A use case of someone on Quora wrote:
“I lost my whole 15 years of WhatsApp chatting. It wasn’t deleted by me or anyone I know—it just vanished. These chats had my family conversations, work notes, even old messages from loved ones who passed away. Is there any way I can restore it?”
If you’ve ever accidentally deleted a WhatsApp chat, you know that sinking feeling in your stomach. WhatsApp is our memory bank—birthday wishes, work updates, family pictures, and even those silly memes from friends. Losing it all can feel like losing a piece of your life.
The good news? In many cases, deleted WhatsApp chats can be recovered—sometimes even without a backup. In this article, we’ll walk through different methods of how to restore deleted WhatsApp chat, covering both Android and iPhone.
Can WhatsApp Chat Be Recovered?
Yes, most of the time. WhatsApp provides built-in backup options through Google Drive (Android) and iCloud (iPhone), which are the most reliable ways to restore lost conversations. Even if you don’t have a backup, third-party tools like Gbyte Recovery can help recover deleted chats directly from your iPhone.
The recovery method depends on:
Whether a backup exists
The device type (Android or iPhone)
How long ago the chat was deleted
Method 1: Restore Deleted WhatsApp Chat from Google Drive (Android)
Android users often rely on Google Drive backups. WhatsApp can automatically back up your chats daily, weekly, or monthly. If you need to restore deleted messages, this is usually the simplest method.
Steps to Restore WhatsApp Chats:
Ensure you are logged into the Google account where WhatsApp backups are stored.
Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your phone.
Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
When prompted, tap Restore to recover chats from Google Drive.
Wait while messages are restored; media files like photos and videos may take longer depending on file size and internet speed.
Important Notes
Only chats included in the latest backup can be restored. Any messages deleted after the backup won’t appear.
Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi to avoid data charges during restore. If you're restoring WhatsApp after a factory reset, there are additional considerations to keep in mind. Learn more about what happens to WhatsApp data after a factory reset and how to ensure successful recovery.
For very large backups, leave your phone on charge and with enough storage to ensure the process completes smoothly.
Method 2: Restore Deleted WhatsApp Chat from iCloud Backup (iPhone)
On iPhones, WhatsApp uses iCloud for backups. If you delete a conversation but have iCloud backups turned on, you can restore your chat directly.
Steps to Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Chats:
Delete the WhatsApp app from your iPhone.
Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.
Sign in with the same phone number.
Tap Restore Chat History when prompted.
Important Notes
iCloud backups run automatically when your iPhone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.
Make sure you’re logged in with the same Apple ID that created the backup.
Large backups may take time to restore, depending on your internet speed.
Method 3: Recover Deleted WhatsApp Chat Without Backup (iPhone via Gbyte Recovery)
Sometimes, backups aren’t available, or important chats were deleted after your last iCloud backup. That’s where specialized tools come in.
Gbyte Recovery is designed for iPhone users who need to restore deleted WhatsApp chats without a backup. Unlike most recovery apps, Gbyte doesn’t need a USB cable or risky jailbreak—it works by securely logging in with your Apple ID and scanning iCloud data snapshots.
Steps to Recover Your WhatsApp Chats via Gbyte Recovery:
Download and install Gbyte Recovery on your computer.
Log in using your Apple ID and complete the two-factor verification.
Select "WhatsApp" or "WhatsApp Business."
Let Gbyte Recovery scan your iCloud snapshots to detect deleted WhatsApp messages.
Preview the recoverable chats and select only the conversations you want to restore.
Why choose Gbyte Recovery?
Scan for free: You can see which chats are recoverable before committing to restore.
Selective recovery: Only recover the chats you need, instead of restoring everything.
No USB cable needed: Simply log in with your Apple ID and complete two-factor verification.
100% safe and private: Gbyte reads your data without overwriting existing chats; your information remains secure.
This makes Gbyte one of the most reliable solutions for how to recover deleted WhatsApp chats on iPhone.
Method 4: Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Chat from Local Backup (Android)
If you don’t have a Google Drive backup, WhatsApp automatically saves local backups on your device’s internal storage, usually for the last 7 days.
Steps to Recover WhatsApp Chat:
Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you want to save.
Tap the three-dot menu → More → ExporOpen your phone’s File Manager.
Navigate to
WhatsApp > Databases.Find the backup you want to restore and rename it from
msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt14tomsgstore.db.crypt14. (e.g., frommsgstore-2025-08-20.db.crypt14tomsgstore.db.crypt14).t Chat.
Choose whether to include media or not.
Send the exported file to your email or save it in a cloud drive.
While chat export helps with text messages, if you've also lost important WhatsApp videos that weren't included in exports, our guide on recovering deleted WhatsApp videos covers specialized methods for media recovery.
FAQs About Deleted WhatsApp Chats
Can I recover 1-year-old WhatsApp messages without backup?
It’s possible but difficult. Without a Google Drive, iCloud, or local backup, your best chance is using Gbyte Recovery on iPhone, which can scan iCloud snapshots and restore older messages if they haven’t been overwritten.
How to restore WhatsApp chat without backup?
On iPhone, tools like Gbyte Recovery can scan and restore deleted messages even without a backup. On Android, recovery is harder without a local or Google Drive backup.
Can I recover WhatsApp chat history after reinstalling?
Yes—if a backup exists. Reinstalling triggers the option to restore chat history.
What if my WhatsApp backup is too old?
You may recover only up to the last backup point. Anything deleted afterward will be lost unless recovered via specialized tools.
Final Thoughts
Losing WhatsApp chats can be painful, but you’re not helpless. Whether it’s through Google Drive, iCloud, local backups, or tools like Gbyte Recovery, you have multiple ways to restore deleted WhatsApp chats.
The key takeaway? Backups are your best friend. Turn them on, keep them updated, and you’ll never face that Quora user’s nightmare of losing 15 years of memories overnight.
