Accidentally deleting a conversation in the messenger is a stressful situation familiar to many smartphone owners. On devices Samsung Galaxy the data recovery process has its own characteristics associated with the shell One UI and the Android file system. If you deleted an important conversation, do not panic, as there are several proven methods for returning information.
The success of the operation directly depends on whether you had the automatic backup function enabled before the deletion. The Android system saves history locally in the device's memory, and can also duplicate data in cloud storage Google Drive. Depending on your account settings, you can return correspondence both from the cloud and from the phone’s internal memory.
In this article we will look in detail at all the available methods for recovering messages on smartphones Samsung. You will learn how to work with the application settings, where to look for hidden folders with archives and what actions need to be performed to correctly import the database.
Checking automatic backup settings
The first step before any active actions is to make sure that there is a saved copy. In the settings of the application itself WhatsApp information about the time of the last backup is stored. If backup is configured correctly, your data is safe on Google servers.
To check, open the application and go to the settings menu. You need to click on the three dots in the upper right corner, select the item Settings, and then go to the section Chats. Here find the sub-item Chats backup. This menu displays the date and time of the last successful data save.
Pay attention to the Google account to which the copy is linked. On smartphones Samsung several accounts are often used simultaneously. Make sure you select the exact email address you use to sync. If the backup date precedes the moment the messages were deleted, the restoration will be successful.
⚠️ Attention: If the last backup was performed after the correspondence was deleted, then it will not be possible to restore messages through the standard cloud backup method, since the new copy overwrote the old one.
It is critical that the backup date in the WhatsApp settings be earlier than the deletion date messages.
Recovery from Google Drive cloud storage
The easiest and most reliable way to recover lost data is to use a cloud copy. This method requires completely uninstalling and reinstalling the messenger. The process is initiated automatically the first time you launch the application after installation.
First, you need to remove the application WhatsApp from your device Samsung. Go to Settings phone, select section Applications, find the messenger in the list and press the button Delete. After that, go to the store Google Play and download the application again.
When installing again, enter the same phone number that was used previously. The system will detect the presence of a backup copy on Google Drive and offer to restore the data. Press the button Restore and wait for the process to complete. Do not skip this step, otherwise the copy will not be downloaded.
- 📱 Make sure that the Internet is turned on on your phone and there is a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- 🔑 Sign in to the same Google account that was used to create backup.
- ⚡ Do not turn off the power of your smartphone while downloading chat history.
Working with local backups on Samsung
If there is no cloud copy or it is outdated, you can use local files that are stored in the internal memory of the device. The Android system creates automatic copies of the database every night at a specific time. The files have an extension .crypt14 or higher, depending on the version of the application.
To find these files, open the standard file manager My files on your Samsung. The folder path may differ depending on the Android version. On new versions of the system, files are often located along the path Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. On older models, the path may be WhatsApp/Databases in the root of the internal memory.
In this folder you will see a file named msgstore.db.cryptXX (where XX is the encryption version number) and files with dates in the name, for example msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.cryptXX. A file without a date in the name is the current database, and files with dates are archives for previous days. You need to select a file with a date before the messages were deleted.
How to find the encryption version?
Look at the file extension. If it is crypt12, crypt14 or crypt15, this is the version number of the encryption protocol. When renaming files, it is important to keep this extension unchanged, otherwise the application will not be able to read the database.
Manually replacing database files
To restore from a local file, you must manually rename the archive. This step requires care, as a misspelled file name will prevent the application from seeing the backup. First, delete or rename the current file msgstore.db.cryptXXby adding any word to it, for example .old.
Then select the file with the desired date that you want to restore. Rename it, removing the date from the name, so that only msgstore.db.cryptXXremains. The file extension must exactly match that of the original file. After renaming, you can proceed to reinstall the application.
Uninstall and install WhatsApp again. When checking a phone number, the application will offer to restore a copy. This time it will not find the cloud backup, but the local file that you just prepared. Click Restoreand your messages will return to the chat.
Original name: msgstore-2023-10-20.1.db.crypt14
Target name: msgstore.db.crypt14
☑️ Preparing for manual replacement
Features of the Android 11 and higher file system
Owners of modern smartphones Samsung Galaxy with Android 11, 12, 13 or 14 may experience folder access restrictions. The security system restricts direct access to the directory Android for third-party file managers in order to protect user data.
If you do not see the folder com.whatsapp inside the system directory, try using the built-in application My files from Samsung. It has special access rights. You can also connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable and manage files through Windows Explorer or macOS.
When connecting to a PC, select the file transfer mode MTP in the USB connection notification. On your computer, you will be able to freely navigate through all folders, including hidden system directories, and perform the necessary renaming operations without the restrictions of the mobile interface.
⚠️ Attention: On Android 11+, access to the folder
Android/datamay be hidden even for some explorers. Use the official Samsung file manager or connect to a PC for guaranteed access.
Comparison of data recovery methods
The choice of recovery method depends on your specific situation and the availability of certain types of copies. The cloud method is easier for the average user, but requires the Internet. The local method is more complicated, but allows you to select a specific recovery date from the last 7 days.
The table below compares the main characteristics of both methods so that you can choose the best option for your device. Samsung. Consider the speed of the process and the required resources.
| Parameter | Google Drive (Cloud) | Local memory (File) |
|---|---|---|
| PC required | No | Desirable (for convenience) |
| Internet requirement | Required (Wi-Fi) | Not required |
| Select date | Only the last one copy | Any for the last 7 days |
| Process complexity | Low | Medium |
Local copies are stored for only 7 days. If the message was deleted more than a week ago, the local file may have already been overwritten by the system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to recover messages without deleting the application?
Unfortunately, no. The working mechanism WhatsApp is designed in such a way that the backup copy is imported only during the initial setup of the application. To start the recovery process, you need to delete and install the messenger again.
What to do if the file has a crypt12 extension, and I have crypt14?
The encryption version numbers must match the version that the application expects. Usually, when renaming a file, it is important to keep the extension that the archive file already has. Do not change the numbers in the extension manually, leave them as they are in the file name with the date.
How much space does a backup copy take up on Google Drive?
WhatsApp backups are not counted towards your Google Account quota if they are created through the standard application interface. However, if you backup video in high quality, the space may be limited by your storage tariff.
Will new messages disappear when you restore the old copy?
Yes, this is inevitable. When restoring a backup, all messages received after the date the backup was created will be deleted. Restoration rolls back the state of chats exactly at the moment the file was saved.