You can recover deleted WhatsApp messages only if a backup was made before they were deleted: on Android it lives in your Google Account, on iPhone in iCloud. Without one, WhatsApp says it can’t bring back messages deleted for you or for everyone. Here is what to try, in the order that makes sense.
First, don’t make a new backup
The biggest risk is the automatic backup. Google keeps one backup per phone number, and iCloud keeps one per account. If WhatsApp saves a fresh copy after your messages disappeared, it replaces the old copy, which was the one that still had them.
So when you notice a missing chat, don’t back up manually, don’t delete the existing backup, and don’t factory reset the phone. If you have daily backups turned on, act before tonight. WhatsApp says daily Google backups run every night. To see what you have, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. It shows the time and size of the last backup. If that date is before the deletion, the messages are probably in it.
Restore from a backup on Android
Restoring means uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp, so only start once you’ve confirmed the backup exists.
- Check Settings > Chats > Chat Backup for a backup dated before the deletion.
- Uninstall WhatsApp, then install it again.
- Verify the same phone number and sign in with the same Google Account.
- When prompted, tap Restore. Don’t tap Skip: WhatsApp says skipping replaces your old backup with only new chats.
- If asked, enter the verification code sent by text or call.
- Keep WhatsApp open until your messages show up. Media downloads in the background afterward.
Stay on Wi-Fi and keep the phone plugged in. The number has to match the one used for the backup, the phone needs more free storage than the backup takes up, and videos only come back if “Include videos” was on before the last backup. If the restore stalls, low storage is the usual cause. If you’re moving to a new phone, our guide to transferring data to a new phone covers the rest.
Restore from iCloud on iPhone
On iPhone, the backup is in iCloud, and iCloud Drive has to be on.
- In WhatsApp, open Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and check the date of the last backup.
- In the iPhone Settings app, tap your name, then iCloud > iCloud Drive, turn on Sync this iPhone, and make sure WhatsApp is enabled under apps syncing to iCloud Drive.
- Delete and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Verify your phone number and Apple ID.
- Tap Restore Chat History.
Keep the app open until chats appear, on Wi-Fi and plugged in. If you skip restoring media, you can’t restore it later. A failed restore often means too little free space on the iPhone, so delete the app, free up storage, and try again.
Backups older than 120 days
WhatsApp says a backup more than 120 days old may not be restorable. That is one more reason to leave automatic backups on. For the full setup, see our guide to backing up WhatsApp chats on Android and iPhone.
What happens with messages deleted for everyone
When someone uses Delete for everyone, the chat shows “This message was deleted.” The sender has two days to do it. WhatsApp says those messages can’t be recovered unless they were included in a backup, and messages an admin deletes in a group are not recoverable at all.
If you tapped Delete for me by mistake, tap Undo. It appears for about five seconds. After that the message is gone from your phone, and WhatsApp can’t recover it either.
No backup? Here is what’s left
- Ask the sender to resend. If you deleted a message only on your side, the other person still has it and can forward it.
- Android notification history. Google says some Android phones keep a log of notifications from the last 24 hours. Open Settings > Notifications to see if yours offers it. If a preview of the message arrived as a notification, it may be there. Not every phone has this feature.
- Third-party recovery apps. Be careful. Some ask for sensitive permissions such as USB debugging, and none can promise results. Official backups are the safer route.
Keeping this from happening again
Turn on daily backups under Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, keep enough storage in your Google Account or iCloud, and check the date of the last backup once in a while. If you also switch phones, back up first and don’t wipe the old one until the new phone shows your chats.
FAQ
Can I read a message the other person deleted for everyone?
Only if a backup made before the deletion still has it. Otherwise WhatsApp doesn’t restore it.
Does restoring bring back messages received after the backup?
No. Anything sent or received after the last backup is not restored.
Will a new backup erase the old one?
Yes. Google and iCloud each keep only one backup, so a new backup replaces the previous one.
