WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, allowing users to send text messages, make voice and video calls, and share media files. Sometimes, we may accidentally delete important messages and wonder if there’s a way to recover them. In this article, we will explore how to retrieve deleted messages on WhatsApp, the time limit for message retrieval, and the use of third-party software for scanning and exporting data.
Part 1: How to Recall Deleted Messages on WhatsApp
Fortunately, WhatsApp provides a feature that allows users to recall deleted messages within a certain time frame. Here’s how you can do it:
- Tap and hold on the message to select it, or swipe left on the chat to reveal the options.
- Tap on the “Recall” or “Undo” option after the deletion, depending on your device and version of WhatsApp.
- The deleted message will be restored back to the chat, and all participants will be able to see it again.
It’s important to note that this feature only works if the message was deleted within a specific time limit. After this time limit, the message cannot be retrieved using the built-in recall feature.
Part 2: Time Limit for Message Retrieval
The time limit for message retrieval on WhatsApp is relatively short. Currently, users have approximately 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds to recall a deleted message. Once this time limit has passed, the message will be permanently deleted from both the sender’s and recipient’s devices.
Therefore, it’s crucial to act quickly if you want to recover a deleted message on WhatsApp. Make sure to follow the steps mentioned earlier within the specified time frame to increase the chances of successful retrieval.
Part 3: Using Third-Party Tools for Scanning and Exporting
In addition to the built-in WhatsApp backup, you can also try using third-party data recovery software to retrieve deleted messages. These tools specialize in scanning your device’s storage and recovering deleted data. One such example is Dr.Fone – Data Recovery, which supports WhatsApp message recovery. Here’s how it works:
- Download and install Dr.Fone – Data Recovery on your computer.
- Connect your phone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Click on “Start Scan” to allow Dr.Fone to scan the device. Wait for the scanning process to complete..
- After the scan is complete, you can check the items you want to recover, click on the “Recover to Computer” button to save the messages to your computer.
you can also consider using Tiger Data Recovery for iPhone to recover data. It can analyze the device’s storage and recover deleted WhatsApp messages, along with other types of data like photos, videos, and documents.
To use Tiger Data Recovery:
- Download at official website and install Tiger Data Recovery on your computer.
- Connect your smartphone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Launch Tiger Data Recovery and select the first mode.
- Scan your device for deleted WhatsApp chats.
- Preview and select the chats you want to recover.
- Click on the “Recover” button to restore the deleted chats to your device.
Video guide is also provided.
Apart from the two tools mentioned above, there are others options:
- iMobie PhoneRescue: PhoneRescue is a comprehensive data recovery tool that supports both iOS and Android devices. It can scan your device for deleted WhatsApp messages and allow you to selectively recover them.
- Tenorshare UltData: UltData is another popular data recovery software that supports WhatsApp message recovery. It can recover deleted messages from both iOS and Android devices, including WhatsApp attachments like photos and videos
- Disk Drill: Disk Drill is a versatile data recovery software that can recover deleted WhatsApp messages from Android devices. It offers a user-friendly interface and a range of scanning options to help you retrieve your lost data
- ApowerRescue: ApowerRescue is primarily designed for iOS devices and offers data recovery capabilities, including WhatsApp message recovery. It can help you retrieve deleted messages and attachments from your iPhone or iPad.
It’s important to note that using third-party data recovery tools may have limitations and success rates can vary depending on various factors. Therefore, it’s recommended to regularly backup your WhatsApp messages to avoid permanent data loss.
Conclusion
Accidentally deleting important WhatsApp messages can be distressing, but there are ways to recover them. By utilizing WhatsApp’s backup and restore feature, third-party data recovery software, or seeking assistance from WhatsApp support, you can increase your chances of retrieving deleted messages. Remember to act promptly and regularly back up your data to minimize the risk of data loss.
