We’ve all been there—accidentally deleting WhatsApp messages and instantly regretting it, especially when those chats were important or had memories you wanted to keep. Whether it’s a work message you need, something urgent, or just a conversation you wish you hadn’t lost, don’t worry—you’ve got options to get them back. The simplest way is through backups, which keep your data safe and easy to restore. But if backups aren’t your thing, don’t stress; there are still ways to recover those lost messages. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to retrieve your deleted WhatsApp messages on Android, with or without a backup. Let’s get started and help you recover those chats!

Part 1: Recover Deleted WhatsApp Chats with Backup

1. Restore from Google Drive Backup

If you’ve backed up your WhatsApp data to Google Drive, follow these steps:

1. Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp:

• Go to your device’s settings, find WhatsApp in the list of installed apps, and select “Uninstall.”
• Reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.

2. Set Up WhatsApp:

• Open WhatsApp and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the app.
• Enter your phone number and verify it with the code sent to you.

3. Restore from Google Drive:

• During the setup process, WhatsApp will detect the Google Drive backup. You’ll see a prompt to restore your chats and media. Tap “Restore” to begin.
• Wait for the restoration to complete. Your chats and media will appear in WhatsApp once done.

Note: Ensure you’re using the same Google account and phone number associated with the backup. If issues arise, check your Google Drive for the backup file and ensure it’s not corrupted.

2. Restore from Local Backup

If you have a local backup but not a Google Drive backup, use these steps:

1. Access Local Backup Files:

• Open your file manager and navigate to the WhatsApp folder on your device’s internal storage.
• Go to the “Databases” folder. This folder contains local backup files named like “msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12.”

2. Rename the Backup File:

• Choose the backup file you want to restore (the one with the date closest to when the messages were deleted).
• Rename the file to “msgstore.db.crypt12” (removing the date part).

3. Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp:

• Uninstall WhatsApp from your device.
• Reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.

4. Restore from Local Backup:

• Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
• WhatsApp will detect the local backup and prompt you to restore it. Tap “Restore” to retrieve your chats.

Part 2: Recover Deleted WhatsApp Chats Without Backup

If you haven’t backed up your messages, you can use Android data recovery software to recover them. Here’s how:

Note: Before opting for the software, make sure not to use your smartphone extensively, as it may result in data overwriting making it challenging for the software to recover your WhatsApp data

1. Download and Install Stellar Android Data Recovery:

• Download the software from the official Stellar website and install it on your computer.

2. Connect Your Android Device:

• Use a USB cable to connect your Android device to the computer.
• Ensure that USB debugging is enabled on your phone. If it’s not enabled, activate it in your phone’s developer options.

3. Launch Stellar Data Recovery:

• Open the Stellar software on your computer.
• Select “Recover Data” and choose “WhatsApp” from the list of data types you wish to recover.

4. Scan Your Device:

• Follow the on-screen instructions to scan your device for deleted WhatsApp messages.
• The software will analyze your phone’s storage and display recoverable messages.

5. Preview and Recover Messages:

• After scanning, preview the messages and select the ones you want to recover.
• Click “Recover” to save the messages to your computer or directly restore them to your device.

Conclusion

Accidentally deleting WhatsApp messages can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world! If you’ve been regularly backing up your data, restoring your chats is a breeze—just a few taps, and your messages are back where they belong. But what if you didn’t have a backup? Don’t stress; you’re not out of options.

With tools like Stellar’s Android data recovery software, you can still retrieve your deleted messages quickly and easily. Whether you’re restoring from a backup or using recovery software, the process is straightforward and doesn’t require any special tech skills. So, if you ever find yourself in a panic over lost chats, just take a deep breath—you’ve got the steps and the tools to get everything back without the hassle!