Deleting WhatsApp conversations is a common thing. The reasons can be varied. However, at any given time, we may need to recover some data from a deleted conversation – by mistake or consciously. And all is not lost, but these conversations can be rescued. we will teach you to how to recover WhatsApp conversations deleted months ago.
Out of anger or carelessness, we may delete conversations from WhatsApp. This is not a problem. Now, throughout the different conversations we can send data that we need later. This data can be phone numbers, images or links. To give you three examples. Don't worry, because recovering this data is possible.
Recover WhatsApp conversations with some backup
The first thing we want to explain to you is that in order to carry out this method, you must always you will need to have the different backup paths active with external services like Google Drive –in the case of Android– or iCloud –in the case of iPhone–.
If you have this option active on your terminal, you should not worry because you will be able to recover WhatsApp conversations deleted months ago. Follow the next steps:
- Whether it is an Android mobile or an iPhone, Delete the WhatsApp application from the terminal
- Go back to your platform's app store and search for WhatsApp again
- Install it again on your mobile phone and open it
- It will ask you to verify your phone number. Write it down and continue with the process
- It will be time to indicate that you want to 'Restore' from a backup
From that moment on, WhatsApp will automatically search for the last saved backup both in Google Drive and in iCloud –remember that each user of an iPhone has 5GB free in Apple's cloud storage service–.
Note that this method will always restore the most recent conversations; that is to say: with automatic backups, one copy erases the other. Therefore, if you are looking for conversations from months ago, this method will not help you.
Recover WhatsApp conversations with local backups
Another method to be able to recover deleted WhatsApp conversations is to use local backup copies. We warn that this method will only work in the case of an Android mobile; on an iPhone you must resort to external methods with the use of a Windows or Mac-based application.
Well, with that being said, the first thing we want you to know is that the limitation of this method is that local backups only keep the last 7 days –or the last 7 copies made by your mobile–.
Now, try to have a file browser installed on your terminal handy. Search in Google Play because there are different alternatives. Find one that fits you and suits your needs. We tell you this, because WhatsApp automatically creates a folder in which it dumps all the automatic backups it makes locally and it will be necessary to search for said folder and be able to rename some files for this method to work.
Once the file explorer is installed, locate where WhatsApp saves the backup copies. Also, keep in mind what is the critical date that interests you in order to recover WhatsApp conversations. It is usually stored in Files>Internal memory>WhatsApp>Databases. Within those subfolders you will find different files. All of them with the same format. And if you look, some numbers will be indicated to you. These correspond to the dates that we previously indicated: year-month-day. To give you an example: 'msgstore-2023-03-27.1.db.crypt14'.
Well, now you must follow the following steps:
- Find the file that contains the date you are interested in
- Rename it and remove the date of the file. Following the previous example, the file should look like this: msgstore.db.crypt14. save changes
- Now uninstall the WhatsApp application from your Android device
- Enter Google Play and install the application again
- When it is installed, we will begin with the configuration of the popular instant messaging service
- Enter your phone number to verify your identity and then Click on the option to restore from the most recent backup
From there you just have to wait – the time will depend on the size of the file to be uploaded – for the backup to be installed in WhatsApp and you will have recovered the old conversations from the date you selected.
Be careful, this method only works if you do not have active backups linked to your Google account –using Google Drive–. If they are active, the system will understand that the backup to be used to restore must be recovered from that service.
Retrieve older conversations
As we have already mentioned, both methods have date limitations. However, you may need to recover conversations that are a bit older. In this case, we must resort to methods through the use of applications based on platforms such as Windows or MacOS.
One of the most used options is the one that refers to the application of Tenor Share (TenorShare UltData WhatsApp). This option is paid and you must choose the version to recover data from an Android mobile or recover data from an iOS mobile.
The next thing would be to download the version that fits your desktop computer; ie: Windows or MacOS. You have one month, one year or permanent licenses. The choice is yours.
Another option available is Dr.fone, a product of the company wondershare and that it is available on both iOS and Android. It has a free trial, although to recover the data you must choose a payment plan. Otherwise it will be impossible for you to recover the data. And these range from complete conversations –regardless of their date–, as well as photographs, files, etc.
How to activate backups on both Android and iPhone
If what you need is to recover conversations that do not have too much time, it is essential that your smartphone have WhatsApp backups activated. In this way it will be easier for you to recover WhatsApp conversations at any time.
- Steps on an Android mobile: Remember that it is based on the use of your Google Drive account. With that said, go into the app and go into the app settings. You will see that there is a 'Chats' section. Enter it and you will find another subsection called 'Backup'. Enter again. Make sure that your mobile has a Google account associated with it and change how often you want the backups to be made: Never, Only when I touch 'Save', daily, weekly or monthly
- Steps on an iPhone: For iOS, backups are done through iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service. In this case we must go to the 'Settings' of the iPhone and enter the Apple ID section. There we will have different options and the one that interests us is 'iCloud'. Once inside, another section indicates 'Copy to iCloud'. Upon entering we will have all the applications that use the service. Activate WhatsApp as one of the applications that can use the service. Now it's time to enter WhatsApp. Go to Settings> Chats> backup and choose the same as in the case of Android: how often you want to make the copies and if you want to include the videos in the option