Losing important messages in the messenger can be a real problem, especially when it comes to work chats or personal correspondence on a smartphone Honor 10. Chats are often deleted accidentally due to a careless swipe or a system crash, but the situation can still be corrected. Owners of devices based on Android have several effective tools for returning data if you act quickly and correctly.
The recovery process directly depends on whether you have enabled automatic synchronization with cloud storage or whether local backup files remain in the phone's memory. Mobile devices of the brand Huawei and Honor have their own file system features that must be taken into account when searching for backups. In this guide, we will analyze both scenarios in detail so that you can get your data back.
Before taking active steps, it is important to understand the mechanism of operation WhatsApp. The app doesn't store your messages on its servers indefinitely, but instead relies on backups created by the user. If too much time has passed since the deletion and new copies have covered the old ones, the chances of success are reduced, but they are still there if you have local archives.
Checking the availability of a Google Drive cloud backup
The easiest and most reliable way to recover lost dialogs is to use cloud storage Google Drive, which is automatically integrated into the Android ecosystem. Most users Honor 10 have synchronization turned on by default if they logged in to their Google accountwhen they first set up their phone. To make sure there is a backup, you need to go to the settings of the messenger itself before reinstalling it.
Open the application and go to the settings menu by selecting Chats → Backup of chats. In this section you will see the date and time of the last saved archive. If the specified date precedes the moment of deletion of important correspondence, then your messages are securely stored in the cloud. Otherwise, if the date coincides with the current moment or later than the deletion, the cloud method may not help, since the copy has already been updated with empty data.
For successful recovery, it is critical that the same phone number and the same Google account that were used to create the copy are active on the phone. Encryption data is tied to these parameters, and trying to restore someone else’s copy on your device will result in an error. Make sure that the device is connected to a stable network Wi-Fias downloading the archive can take up a significant amount of traffic.
⚠️ Attention: The recovery process from Google Drive will completely replace the current database on the phone. All messages received after the backup date will be permanently lost.
Searching for local copies of the database in the Honor 10 memory
If cloud synchronization has not been configured or the latest copy in Google Drive is not suitable, you should turn to local files. Smartphones based on Android, including models Honor, automatically create daily backups of the internal database into the device memory. These files are stored in a protected directory on the system and are usually saved for the last 7 days.
To find these files, you will need a file manager. On Honor 10 you can use the standard “Files” application or third-party solutions like Total Commander. The path to the desired folder may differ depending on the version of Android installed on your device. In newer versions of the system, access to the folder Android/data may be limited, so be careful when navigating.
You need to find a file named msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number at the end may differ, for example, crypt12 or crypt15, depending on the version of the application). This is the encrypted database of your messages. The system automatically renames the current database when creating a new copy, adding the date to the file name, for example msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14. It is these dated files that we will need to roll back to the desired period.
Before any manipulations with database files, copy the entire WhatsApp folder to your computer or other safe place. This will create a rollback point if something goes wrong.
Step-by-step guide for restoring from a local file
Restoring correspondence from a local file requires manually replacing the current archive with the saved version. This process is a little more complicated than working with the cloud, but it gives you complete control over which restore date you choose. You need to find a file with the desired date that precedes the deletion of messages, and make it the main one for the application.
First, remove the current application WhatsApp from your Honor 10. This is a required step, since during a clean installation the messenger will offer to find a backup copy. Then, through the file manager, go to the backup storage directory. Find the file with the date that interests you and rename it, removing the date from the name so that it becomes simple msgstore.db.cryptXX, where XX is your encryption version.
After renaming the file, install the messenger again from the store Google Play or AppGallery. When you first start, enter your phone number and wait for the SMS confirmation code. The system will automatically detect the local backup file and offer to restore the data. Agree to this action by clicking the button Restoreand wait until the import process is completed.
☑️ Restore algorithm from a local copy
If you see files with different extensions (for example, crypt12 and crypt14), it is better to use the one that corresponds to the latest version of the messenger that you previously installed. The table below shows the main file types you may encounter.
| File name | Description | Usage status |
|---|---|---|
| msgstore.db.crypt14 | Current database (no date) | Used by default |
| msgstore-2023-10-20.1.db.crypt14 | Archive for a specific date | Requires renaming |
| wa.db | Contacts database | Do not touch |
| privacy_settings.db | Privacy settings | Do not touch |
Features of working with the EMUI and Magic UI file system
Shells EMUI and Magic UIinstalled on smartphones Honorhave specific restrictions on access to system folders for security purposes. Starting from Android 11 and higher, direct access to the folder Android/data/com.whatsapp through standard Explorer may be blocked. This may make it difficult for inexperienced users to find backup files.
