Losing important correspondence or media files in the messenger always causes stress, especially when the deletion happened accidentally. Smartphone owners Honor often wonder whether it is possible to get data back without resorting to drastic measures such as completely deleting and reinstalling the application. The good news is that the Android architecture and operating specifics WhatsApp allow in most cases to restore message history using built-in backup mechanisms.
The recovery process on devices Honor has its own nuances related to the shell MagicOS or EMUI, but the basic principle remains the same throughout the Android ecosystem. A key success factor is having a previously created backup copy, either in cloud storage Google Drive or in the local memory of the device. If you uninstall the application itself, the procedure will be standard, but our goal is to consider methods that allow you to minimize the risks and avoid complete uninstallation, if technically possible, or make this process as safe as possible.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for returning lost data. We'll look at working with cloud backups, searching for local database files, and using third-party tools. It is important to understand that the success of the operation directly depends on when exactly the last copy was made. The less time has passed from the moment the message was deleted to the moment of restoration, the higher the chances of returning the information in full.
Checking the availability of backup copies in Google Drive
The most reliable and easiest way to restore correspondence on a smartphone Honor is to use cloud storage Google Drive. By default, the application WhatsApp is configured to automatically create daily backups, unless the user has manually disabled this feature. Before starting any actions, you need to make sure that the copy exists and is up to date.
To check, go to the settings of the messenger itself. Follow the path Settings → Chats → Chat backup. In this section you will see the date and time of the last save, as well as the amount of space occupied. If the date matches the period before your messages were deleted, the restoration will be successful. Pay attention to the account Googleindicated in the "Google Account" field - it is to this account that the copy will be downloaded.
⚠️ Attention: The recovery process from Google Drive will completely replace the current database on the phone with the one that stored in the cloud. All messages received after the backup creation date will be irretrievably lost.
If you see that the last backup was created a long time ago, it is worth considering whether to initiate a restore, since you may lose more recent data. Also make sure that your device Honor is set to the same phone number and the same Google account that were used when creating the backup. Without these conditions being met, the messenger's security system will not allow data recovery.
Recovery via local database files
If there is no cloud copy or it is out of date, local backup comes to the rescue. Smartphones Honor, like other Android devices, save daily copies of the database in the internal memory. These files have an extension .crypt14 (or another, depending on the encryption version) and are stored in hidden system folders.
To find these files, you will need a file manager. Open the application Files section and go to the internal memory section. The path to the desired directory usually looks like this: Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. In older firmware versions, the path may be simpler: WhatsApp/Databases. If the folder Android is empty or access to it is limited, check the privacy settings in the Settings → Applications → Application Manager → Files → Permissions.
In the folder Databases you will find files with names type msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14, where the creation date is indicated. The file named simply msgstore.db.crypt14 is the most recent copy that is currently in use by the application. To restore an older version, you will have to rename the desired file, replacing the current one.
The algorithm is as follows: find the file with the desired date, copy its name for reliability, and then rename it to msgstore.db.crypt14. The system will ask for confirmation to replace the file - agree. After this, you need to clear the data of the WhatsApp application through the phone settings, but do not delete it completely, in order to reset the current state, and then start the recovery process on the first launch.
☑️ Preparing for manual recovery
Step-by-step recovery instructions without completely deleting
Many users are afraid to delete the application, believing that it the only way to trigger the recovery process. In fact, the key step is data cleaning, not uninstallation. This allows you to save the application settings, but reset its state to its initial state, which will force WhatsApp to look for a backup the next time you start it.
Follow the following steps on your Honor:
1. Go to Settings phone.
2. Select the section Applications and find in the list WhatsApp.
3. Click on the item Memory or Storage.
4. Select option Reset or Clear data. Do not click "Delete application".
After cleaning, launch the messenger. You will see a welcome screen. Enter your phone number and complete verification via SMS. Once the code is confirmed, the system will automatically detect the presence of a backup (local or Google Drive) and offer to restore chats. Press the button Recover and wait for the process to complete.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection before starting recovery from Google Drive, as downloading large amounts of data via a mobile network may incur fees or be interrupted.
This method avoids completely reinstalling the application, which saves time and saves some user settings that are not reset when clearing data, for example, system notification settings if they are tied to a device profile.
