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Accidentally deleted a WhatsApp message that you didn’t mean to? We’ve all been there. Few things are more frustrating than losing your WhatsApp chat history – and when you’re using WhatsApp Business for your company comms, it can be even more of a serious issue. From important contact info to valuable customer insights, losing your WhatsApp chats can spell disaster, both for your business strategy and the day-to-day running of your communications.
If you accidentally delete your WhatsApp messages, the first thing to do is to check whether you’ve made any Google Drive or iCloud backups. To find out on an iPhone, go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat Backup, and check when the last iCloud backup was performed. To find out on an Android device, ensure you log into the same Google account and number you used for your WhatsApp account, and check to see if a Google Drive backup was made.
How to recover deleted WhatsApp messages
If you haven’t forgotten to make backups, this is actually a very simple process!
How to recover deleted WhatsApp messages on Android
First, check if you have an existing Google Account backup:
- Open the Google Drive app and sign into your Google account.
- Select Menu, and then Backups.
- If you’re saving WhatsApp backups on Google Account, they’ll appear in this list. You’re good to go!
To restore from a Google account backup:
- Uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp on your device.
- When prompted during this process, select Restore. Don’t press skip or you’ll reinstall without using your backup!
How to recover deleted WhatsApp messages on web or desktop
You can’t actually do this from web or desktop as these apps are functionally extensions of the version on your phone, so hop onto your mobile device and handle the restore from there instead.
But now, of course, is the tricky part…
What if you haven’t made a backup on iCloud or Google Drive, and you’ve permanently deleted your messages? Luckily, there are several methods to retrieve your lost WhatsApp messages without a backup. You can access the local backup history on an Android device, or use a third-party app, such as EaseUS MobiSaver, iMyFone D-Back, or Dr.Fone, to recover your lost WhatsApp data.
Read on to discover how to get your deleted WhatsApp chat history back if you forgot those backups.
How to restore WhatsApp messages without a backup
How to restore WhatsApp messages without a backup on Android
Android devices include a local backup history which is regularly updated. To use it to restore your data, complete the following steps:
- Find the WhatsApp directory on your Android device’s file explorer, and choose “Database.”
- Select the WhatsApp backup file you want to recover from.
- Uninstall and reinstall the WhatsApp app on your device.
- Validate your phone number.
- WhatsApp will check for backups that exist on your device.
- Select Restore to retrieve your lost messages.
How to restore WhatsApp messages without a backup on iPhone
iPhone devices don’t maintain a local backup database like Android phones, so you must use a third-party tool. Luckily, there are several third-party data recovery tools on the market that recover deleted WhatsApp data without a backup.
Please note that YourBusinessNumber has not tested these tools.
Third-party tools to recover lost WhatsApp chat history
EaseUS MobiSaver
EaseUS MobiSaver is specifically designed to help recover data such as WhatsApp messages and media. Along with messages, you can restore media such as photos, videos, contacts, voice notes, and chat history. The application is compatible with both Windows and Mac and is designed to be secure and safe.
Find out more about EaseUS MobiSaver.
iMyFone D-Back
iMyFone offers a complete all-in-one data recovery solution to help recover messages and media from apps such as WhatsApp. The software can help you quickly and easily restore your data from iOS and Android devices without backups.
Find out more about iMyFone D-Back.
Dr.Fone
Dr.Fone offers a range of tools to meet your mobile needs, from WhatsApp Transfer and Password Management to Data Recovery. The specialised solution allows you to selectively restore the data you want with tailored software for iOS and Android devices.
Find out more about Dr.Fone.
How can I delete messages on WhatsApp?
On WhatsApp, you can choose to delete messages on your own chat history or request that messages are deleted from everyone’s chat history.
How to delete messages for everyone
Use this method to delete messages that you’ve sent in error to an individual or group chat. If you’re an admin on a group chat, you can delete messages sent by other group participants.
- Open the WhatsApp app.
- Open the chat and locate the message you’d like to delete.
- Tap and hold on the message.
- Choose Delete, then Delete for Everyone.
Once you’ve deleted the message, it will be replaced with a message that reads: “This message was deleted.” If you’re an admin, the message will read: “This message was deleted by admin [admin name].”
There are a few points to note when using this method:
- This method only works in the two days after sending a message.
- You won’t get a notification if deletion isn’t successful for everyone.
- Some recipients may see your message before you delete it.
- All message recipients must have the latest version of WhatsApp installed for the deletion to work on everyone’s devices.
- If you send media such as images or videos, recipients on iOS devices may still have these auto-saved to their Photos after the message is deleted in WhatsApp.
- Group chat participants will be able to see which admin deleted the message.
- Message deletions by group admins are not recoverable, and there is no appeal process.
How to delete messages for yourself
Use this message to delete messages from your chat history without removing them from the other participants’ chats. The other people in the chats will still be able to see the messages on their devices.
- Open the WhatsApp app.
- Open the chat and locate the message you’d like to delete.
- Tap and hold on the message.
- Choose Delete, then Delete for Me.
What to do before you delete WhatsApp messages
We get it – everyone’s human, and we all make mistakes occasionally. And hey, that’s why the delete function exists in WhatsApp Business! But before you get too busy cleaning up your chats, it’s worth asking a few questions to help you decide whether to hit that delete button:
- Is it possible that you’ll need to refer to the information in this message in the future?
- If the message was sent accidentally, is it better to explain the mistake rather than risk only partial deletion for some group participants?
- What will be the least confusing way to manage this situation for customers or clients?
How can I restore recently deleted messages on WhatsApp?
If you change your mind immediately after tapping ‘Delete for Me’, you have 5 seconds to choose to undo the action. Tap the Undo button to restore the message immediately. If you don’t press this, the message will be permanently deleted.
How can I keep my WhatsApp Business messages separate from my personal WhatsApp messages?
It’s a great question! When your work and personal WhatsApp messages are separate, you can look forward to a better work-life balance. Plus, you can enjoy extra peace of mind knowing you’re less likely to send a personal message to a professional contact.
The good news is that you can install both WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger on the same phone. The two apps can operate on the same device, so your messages stay separate and secure.
The bad news is that you can’t use the same number to verify two WhatsApp accounts, so you’ll need a second virtual phone number to verify your WhatsApp Business app.
Luckily, YourBusinessNumber offers the ideal solution. In just a few clicks, we’ll generate a brand new phone number and send it directly to you via SMS – so you can instantly unlock the power of WhatsApp Business. You’ll stay in complete control with our flexible contracts and be safe in the knowledge that our friendly customer support team is on hand to answer any questions. So don’t wait a moment longer! Get started and generate your new number today.
Author:
George Lineker
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