Back Up All Deleted WhatsApp Messages [All Methods

Important WhatsApp messages, especially when the conversation contains personal information, work details, photos, or other important records, can be backed up by several methods.

However, there is an important distinction between backing up deleted messages and recovering deleted messages. Once a message has been deleted, WhatsApp cannot simply create a new backup containing that deleted message. Instead, you need to check whether the message still exists in an older Google Account, iCloud, or local WhatsApp backup.

In this guide, you will learn all the practical methods for checking and restoring deleted WhatsApp messages on Android and iPhone.

Table of Contents

How to Back Up All Deleted WhatsApp Messages [All Methods]

Before attempting to recover deleted messages, check the date of your latest WhatsApp backup. This is important because restoring an older backup can replace your current WhatsApp data with the data stored in that backup.

Open WhatsApp on your phone and go to Settings. On Android, tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and select Settings. On iPhone, tap Settings at the bottom of the screen.

Next, select Chats and then tap Chat backup. You will see information about your most recent backup, including the backup date and time.

Look carefully at this date. If the backup was created before the messages were deleted, there is a possibility that the deleted messages are stored in that backup.

If the backup was created after the messages were deleted, that backup probably will not contain the deleted messages. Avoid creating a new backup until you understand which backup you need because a newer backup can overwrite useful older backup data.

Method 1: Restore Deleted WhatsApp Messages from Google Account Backup

Android users can restore WhatsApp conversations from a Google Account backup if one exists and contains the deleted messages.

First, make sure you know which Google Account was used for WhatsApp backup. You can check this by opening WhatsApp, going to Settings, selecting Chats, and then Chat backup.

Look for the Google Account shown on the backup screen. This is important because WhatsApp needs access to the same account when restoring your conversations.

If the backup was created before the messages disappeared, uninstall WhatsApp from your Android phone. Then open the Google Play Store, search for WhatsApp, and install it again.

Open WhatsApp and enter the same phone number that was previously associated with the account. Complete the phone number verification process.

WhatsApp should then search for an available backup. Make sure the phone is signed in to the same Google Account that contains your WhatsApp backup.

When WhatsApp displays the backup, check its date and size. If it is the backup you need, tap Restore and wait for the process to finish.

After the restoration is complete, tap Next and allow WhatsApp to finish loading your chats. Messages contained in that backup should become available again.

Method 2: Restore WhatsApp Messages from a Local Android Backup

Android users may also have a local WhatsApp backup stored on the phone. This method can be useful when an older local backup exists.

Open your phone’s File Manager or Files application. Depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer, the location can differ.

Look for a folder named WhatsApp or a WhatsApp-related database folder. On many newer Android devices, WhatsApp databases can be found under a path similar to Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases.

Inside the Databases folder, you may see files containing dates in their names. These files represent different local backup versions.

Look for a backup created around the time when the deleted messages still existed. Be careful when changing these files because incorrectly renaming or deleting a database can make restoration more difficult.

If you have identified the appropriate local backup, WhatsApp can potentially use it during the reinstall and restoration process. The exact procedure can vary between Android versions and WhatsApp releases, so keep a copy of the original database file before making changes.

After reinstalling WhatsApp and verifying your phone number, follow the restoration prompts when the available local backup is detected.

Method 3: Restore Deleted WhatsApp Messages from iCloud on iPhone

iPhone users can recover deleted WhatsApp messages when an appropriate iCloud WhatsApp backup exists.

Open WhatsApp and go to Settings. Select Chats, then tap Chat Backup. Check the Last Backup date and time.

If the backup was created before the messages were deleted, there may be a chance that the deleted conversations are included.

Before proceeding, make sure your iPhone is signed in to the same Apple Account used for the WhatsApp backup. You should also use the same phone number associated with the WhatsApp account.

If the appropriate backup exists, remove WhatsApp from your iPhone and reinstall it from the App Store.

Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number. WhatsApp should detect the available iCloud backup.

