How to read a deleted message in Viber on Android: all available methods

Deleted messages in Viber is one of the most painful topics for messenger users. Have you accidentally erased an important dialogue, the interlocutor “recalled” the message, or the correspondence disappeared after resetting the phone? Unlike WhatsApp or Telegramwhere there are built-in backup mechanisms Viber does not provide official tools for recovering deleted messages at the application level. However, this does not mean that the data is lost forever.

In this article we will analyze all possible ways to read a deleted message in Viber on Android from legal (backups, application cache) to technical (database analysis, use of ADB). It is important to understand: the effectiveness of the methods depends on whether synchronization with the cloud was enabled, how long ago the message was deleted and whether the device’s memory was overwritten. Some solutions require root access or special knowledge, others are available to any user.

We warn you right away: attempts to hack someone else’s account Viber or bypass two-factor authentication violating the user agreement and may result in blocking. We focus exclusively on recovering ours data from your device.

1. Checking Viber backups in Google Drive

The easiest and most legal way to get back deleted messages is to use automatic backupif it was enabled. Viber allows you to save chat history in Google Drive, but with important caveats:

• 📁 Backups are created only manually (there is no automatic backup).
• 🔄 Restoration is possible only when reinstalling Viber that's why the same device.
• ⏳ Messages are restored in the form in which they were at the time the backup was created.
• 🚫 If you have already installed Viber after deleting messages, the backup copy can be overwritten.

To check for backup:

1. Delete Viber from the phone.
2. Install the application again from Google Play.
3. At the setup stage, select Restore from a backup copy.
4. Login with the same phone number to which the account is linked.

If there is a copy, the application will offer to restore the history. Please note: this will replace current chats with data from the backup —new messages received after creating a backup copy will be lost.

⚠️ Attention: Viber does not encrypt backups Google Drive, so they can be downloaded and viewed manually. The file has the extension .vbk and is stored in the folder Viber Backups of your account. To read, you will need special software (for example, Viber Backup Extractor).

2. Analysis of the Viber cache and files on the device

Even if messages are deleted from the interface Viber, their traces may remain in application cache or system files. On Android, the messenger data is stored in the folder:

/data/data/com.viber.voip/

Without root-rights access to this directory is limited, but some files can be retrieved via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or a file manager with superuser rights. That's what it costs. check:

• 🗃️ databases/viber_messages — database with messages (format SQLite).
• 📂 cache/ — temporary files, including media thumbnails.
• 📄 shared_prefs/ — application settings (may contain chat metadata).

To view the database data:

1. Download the file viber_messages to your PC.
2. Open it using DB Browser for SQLite or a similar tool.
3. Look for the table messages - message text, dates and IDs are stored there senders.

Important: if a lot of time has passed since the messages were deleted or you have been actively using the phone, data could be missing. overwrittenAlso Viber periodically clears the cache, so the chances of finding something valuable are higher if you act promptly.

3. Using ADB to extract data (without root)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) —a tool for interacting with the device via the command line. With its help, you can copy files Viber even without root access, but with restrictions: only data that is not protected by permissions is available.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About phone → Build number — tap 7 times).
2. Connect your phone to the PC and confirm trust in the device.
3. Open command line line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and execute:

adb pull /data/data/com.viber.voip/databases/viber_messages

If the command returns an error Permission denied, then root access is required. In this case, you can try an alternative way:

adb backup -f viber_backup.ab com.viber.voip

This will create a backup copy of the application data (including the message database), but without guaranteeing that deleted messages will be present in it.

⚠️ Attention: Using ADB requires caution. Incorrect commands may disrupt the system. If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to contact a specialist.

4. Recovery via root access

If your Android device has root accessthe chances of recovering deleted messages Viber increase significantly. You get full access to system folders and can extract the database in its original form.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Install a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the path /data/data/com.viber.voip/databases/.
3. Copy the file viber_messages to a memory card or to the cloud.
4. Open the file using SQLite browser (for example, SQLiteStudio).
5. Run the query:

SELECT * FROM messages WHERE is_deleted = 0;

This will show all undeleted messages. To find deleted ones, try:

SELECT * FROM messages WHERE is_deleted = 1;

In some cases, messages are marked as deleted, but their text remains in the database. It is also worth checking the table media —links to deleted files (photos, videos) may be stored there.

