Accidentally deleting an important chat in the messenger often leads to panic, especially if it contained unique photos that were not saved in the gallery. Users of the operating system Android often wonder whether it is possible to return these media files without losing the entire correspondence history. Fortunately, the architecture WhatsApp provides for several levels of backup, which can save the situation even several days after the incident.
The recovery process directly depends on whether you have activated automatic backups and how long ago they were created. If you recently deleted a chat, the chances of getting your images back are extremely high thanks to local copies of the database that the system creates daily. However, if a lot of time has passed or the synchronization settings have been disabled, the task becomes more complicated and requires the use of specialized software.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods: from standard recovery tools to the use of third-party memory scanners. We will look at the nuances of working with the file system Android and explain why some files can be irretrievably lost if their space on the disk was overwritten by new data.
The mechanism of backup in WhatsApp
Before taking active steps, you need to understand how exactly the messenger stores your data. WhatsApp uses a two-level information protection system: cloud storage and local files on the device. Every day at a certain time (usually 2:00 am), the application creates a snapshot of the state of all chats and saves it.
Cloud copies are stored on Google Drive and are linked to your account. This is the most reliable method, but it has a time limit: you can only restore the version of the database that was last uploaded to the cloud. If you deleted a photo today and there was a backup yesterday, the image will come back. If the photo was deleted a week ago, and backups were made daily, then restoring via the cloud may not help, since the old copy has already been overwritten by the new one.
Local copies are stored directly in the memory of your smartphone. Android allows the application to store up to the latest seven daily backups. This means that even if there is no Internet or problems with Google Drive, you can try to roll back the system to 2, 3 or even 6 days ago. It is these files with the extension .crypt14 or .crypt15 that are the key to saving your photos.
⚠️ Attention: The process of restoring from a local copy will result in the loss of all messages and media files received after the date of creation of this copy. Be prepared for new correspondence to disappear.
The version of the encryption protocol is constantly updated by the developers. Depending on the version of the installed messenger, files may have different extensions. Modern versions use encryption algorithms that reliably protect data from outsiders, but complicate manual viewing without a decryption key.
Before any manipulations, copy the WhatsApp folder to a computer or external drive. This will create a rollback point if the recovery process does not go as planned.
Recovery via local backup files
The most effective method for getting back photos that were deleted several days ago is to manually replace the current database with an older version from local storage. To do this, you will need a file manager that supports working with system directories, for example Total Commander or built-in explorer Android.
First you need to find the folder with backup copies. The path to it may differ depending on the operating system version. On modern smartphones with Android 11 and higher, access to some system folders is limited, so navigation may require additional permissions. Usually the files are located along the path /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases or in the root directory /WhatsApp/Databases.
In this folder you will see a file named msgstore.db.cryptXX (where XX is the encryption version) and several files with dates in the name, for example, msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14. A file without a date in the name is the current active database. You need to select a file with a date preceding the deletion of the chat with photos.
- 📂 Rename the current file
msgstore.db.cryptXXby adding the word_oldto its name so as not to lose it. - 📂 Select the backup file with the desired date and rename it in
msgstore.db.cryptXX, removing the date from the name, but leaving the extension unchanged. - 📂 Delete the application WhatsApp from your smartphone and install it again from the store Google Play.
- 📂 When you first start, go through the number verification and agree to restore the backup when the appropriate one appears notification.
After the recovery process is complete, go to the chat from which the photos were deleted. If the backup date was correct, the images should return to the correspondence history. Don't forget to immediately save them to the gallery by clicking on each photo and selecting the save option.
☑️ Preparing to restore from a local backup
Using Google Drive cloud backup
If you had synchronization enabled with Google Drive, the recovery process becomes significantly more simpler, but less flexible in time. You can't select a specific date like you can with local files; the system always offers to restore the latest available version from the cloud.
To check the availability of a backup, go to the settings of the messenger itself through the menu Settings → Chats → Chat backup. It will indicate the time of the last save and the file size. If the time of the last backup precedes the moment of deleting photos, this method is ideal for you.
The procedure is similar to restoring from a local file, but without the need for manual renaming. You just need to delete the application, install it again and, when prompted, select restore from Google Drive. It is important to use the same Google account to which the backup was made.
| Option | Local backup | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Select date | Available up to 7 days | Latest version only |
| Network dependency | Not required | Wi-Fi required |
| Recovery speed | High | Depends on the Internet speed |
| Risk of data loss | Medium (needs to be renamed) | Low (automatic process) |
Worth Keep in mind that restoring from the cloud may take considerable time if the volume of your chats is large. During the boot process, do not turn off the smartphone screen and make sure that the device is connected to a power source to avoid failure due to battery drain.