When prompted, tap Restore Chat History. Keep the iPhone connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network and allow the restoration process to complete.

Once the restoration finishes, open your chats and check whether the deleted messages have returned.

Method 4: Check Whether Notification History Saved Deleted Messages on Android

This method does not actually create a WhatsApp backup, but it can sometimes help you view the text of recently received deleted messages.

Some Android phones provide a Notification History feature that records notifications displayed on the device. If WhatsApp notifications were enabled when the message arrived, parts of the message may still appear in Notification History.

Open Settings on your Android phone and search for Notification History. On supported devices, open the feature and look for WhatsApp notifications.

If Notification History was already enabled when the message arrived, you may find the notification containing the message text.

This method has important limitations. It does not restore the message inside WhatsApp, and it may not preserve long messages, images, videos, voice messages, or other media. It also generally cannot show notifications that existed before Notification History was enabled.

Check Your Phone for Existing WhatsApp Media

If you deleted a WhatsApp conversation but mainly need a photo, video, document, or voice file, check your phone’s storage before attempting a full restoration.

Open your phone’s Files or File Manager application and look for WhatsApp media folders. Depending on your device, WhatsApp media may be stored under the WhatsApp folder inside Android’s media storage.

You may find separate folders for Images, Video, Audio, Documents, Voice Notes, and other types of media.

This method will not restore deleted text messages. However, media files can sometimes remain on the phone even after a chat has been deleted.

Prevent Future WhatsApp Message Loss with Automatic Backups

After recovering whatever is possible, configure WhatsApp to create regular backups. This is one of the most effective ways to protect future conversations.

On Android, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup. Choose your Google Account and select an appropriate Backup frequency.

On iPhone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. You can configure Auto Backup according to your preferred schedule.

If you regularly receive important messages, consider enabling automatic backups more frequently. Also make sure your phone has enough cloud storage for the backup to complete successfully.

Remember that a backup is most useful when it is created before something is deleted. Regular backups therefore provide much better protection than trying to recover messages after deletion.

FAQs

Can I back up WhatsApp messages after deleting them?

You can back up your current WhatsApp data, but a new backup generally will not contain messages that were already deleted. To recover deleted messages, you normally need an older backup created before the deletion.

Can I recover permanently deleted WhatsApp messages?

Recovery depends on whether a suitable backup exists. If the messages were deleted and no backup contains them, WhatsApp’s normal backup and restore process generally cannot recover them.

Does WhatsApp keep deleted messages in its backup?

A backup can contain messages that existed when the backup was created. Therefore, a message deleted after that backup was made may still be present in the older backup.

Will restoring an old WhatsApp backup delete my current chats?

Restoring an older backup can replace the current WhatsApp chat history with the information contained in that backup. Therefore, check the backup date carefully and consider preserving important current information before restoring an older version.

Can I recover deleted WhatsApp messages without a backup?

There is no guaranteed WhatsApp method for recovering deleted messages without a relevant backup. On some Android phones, Notification History may let you see portions of messages that previously appeared as notifications, but this is not the same as restoring the WhatsApp conversation.

Can I recover deleted WhatsApp messages from Google Drive?

If an eligible Google Account WhatsApp backup exists and contains the messages, you may be able to restore them by reinstalling WhatsApp and selecting the detected backup.

Can iPhone users recover deleted WhatsApp messages?

Yes, if an appropriate iCloud WhatsApp backup was created before the messages were deleted. WhatsApp can restore the conversation history contained in that backup.

Summary

The key to recovering deleted WhatsApp messages is finding an older backup that was created while those messages still existed. Android users should check their Google Account and local WhatsApp backups, while iPhone users should check iCloud Chat Backup. Android users can also check Notification History and existing media files for information that may still be available outside the WhatsApp chat database.

Most importantly, check the backup date before uninstalling or restoring WhatsApp. If the required messages are not present in any available backup, creating another backup will not bring them back.

Going forward, enabling automatic WhatsApp backups can help protect important conversations from accidental deletion or device problems.