The loss of important correspondence in WhatsApp is a stressful situation that many Android users face. Deleting messages by mistake, system crash, or accidental factory reset can rob you of valuable information. It would seem that if a backup in the cloud Google Drive was not created or updated on time, the data is lost forever. However, this is not always the case.
The architecture of the Android-based messenger is designed in such a way that it automatically creates local copies of the database on the internal media of the device. These files are stored in hidden folders and can serve as a lifeline even in the absence of a cloud backup. In this article, we will look at technically sound data extraction methods that will help you get back your communication history.
It is worth noting right away that the success of the operation directly depends on the time that has passed since the deletion and the activity of using the smartphone’s memory. The less new data was written over the deleted ones, the higher the likelihood of recovery. Next, we will analyze in detail the algorithms of actions, from the simplest to the most advanced.
The mechanism of local backup
Unlike cloud storage, which requires manual configuration or stable Internet, local backup occurs automatically in the background. The messenger creates a snapshot of the current message database every day, usually at 2 am. This file is saved in the internal memory of the device in encrypted form.
The files have a specific extension .crypt14 or .crypt15 (the number depends on the version of the application) and contain a creation date prefix. The system stores not just one copy, but an archive of the last 7 days. This means that even if you deleted a message today, you have a chance to restore the version of the database that was current yesterday or the day before.
⚠️ Attention: Local copies take up disk space. If your smartphone is full, old backup files can be deleted by the system automatically to free up space.
To access this data, you will need a file manager with access rights to system folders. Standard explorers in new versions of Android (starting from version 11) restrict access to the directory Android/media. Therefore, you may need to install specialized software, such as Total Commander or FX File Explorerto see hidden database files.
If you have Android 11 or later, access to the Android folder may be blocked. Try connecting your phone to a PC in file transfer mode (MTP) - access to system folders is often opened without restrictions through the computer.
Manual recovery through a file manager
The most reliable and safest way to return correspondence without third-party software is to manually replace the database file. This method requires care, but does not carry the risk of installing malware. The idea is to replace the current (empty or outdated) database file with one of the saved archives from previous days.
First you need to find the path to the storage. In modern versions of WhatsApp, the path looks like /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. In older versions of Android, the folder could be located in the root of the internal memory along the path /WhatsApp/Databases. Inside you will see files with names like msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
1. Remove the current WhatsApp application from your device.
2. Using the file manager, rename the file of the desired date (for example, yesterday), removing the date from the name so that it remains msgstore.db.crypt14.
3. Install the messenger again and, when you first start it, agree to restore from a local copy.
☑️ Preparing to manually replace the database
It is critical not to miss the initialization moment when reinstalling. If you click "Skip" when prompted to restore your backup, you'll have to start the process over again, deleting the app data through Settings. Also make sure that the phone number during registration matches the one on which the copy was created.
Using specialized recovery software
If manual methods seem too complicated or there are no local copy files, you can resort to using third-party utilities. There are many apps on the market positioned as data recovery solutions, such as Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData or iMyFone D-Back. They scan internal memory for deleted database fragments.
The effectiveness of such apps varies. They work on the principle of searching for “traces” of deleted files in unallocated memory space. If the memory sector where the correspondence was stored has not yet been overwritten with new data (photos, videos, application cache), the utility will be able to piece together the fragments.
| app name | Requirement of root access | Probability of success | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr.Fone | Desirable | Average | Paid |
| Tenorshare UltData | No (basic scanning) | Low/Medium | Paid |
| Android Data Recovery | Required | High | Paid |
| Wondershare Recoverit | Depends on the model | Average | Paid |
⚠️ Attention: Most of these apps are shareware. They allow you to scan the device and show the messages found for free, but to directly extract them you will need to purchase a license.
Using such software often requires enabling USB debugging mode (USB Debugging) in the developer menu. Without this, a deep sectoral analysis of memory is impossible. Be careful when downloading such utilities from unverified sites, as they may contain malicious code.
