Accidentally deleting important correspondence in the messenger is a stressful situation familiar to many users of smartphones based on Android. This problem is especially acute on devices with limited memory, such as Honor 10 Litewhere files can be cleared automatically by the system or deleted by the user by mistake.
Fortunately, the messenger architecture WhatsApp provides for several levels of data protection, including local backup and cloud services. Restoring information on your device is quite possible if you act quickly and follow a certain algorithm.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for returning chats, from standard application settings to advanced methods of working with the file system. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes that can lead to permanent loss of message history.
Checking for a backup in Google Drive
The easiest and most reliable way to get back deleted messages is to use cloud storage Google Drive. By default, the application is configured to automatically create backups once a day, if this function has been activated previously.
To find out whether a saved copy exists, you need to go to the settings of the messenger itself before reinstalling it. Go to menu Settings → Chats → Chat backup. The date and time of the last successful save will be displayed here.
If the specified date precedes the moment the correspondence was deleted, then your data is safe. In this case, you will need to delete the application and install it again from the store Google Play. During the initial setup process, the system will offer to restore history from the cloud.
⚠️ Attention: When restoring from Google Drive, all messages received after the date of the last backup will be lost. They will not be added to the restored ones, but will disappear forever.
Make sure that the same account Honor 10 Lite same account active Googlethat was used to create the copy is active on the phone. Changing the account will make the backup file invisible to the application.
Recovery from a local copy on an internal drive
If there is no cloud backup or it is too old, local copying will come to the rescue. Messenger WhatsApp automatically creates backup files in the device’s internal memory every morning at 02:00.
These files are stored for seven days. To access them, you will need a file manager, for example, built-in File Manager on Honor or a third-party application. Find the folder along the path /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases.
In this directory you will see files with names like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14. The number at the end indicates the encryption version, which may differ between software versions. The file without a date in the name (msgstore.db.crypt14) is the current database.
☑️ Preparing for local recovery
To restore data for a specific day, follow these steps:
- 📂 Rename the current file
msgstore.db.crypt14to any other name, for examplemsgstore.db.crypt14.currentto save it as a backup. - 📅 Select the file with the desired date for deleting the correspondence.
- ✏️ Rename the selected file, removing the date, so that it becomes called
msgstore.db.crypt14. - 🔄 Uninstall and reinstall the application, agreeing to restore it at startup.
After these manipulations, messenger will pull data from the renamed file instead of creating a new empty database.
Features of the file system on Honor 10 Lite
Brand smartphones Honorrunning a shell EMUIhave a specific file access structure. In new versions of Android, access to the folder may be limited for third-party applications. If the standard Explorer does not show the contents of the folder, try using the built-in system file manager. In some cases, you may need to grant special permissions in your privacy settings. Android/data may be limited for third party applications.
If standard explorer does not show the contents of the folder Databases, try using the system's built-in file manager. In some cases, you may need to grant special permissions in your privacy settings.
⚠️ Attention: The file system interface may vary depending on the Magic UI firmware version. If you cannot find the folder, use the search for files with the extension .db.crypt.
It is also worth considering that Honor 10 Lite the amount of internal memory is small. If the space was critically full, the system may not have created a fresh backup or may have damaged the existing file.
What to do if the Android folder is hidden?
In some cases, the Android folder may be hidden by system privacy settings. Try connecting your phone to your PC and check for files via your computer.
Data recovery via a computer
Sometimes working with files on a big screen is more convenient and reliable. By connecting Honor 10 Lite to your computer via a USB cable, you get direct access to the file system without the restrictions of the mobile interface.
In file transfer mode (MTP), copy the entire folder Databases to your computer's hard drive. This will create additional insurance before starting any manipulations with renaming files.
Path for copying: Internal Storage > Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > DatabasesIt is convenient to track file sizes on a computer. Typically a database file ranges from a few megabytes to a gigabyte. If a file weighs 0 KB or several bytes, it is damaged and cannot be restored.
| File type | Extension | Storage location | Storage period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud backup | No (in the cloud) | Google Drive | Before changing account |
| Local current | .db.crypt14 | Internal memory | Before reinstallation |
| Local archive | .db.crypt14 (with date) | Internal memory | 7 days |
| SD card reserve | .db.crypt14 | Memory card | Before formatting |
Using a PC also allows you to check the integrity of the smartphone's file system for logical errors that may interfere with reading data.
What to do if backups are not found
In a situation where neither the cloud nor local memory contains the necessary files, the situation becomes more complicated. The data may have been overwritten by new messages or deleted by clearing the cache.
There are specialized apps for data recovery, such as Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData. They scan the device's memory in search of deleted database fragments.
However, the effectiveness of such utilities on modern versions of Android with data encryption is extremely low. There is a chance of success only if the phone was not actively used after deleting the correspondence.
Do not write new files to the phone after deleting the correspondence. Each new snapshot or downloaded file reduces the chance of restoring old data.
You can also try requesting the correspondence history from your interlocutor. If he did not delete the chat, you can ask him to export the correspondence and send it to you as a file.
Preventing data loss in the future
In order to no longer face the problem of losing important dialogues, you need to configure automatic backup correctly. Go to the chat settings and set the frequency of creating copies to “Daily”.
It is also recommended to enable the option to copy video files if space permits. Google Drive. Videos take up a lot of space, but often contain the most valuable information.
- ☁️ Link your Google account to the messenger.
- 📅 Set the backup frequency to "Daily".
- 📹 Decide whether you need to save the video to the cloud.
- 💾 Periodically copy the Databases folder to your computer manually.
Regularly checking the status of the latest copy in the settings will help you notice a failure in the backup service in time.
⚠️ Attention: Google's terms of service and WhatsApp functionality may change. Always check the current settings in the official application.
Daily automatic backup to Google Drive is the only guaranteed way to protect against accidental deletion of correspondence.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to restore correspondence without a backup copy?
Without a previously created backup copy (local or cloud), it is impossible to restore correspondence using standard means. Third-party apps give only a small chance, provided that the data has not been overwritten.
How many days are local copies stored on Honor 10 Lite?
Messenger stores local archives for the last 7 days. Files older than a week are automatically deleted by the system to free up storage space.
Does changing the phone number affect the restoration of chats?
Yes, the backup copy is linked to the phone number and Google account. When changing your number, you must first transfer your account within the WhatsApp settings so that the backup remains available.
Where is the backup saved if there is no memory card?
If the memory card is missing or not configured for backups, the copy is saved to the internal memory of the device in a folder Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases.
Why does the "Restore" button not appear when installation?
This happens if the application does not find the backup file or if you are signed in to a different Google account. Check the presence of the file msgstore.db.cryptXX in memory and that you are logged into your profile correctly.