Retrieve old WhatsApp messages

This wikiHow teaches you how to retrieve deleted messages on iPhone and Android devices. Unfortunately, since the WhatsApp messaging service does not save your chat logs, you cannot recover a message once deleted from your device unless you have already backed it up. Fortunately, it is quite easy to set up a backup of your WhatsApp messages on your phone so that you can easily restore a backup to view old or deleted messages.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Set up WhatsApp messages backup on iOS

Step 1. Open WhatsApp by tapping the WhatsApp icon

The icon looks like a white phone inside a speech bubble on a green background.

Step #2. Tap on Settings

This option is in the lower right corner of the screen.

Step #3. Tap Chats

Step #4. Tap Chat backup

Step 5. Tap on Auto Backup

Choose whether you want to back up your messages daily, weekly or monthly.

If you haven't set up your iCloud account before, you'll be prompted to do so before proceeding with the backup. Open the iPhone's Settings app, tap your name, tap iCloud, and make sure the switch is set to "On" on both iCloud Drive and WhatsApp.

Method 2 of 4: Retrieve old WhatsApp messages on iOS

Step #1. Long press the WhatsApp icon until it vibrates

The other apps on the screen will now also start to vibrate.

Step #2. Tap the 'X' on the top left corner of the icon

This will open a dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to delete WhatsApp.

Step #3. Tap on Delete

The app is now removed from your iPhone.

Step 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 it

icon and type 'WhatsApp' in the search field.
Tap WhatsApp in the search results.
Tap the Download icon to download WhatsApp again. The icon is right next to the app's name.

Step 5. Tap on the Open icon to open WhatsApp

The 'Open' icon will replace the 'Download' icon once the app has finished downloading.

Step 6. Tap Agree and Continue and then tap OK.

Step 7. Tap Allow or on Not allowed.

This determines whether the app can send you notifications.

Step 8. Enter your phone number and tap Done

Make sure the phone number is the same as the one you used in the previous WhatsApp setup.

Step 9. Tap Get Chat History and then Next one.

This will retrieve all chat messages that were previously backed up to your iCloud account. This also applies to messages deleted from WhatsApp, as long as they existed when the last backup was made.

Step 10. Enter the display name you want to use and tap Next

This will take you to the chats page.

Step 11. Tap on a name from this list

Doing so will display all restored chats associated with that contact.

Method 3 of 4: Set up WhatsApp messages backup on Android

Step 1. Open WhatsApp by tapping the WhatsApp icon

The icon looks like a white phone inside a speech bubble on a green background.

Step #2. Tap on the 'More' icon

This icon looks like three white dots in a vertical line and is located in the top right corner of your screen.

Step #3. Tap on Settings

This option is in the lower right corner of the screen.

Step #4. Tap on Chats

Step 5. Tap Chat backup

Step 6. Tap on Backup to Google Drive

Choose whether you want to back up your messages daily, weekly or monthly.

If you haven't set up your Google account before, you'll be prompted to do so before proceeding with the backup

Step 7. Tap on Backup via

Choose the network you want to use to back up your data.

If possible, it's best to use a Wi-Fi network to avoid data charges associated with your mobile network

Method 4 of 4: Retrieve old WhatsApp messages on Android

Step 1. Tap the Play Store icon

Step #2. Tap on the menu button and then on My apps & games

Step #3. Swipe down to the "Installed" section and tap on Uninstall next to WhatsApp

Step 4. Reinstall WhatsApp from Play Store

Tap the Play Store icon again
Tap the icon

and type 'WhatsApp' in the search field.
Tap WhatsApp in 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 to use the same phone number associated with the previous WhatsApp installation.

Step 5. Tap on Restore

This will retrieve all chat messages that were previously backed up to your Google account. This also applies to messages deleted from WhatsApp, as long as those messages existed when the last backup was made.