Using third-party recovery software
When built-in methods do not help, users turn to third-party software. There are many utilities that claim to be tools for recovering deleted data on Android. However, the effectiveness of such apps varies greatly and depends on the phone model Honor and Android version.
Most of these apps require connecting the phone to the computer via a USB cable and enabling USB debugging mode. To activate this mode, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. Then in the section System → For developers activate the switch USB debugging.
| app name | Recovery type | Necessity Root | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr.Fone | Memory scan | Desirable | Average |
| Tenorshare UltData | Backup analysis | No | High (for backups) |
| iMyFone D-Back | Deep scanning | Yes | Low without Root |
| FonePaw | File recovery | No | Average |
It is important to understand that without superuser rights (Root), the capabilities of third-party apps are greatly limited. Modern versions of Android strictly isolate application data, so scanning internal memory for deleted files .crypt often does not produce results if the memory sector has already been overwritten by new data.
Why do apps ask for root access?
Obtaining Root access gives the app complete control over the phone's file system. This allows you to read protected system partitions where traces of deleted information are stored. Without these rights, access is only possible to shared folders where the user could save files manually.
Nuances of working on Honor and Huawei smartphones
Brand devices Honor have a specific file system and security policies, especially on models without Google services. If you have a new phone Honor without GMS (Google Mobile Services), restoring from Google Drive is impossible using standard means. In this case, you will have to rely solely on local copies or use a proprietary tool Phone Cloneif you have an old phone with a full copy of the data.
On phones with a shell MagicOS the path to the folder with the databases may be different. Sometimes the system hides the folder Android from third-party file managers. In this case, it is recommended to use the built-in file manager from Honor or connect the phone to the PC in file transfer mode (MTP) to search for the desired directory.
If you cannot find the WhatsApp folder through the file manager, connect the phone to the computer with a cable and look for the directory through Windows Explorer - this often gives a more complete overview of the file system.
Another important aspect is energy saving. Aggressive battery settings on Honor may prevent large amounts of data from being downloaded from the cloud in the background. Before starting the recovery, go to Settings → Battery → Launch applications, find WhatsApp and make sure that the control is set to Manuallymode by activating all three switches (Autostart, Indirect launch, Run in background).
Prevention of data loss in the future
To avoid the problem of recovery in the future, you need to configure automatic backup correctly. Go to the WhatsApp chat settings and set the saving frequency to Daily. Make sure to select saving videos if they are important to you, although this will significantly increase the backup size.
Regularly check the status of the latest copy. Once a month, it is recommended to manually create a backup copy by clicking the Backup button in the settings. This will ensure that you have a fresh restore point before any major changes to the system or before updating the phone's firmware.
⚠️ Note: Settings interfaces and file paths may vary slightly on different versions of MagicOS and EMUI. Always check the latest manuals for your specific device model if standard paths do not work.
Also consider duplicating important correspondence. You can export a specific chat through the menu More → Export chat and send it to yourself by email or save it to a cloud storage other than Google Drive, for example, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox. This will create an additional level of protection for your information.
Daily automatic copy to the cloud is the only guaranteed way to protect against accidental deletion, since local files can be damaged during a system failure.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I recover messages if I did not make a backup?
Unfortunately, without a previously created backup (local or cloud), it is almost impossible to recover deleted messages in WhatsApp. Database encryption does not allow you to simply “pull” text from the phone’s memory without the keys that are stored in the backup file.
What to do if the recovery freezes at 99%?
Freezing often occurs due to unstable Internet or lack of disk space. Try switching from Wi-Fi to a mobile network or vice versa. Also make sure that you have at least twice as much free space as the backup size. Honor There is at least twice as much free space as the backup size.
Will I delete current messages when restoring an old copy?
Yes, this is inevitable. The restore process replaces the current database with the one that was in place when the copy was created. All messages received between the date of the copy and the current moment will be deleted. They cannot be returned using this method.
How can I tell what version of encryption is used in my file?
Look at the file extension in the Databases folder. If the file ends with .crypt14, .crypt15 or .crypt16, this indicates the encryption protocol version. The number may change with updates to the WhatsApp application, but the recovery process itself does not change.
Will correspondence be restored if I changed my phone number?
No, the backup copy is tied to the phone number on which it was created. To restore to a new number, you must first change the number in the WhatsApp settings on the old device (the "Replace number" function) so that the copy is updated with a new identifier, or use complex data cloning methods that do not guarantee results.