or videos even if you erase conversations to which they were originally added.

Final Words

Accidents happen and people often delete conversations without thinking too much, only to regret it later. Thanks to a range of excellent data recovery options for both Android and iPhone, users are not really in danger of losing anything. If a backup procedure (either local or cloud-based) was conducted before deletion, it will be very easy to get it all back. Even if backup wasn’t performed in time, it’s still possible to use specialized software to restore all the deleted messages back to WhatsApp, with DroidKit and AnyTrans among the most widely used apps of this kind.