How to Retrieve Old WhatsApp Messages

Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: August 11, 2023 Fact Checked

This wikiHow shows you how to retrieve deleted messages on iPhone and Android devices. Unfortunately, since the WhatsApp messaging service does not save your chat logs, once a message is deleted from your device you won't be able to retrieve it unless you've already set up a backup. Luckily, it's fairly easy to set up your WhatsApp messages to backup to your phone, so that you can easily restore a backup to view any old or deleted messages.

Things You Should Know

It's not possible to retrieve old messages unless you already have a backup set up.
Retrieve backed up messages on iOS by deleting and reinstalling the app. Then open the app and follow set up. When prompted, choose Restore Chat History.
'Retrieve backed up messages on Android, delete and reinstall the app. Then, open the App, hit Restore, and follow the prompts.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Setting Up a WhatsApp Message Backup on iOS

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The icon looks like a white phone inside a speech bubble on a green background.^{[1]
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This option is in the bottom right corner of the screen.^{[2]
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Tap Auto Backup. Choose whether you want to back up your messages daily, weekly, or monthly.
- If you haven't previously set up your iCloud account, you'll be prompted to do so here before continuing with the backup. Open the iPhone's Settings app, tap your name, tap iCloud, make sure the iCloud Drive toggle is set to On, and make sure the WhatsApp toggle is also set to On.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Retrieving Old WhatsApp Messages on iOS

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The other apps on the screen will begin to shake as well.
This brings up a dialog window asking you to confirm that you wish to delete WhatsApp.
The app is deleted from your iPhone.
4
Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.
- Tap the App Store icon to open it. The icon looks like a white letter A on a blue background.
- Tap the
  icon and enter 'WhatsApp' in the search field.
- Tap WhatsApp in the search results.
- Tap the Get icon to download WhatsApp again. The icon is right next to the app's name.
The Open icon replaces the Get icon once the app has completed downloading.
This determines whether the app can send you notifications.
Make sure the phone number is the same one you used with the previous installation of WhatsApp.
This retrieves any chat messages that were previously backed up to your iCloud account. This includes messages that were deleted from WhatsApp, so long as those messages existed when the last backup was made.^{[5]
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This brings you to the Chats page.
Doing so brings up all restored chats associated with that contact.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Setting Up a WhatsApp Message Backup on Android

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The icon looks like a white phone inside a speech bubble on a green background.^{[6]
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This icon looks like three white dots in a vertical line and is in the upper right corner of your screen.
This option is in the bottom right of your screen.^{[7]
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Tap Back up to Google Drive. Choose whether you want to back up your messages daily, weekly, or monthly.^{[10]
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- If you haven't previously set up your Google account, you'll be prompted to do here so before continuing with the backup.
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Tap Back up over. Choose the network you wish to use to back up your data.
- If possible, it's best to use a Wi-Fi network to avoid any data charges associated with your cellular network.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Retrieving Old WhatsApp Messages on Android

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Tap the Play Store icon
.
4
Reinstall WhatsApp from the Play Store.^{[11]
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- Tap the Play Store icon
  again.
- Tap the
  icon and enter 'WhatsApp' in the search field.
- Tap WhatsApp from the search results and tap Install.
- Tap the WhatsApp icon to open it. Agree to the terms of service and verify your phone number. Make sure you use the same phone number associated with the previous installation of WhatsApp.
This retrieves any chat messages that were previously backed up to your Google account. This includes messages that were deleted from WhatsApp, so long as those messages existed when the last backup was made.^{[12]
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Research source}
This brings you to the Chats page.
Doing so brings up all restored chats associated with that contact.