Why do apps ask for root access?
root access (superuser rights) give the app full access to all sections of the smartphone’s memory, including hidden system areas where the remains of deleted files can be stored. Without these rights, access is limited to user space only, which reduces the chances of success.
Recovery via notifications and notification history
This method will not restore the entire database, but will help return the text of specific messages if they were received recently. Android has a Notification History feature that saves the text of all incoming messages, even if you delete them in the chat. This feature is available on Android 11 and above.
To check for saved notifications, go to Settings → Notifications → Notification history. If the function was activated in advance, you can find the text of deleted messages from WhatsApp there. This only works for text messages and only if the message came as a notification on the lock screen or curtain.
- 🔍 Go to your smartphone settings and find the notifications section.
- 📜 Activate the "History" switch notifications" if it is turned off (for the future).
- 👀 Browse through today's and yesterday's list to find the text you're looking for.
There are also third-party notification logger apps, such as Notification History Log. If such an application was installed before the conversation was deleted, it could have saved a copy of the text in its own journal. This is an excellent backup option for those who have not backed up the database.
Notification history is the only way to read the message text without restoring the entire database or reinstalling the application.
Requesting account history via email
Few people know, but inside WhatsApp itself there is a function to send chat history to email. However, there is a caveat: if you have already deleted messages in the application, this method will not help you get them back out of nowhere. But it can be useful if you want to save what's left before attempting a risky recovery.
However, there is a scenario where this method works in conjunction with other devices. If you use WhatsApp on several devices (for example, a phone and a tablet, or use WhatsApp Web), and on one of them the messages have not yet been synchronized as deleted, you can export the chat from there.
To export, open the desired chat, click on the menu (three dots) and select More → Export chat. You can select the "No media files" option to get the text file .txt as quickly as possible. This file will be sent to your email, and you will be able to read the correspondence in chronological order, although not in the messenger interface.
Preventing data loss and setting up autosave
In order not to encounter the problem of recovery in the future, you need to properly configure the backup system copying. Relying only on local copies is risky due to possible device failure. The best strategy is the combined use of local and cloud backups.
Go to WhatsApp settings, section Chats → Chat backup. Make sure the checkbox next to Google Drive and the frequency “Daily” is selected. Also check if the correct Google account is connected. For complete security, enable the video backup option if your cloud space allows.
- ☁️ Set up automatic upload to Google Drive every 24 hours.
- 📱 Regularly check for files in the Databases folder through the file manager.
- 🔒 Enable encryption of backups with a password in the privacy settings.
Additionally, it is recommended to periodically manually copy the folder WhatsApp to a computer or external drive. This will create an independent archive that is not affected by Google policies or glitches in the smartphone itself. Storing data in three different places (phone, cloud, external drive) is the gold standard for information security.
⚠️ Attention: The WhatsApp and Android settings interface may differ depending on the phone model (Samsung, Xiaomi, Pixel) and firmware version. If you do not find the menu item, use the search in the phone settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I restore messages if I did not make a backup at all?
If neither local nor cloud backup has ever been enabled, the chances are extremely low. The only option is to try to find traces in the notification history or use paid software for deep memory scanning, but there are no guarantees of success.
Will restoring from a local copy erase new messages?
Yes. When you restore a database from yesterday, all messages received today after the time this copy was created will be permanently deleted. The system will replace the current database with the old one.
Why does the backup file have the extension .crypt14?
This is a database encryption format. The number indicates the version of the encryption algorithm used by the current version of WhatsApp. Files with different numbers (crypt12, crypt14, crypt15) may be incompatible with each other without special conversion.
Do you need Root for recovery through a file manager?
On Android 10 and below - no, access is open. On Android 11, 12, 13 and later, access to the folder is Android/media restricted. root access simplify the task, but you can get by by connecting to a PC or special explorers with permission to access system folders.
Are data recovery apps free?
Most effective apps are shareware. Scanning is usually free, but the saving of found files feature almost always requires the purchase of a license. Completely free analogs often have low efficiency or contain advertising.