Restore via cache and Media folder
Sometimes photos do not need to be restored through the database, since they may be physically present in the device's memory. WhatsApp has the ability to cache thumbnails and even full-size images in special hidden folders, even if the chat message has been deleted.
Try using the file manager and going to directory /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images. All received images are stored here. Sort the files by modification date and look for the pictures you need. Even if you deleted the chat, the file could remain in this folder, simply losing connection with the message in the application interface.
It is also worth checking the folder Sent inside the images directory. If you sent these photos yourself, copies of them are often saved there regardless of the chat status. In some cases, deleted files are marked as hidden, so turn on the display of hidden files in the File Explorer settings.
⚠️ Warning: If you used the Clear Chat feature instead of deleting, the files in the Media folder may remain. When completely deleting a chat, the files are deleted immediately, but residual data may lie in the system cache.
To search for deleted files, you can use special data recovery utilities, such as DiskDigger. These applications scan the internal memory for "orphaned" files whose signatures match the image format. The effectiveness of this method decreases over time, since new use of the phone overwrites old memory sectors.
Why are the files not in the Media folder?
If the Disappearing Messages feature is enabled or a long time has passed since Android cleared the cache, the files may be physically overwritten by new data. In this case, software recovery is unlikely.
Use of third-party data recovery software
When standard methods do not help, specialized PC apps such as Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData or iMobie PhoneRescuecome to the rescue. These tools are capable of conducting a deep scan of the device's memory, trying to find traces of deleted information.
Most of these apps require access to root access on the device to access protected memory sectors. Gaining root access will void the device's warranty and may cause it to become unstable, so this step should only be taken as a last resort. Without root access, the effectiveness of apps is reduced, and they often find only cached thumbnails of low quality.
The process usually looks like this: you connect your smartphone to the computer via a USB cable, launch the app and select the type of data to scan (in this case, photos and WhatsApp messages). The app analyzes the file system and displays a list of found items available for recovery.
- 💻 Connect your smartphone to the PC and enable USB debugging mode in the menu
For developers. - 💻 Launch the recovery app and wait until the device is detected.
- 💻 Select the option to scan deleted data and start the process.
- 💻 View the found photos in preview and mark those that need to be recovered.
It is important to understand that no app gives a 100% guarantee of success. If the data has been overwritten, no software can recover it. In addition, many such utilities are paid, and the ability to view found files is often available only after purchasing a license.
The effectiveness of third-party software directly depends on the time that has passed since deletion. The less activity there was on the phone after deletion, the higher the chances of success.
Data loss prevention and security settings
To avoid similar situations in the future, you need to properly configure your backup settings. Go to your chat settings and set the copy frequency to "Daily". Also make sure that the “Video” option is checked in the backup options if you want to save video messages as well, although this will significantly increase the file size.
It is recommended to periodically create manual backups before important events or cleaning the phone. To do this, click the button Backupin the backup menu. This will create an up-to-date snapshot of the data right now, which can be used if necessary.
Use the Archive Chat feature instead of deleting. Archived chats are hidden from the main list, but all information in them is preserved in full. You can return the chat to the main list at any time, and all the photos will be in place. This is the best strategy for storing important correspondence that you rarely use.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and location of settings may vary slightly depending on the version of WhatsApp and the skin of your smartphone (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). If you do not find the described item, use the search inside the application settings.
Regularly check whether automatic loading of media to the gallery works. In the chat settings there is an item Media visibility. If it is enabled, all new photos are automatically saved to the standard Android gallery, which creates an additional copy regardless of messenger backups.
Set up automatic media downloads only via Wi-Fi, so as not to waste mobile traffic, but at the same time always have fresh copies of photos in the phone gallery.
Is it possible to restore a photo if I didn’t make backups?
Without backups, the chances are extremely low. The only option is to try to find files in the Media folder through a file manager or use third-party software for deep memory scanning, but success is not guaranteed, especially if a lot of time has passed.
Will correspondence with other people be deleted when restoring an old backup?
Yes, when restoring a database from a backup, the entire correspondence history is rolled back to the state at the time this copy was created. All messages and photos received after this date will be irretrievably lost.
Where exactly is the backup folder on Android 11 and newer?
On modern versions of Android, the path has changed to /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. Access to this folder may require special permissions to be granted to the file manager.
Is it safe to use data recovery apps?
Using well-known software from major developers is relatively safe, but the procedure often requires enabling USB debugging or obtaining root access, which can reduce the overall security of the device and void the warranty.
What to do, if the backup file is damaged?
If the file .crypt is damaged, it is impossible to restore it using standard means. Try another copy for a different date. Third-party database repair services exist, but they are expensive and do not guarantee success.