Method	Root required	Chances of success	Difficulty
Google Drive backup	❌ No	⭐⭐⭐ (if there is a backup)	⭐ (easy)
Cache analysis via ADB	❌ No	⭐⭐ (depends on time)	⭐⭐ (skills required)
Extracting a database from root	✅ Yes	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (high)	⭐⭐⭐ (requires knowledge)
Specialized software (for example, Dr.Fone)	❌ No (but may require root)	⭐⭐ (depending on the app)	⭐⭐⭐ (paid)

5. Data recovery apps

If manual methods do not help, you can use specialized software to recover data on Android. Popular tools:

• 🛠️ Dr.Fone - supports message recovery from Viber, but requires connection to a PC.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver - scans the device memory for deleted files.
• 📱 DiskDigger - works directly on the phone (there is a version without root).

Example of working with Dr.Fone:

1. Install the app on your PC and connect the phone via USB.
2. Select mode Android data recovery.
3. Check Messages and attachments → Viber.
4. Run a scan and wait for the results.

Please note: most of these apps paid, and their effectiveness depends on the phone model and Android version. Free versions usually show the found data, but do not allow you to save it.

⚠️ Attention: Some data recovery apps may contain malicious code or collect personal information. Download software only from official sites and check user reviews.

Disable Wi-Fi and mobile data|Charge the phone at least 50%|Make a backup copy of current data|Use proven software-->

6. Alternative methods: synchronization with other devices

If you use Viber on several devices (for example, phone + tablet), check if the correspondence is saved there. Synchronization between devices in Viber is incomplete - messages are downloaded only when the chat is actively used, but sometimes this helps.

It is also worth checking:

• 💬 Notifications in the notification panel —if the message arrived recently, its text could have been saved there.
• 📧 Email —if you sent yourself copies of important messages.
• 🔄 Other messengers - perhaps the correspondence was duplicated in Telegram or WhatsApp.

Another non-obvious way - keyword search on Google. If the message contained unique information (order number, name, address), try entering it into the search bar. Sometimes data leaks to open sources (for example, if the interlocutor forwarded it to a social network).

What to do if nothing helps?

If none of the methods worked, there are two options left:

1. Contact Viber support (it is unlikely that they will help with recovering deleted data, but you can try to explain the situation).

2. Accept the loss —unfortunately, not all data can be recovered, especially if a lot of time has passed or the device has been actively used.

7. Prevention: how to avoid losing messages in the future

To avoid encountering the problem of deleted messages again, set up automatic backup and follow simple rules:

• 🔄 Create backups regularly v Google Drive (manually in the settings Viber).
• 📤 Export important chats via the function Send chat history (available in the chat menu).
• 📥 Save media files to the phone gallery (in settings Viber enable Autosave media).
• 🔒 Use cloud services for duplication of important information.

It is also useful to know:

• 📌 Viber there is a function Favorites - save key messages there.
• 🔍 To search by correspondence, use the global search (magnifying glass in the upper right corner).
• 🚫 Avoid clearing the cache Viber in the phone settings - this can delete temporary data.

If you often experience data loss, consider switching to instant messengers with more reliable backup (for example, Telegram with cloud storage).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about restoring messages in Viber

Is it possible to restore a message if the interlocutor has deleted it (“revoked”)?

Technically no. When a user revokes a message in Viber, it is deleted from the servers and from the local database on all devices. The only chance is if the message managed to appear in the notification or was read before the recall (in this case, its text could be saved in the cache).

Do recovery apps work on all phones?

No, effectiveness depends on:

• Phone model and Android version.
• Availability of root access.
• How much time has passed since deletion.
• Memory type (on some devices, data is erased permanently).

For example, on phones Xiaomi s MIUI chances are lower due to aggressive cache clearing.

Is it possible to recover messages after resetting the phone to factory settings?

This is unlikely. When you reset, the data on the device is erased, including folders Viber. The only option is if you had backup to Google Drive and you will restore it during the first setup Viber after the reset. Otherwise, the data is lost.

Is it legal to use apps to restore other people's messages?

No. Access to another user's correspondence without his consent violates:

• User Agreement Viber.
• Law on the protection of personal data (in Russia - FZ-152).
• Criminal Code (Article 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - violation of the secrecy of correspondence).

Exception - recovery yours data from yours device.

What to do if there are no deleted messages in the database? viber_messages no deleted messages?

Try the following steps:

1. Check other tables in the database (for example, media or chat_list).
2. Use tools to recover deleted records in SQLite (for example, SQLite Forensic Explorer).
3. Try to find old backups in the folder /data/data/com.viber.voip/databases/ (sometimes they are saved with dates in the name).

If all else fails, the data is most likely overwritten.