Can I recover deleted WhatsApp messages?

Data Recovery
3

Hey there! Just chiming in with my two cents here. @techchizkid laid down a pretty thorough guide, but lemme throw in a few extra insights to make things a bit clearer – hope this doesn’t confuse ya!

One thing sometimes missed: Check Archived Chats. Before diving into backups or software, make sure you didn’t just archive the chat by accident. To do this:

  1. Open WhatsApp.
  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the chat list.
  3. Tap on “Archived Chats” and see if the missing chat is in there.

Okay, on to the juicy bits. While WhatsApp chat backup and local backups are solid methods, they’re only as good as your last backup. If your backup schedule is less frequent, you may be outta luck. But lemme introduce you to another potential avenue: Direct Transfer from Old Phone. Yeah, this won’t work if your phone’s been reset or is lost, but if you have your old phone lying around, could be a lifesaver.

Steps for Direct Transfer (Android-Android):

  1. Install WhatsApp on the new phone.
  2. Move both the WhatsApp folder and the msgstore file (found in databases) from your old phone to the same location on the new phone.
  3. Verify your number and hit restore when prompted.

For iPhone Users with a second iPhone: Pop that SIM into the old iPhone, back up the WhatsApp locally or to iCloud, then move 'em over.

Now on to Data Recovery Software - @techchizkid did a good rundown. But I’m kinda on the fence about Disk Drill. Sure, it’s got the bells and whistles, and if you hit up Disk Drill, it’s def worth checking out. BUT I’ve heard mixed reviews. There are also alternative data recovery tools like EaseUS MobiSaver and Tenorshare UltData, which might be worth a shot if Disk Drill doesn’t do it for ya:

Pros:

  • EaseUS MobiSaver: Praised for simplicity; less aggressive upsells.
  • Tenorshare UltData: Robust recovery system, user-friendly, good success rate.

Cons:

  • EaseUS MobiSaver: Sometimes slower in deep scans.
  • Tenorshare UltData: Similar to Disk Drill in that the free version can be a tease.

Steps for both:

  1. Download and Install: Pretty straightforward.
  2. Connect Device and Scan: Let 'em rip through your phone storage.
  3. Preview and Recover: Should allow previews before you hit up the paywall.

Don’t forget, consistency is key! The more you regularly back up, the less likely this mess will happen again.

Finally, a curveball: consider Airplane Mode. If you suspect deleted files might still be lurking in system caches before being overwritten, immediately switch your phone to airplane mode as soon as you realize you’ve goofed. It helps prevent more data from overwriting what could still be recoverable.

In hindsight, tech recovery can be a bit of a gamble. So while you’ve got your claws into these methods, make a mental note to set up a daily backup schedule. Trust, it’ll save you a headache later.

Happy recoverin’, and good luck!

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