If the standard Explorer does not show the contents of the folder, try connecting the phone to the computer via a USB cable in file transfer mode. On a PC, the restrictions are often less strict, and you'll be free to copy and rename the files you need. An alternative is to install advanced file managers from the application store, which require special permissions to access system directories.
It is also worth considering that on some models Honor 10 with updated firmware, the path to the files may have changed. Previously, the path /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databaseswas used, but in new versions it has moved to /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. Be careful when searching and check both directories if you do not find the files in the expected location.
What to do if the phone does not see the file after renaming?
Make sure that the file extension remains unchanged (for example.crypt14). If you accidentally changed the extension or deleted part of the name, WhatsApp will not be able to decrypt the database. Also check that the file is located in the Databases folder and not in the root of the WhatsApp folder.
Recovery of individual media files and attachments
Often users need to recover not the text of the correspondence itself, but lost photos, videos or voice messages. This data is stored separately from the message database and can remain in the phone’s memory even after deleting the chat, if you did not check the “delete media files from the phone” checkbox when clearing the conversation.
To search for images and documents, use the gallery or file manager and go to the folder WhatsApp/Media. Here the contents are sorted into subfolders: WhatsApp Images, WhatsApp Video, WhatsApp Audio. Even if a chat message is deleted, the file may physically remain in this directory, especially if it was downloaded automatically.
If you used the “Disappearing Messages” feature, then it is almost impossible to recover such media files, since they are permanently deleted from the server and device. In regular chats, it is also worth checking the folder Sent inside media directories - copies of files that you sent to your interlocutors are stored there, and they often remain untouched.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and folder paths may vary slightly depending on the Magic UI firmware version. Always check the current folder structure in the official help section of your device settings.
Common errors and how to solve them
The recovery process does not always go smoothly, and users may encounter various errors. One of the most common problems is the message "The backup could not be found" even though there are files in the folder. Most often, this is due to a mismatch between the phone number or Google account and the ones used when creating the backup.
Another common error is the recovery process freezing at the “Recovery in progress...” stage. This may occur due to lack of free space on the internal storage Honor 10. Before starting the procedure, make sure that you have at least twice as much free space as the backup file weighs, since the system needs space to unpack and index the data.
If the backup file is damaged (for example, due to a write failure), the application will prompt you to skip the restore. In this case, try to take the file for a different date. You should not forcefully interrupt the recovery process by rebooting the phone, as this can lead to complete corruption of the database and the inability to launch the application in the future.
The success of the recovery is 90% dependent on the integrity of the backup file and the match of the phone number from which it was created.
Is it possible to restore messages if I did not make a backup?
Unfortunately, without a previously created backup copy (local or cloud), it is impossible to restore correspondence using standard means. WhatsApp does not store message history on its servers after they are delivered. There are third-party apps for data recovery, but their effectiveness is extremely low and they often require root access, which is unsafe.
How many days are local copies stored on Honor 10?
By default, the messenger stores local backups for the last 7 days. Every day a new copy is created, and the oldest one (eight days old) is automatically deleted. Therefore, the sooner you come to your senses after deletion, the higher the chances of finding the file you need.
Does the Android version affect the recovery process?
Yes, it does. On Android 10 and below, access to folders is free. On Android 11, 12 and higher, access to the folder Android/data is limited by system security policies, which complicates manual management of backup files without connecting to a PC or using special file managers.
What to do if the file has the extension .crypt12, and now .crypt14?
Encryption version depends on the version of the WhatsApp application at the time the copy was created. Usually modern versions of WhatsApp are able to decrypt older formats, but it is best to use a copy created by the same or a similar version of the application. If the restore fails, try updating the application to the latest version before installing the backup.
Will I delete current new messages when restoring the old copy?
Yes, this is inevitable. Restoring a backup rolls back the state of the database to the point it was created. All messages received between the date the copy was created and the current moment will be lost. It is recommended to manually save important new information before starting the procedure.