Deleting important correspondence in Viber is a situation familiar to many. One careless click, and years of communication with loved ones or work chats disappear without a trace. Fortunately, there are several ways to get back lost messages - from standard messenger functions to advanced technical techniques. But success depends on whether Android There are several ways to recover lost messages - from standard messenger functions to advanced technical techniques. But success depends on how long ago the data was deleted and what settings activated in advance.

In this article we will look at all current recovery methods from the official backups to manually searching for files in the smartphone’s memory. It is important to understand: the sooner you take action, the higher the chances of success. Some methods work even without root access, others require special knowledge. We will also tell you why standard deletion does not always mean irretrievable loss data and how you can use it.

⚠️ Attention: If you have already reinstalled Viber or reset the phone to factory settings, the chances of recovery drop sharply. In this case, only professional software for data recovery will help - but it does not provide a 100% guarantee.

1. Restoring via Viber backup

The most reliable way to get back deleted messages is to use built-in backup function v Viber. The messenger automatically saves copies of chats if this option has been enabled in advance. Check if it is activated for you:

How to check for a backup:

  1. Open Viber and go to More (⋮) → Settings → Account → Backup.
  2. Look at the date of the last save. If it is fresh, you are in luck.
  3. If there is a copy, but old messages are not restored automatically, try forced import (more on that below).

⚠️ Attention: Backups Viber are stored only on the device (in the folder /sdcard/Viber/backup/) and are not synchronized with the cloud. If you formatted the phone or cleared the memory, the files may have been deleted.

How to restore chats from a backup:

  • 📱 Reinstall Viber (delete and reinstall from Google Play).
  • 🔄 When you first start the messenger, you will be prompted to restore data from a backup copy. Agree.
  • ⏳ Wait for the process to complete. The time depends on the size of the correspondence.
  • ✅ After recovery, check whether previously deleted messages have appeared.

If automatic recovery does not occur. worked, you can try manual import:

  1. Download the backup file (has the extension .vcb) from another device or from a cloud storage (if you downloaded it there).
  2. Place the file in a folder /sdcard/Viber/backup/.
  3. Reinstall Viber and repeat the recovery process.
📊 Have you ever lost important messages in messengers?
Yes, several times
Yes, but I was able to recover
No, I always make backups
No, I never lost

2. Search for hidden Viber files in the phone memory

Even if you did not enable backup, Viber can be stored temporary correspondence files in hidden folders. This data is not deleted immediately after clicking “Delete chat” and can remain in memory for days or even weeks.

Where to look:

  • 📁 Database folder: /data/data/com.viber.voip/databases/ (required root access).
  • 📁 Messenger cache: /data/data/com.viber.voip/cache/.
  • 📁 External memory: /sdcard/Viber/ (there may be media files from deleted chats here).

⚠️ Attention: Without root access you will not be able to view the content folders /data/data/. If you do not have superuser rights, this method will not work.

How to view hidden files:

  1. Connect your phone to the PC and enable debugging mode USB (Settings → About phone → Build number (7 taps) → Developer settings → USB debugging).
  2. Use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or a file manager with root access (for example Root Explorer).
  3. Find the file viber_messages.db —this is a database of messages. It can be opened using SQLite Browser.

If you are not confident in your skills, it is better to entrust this procedure to specialists. Incorrect actions can lead to complete loss of data..

☑️ Preparing for manual recovery

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3. Using data recovery apps

If standard methods do not help, they will come to the rescue Specialized utilities to recover deleted files. They scan the phone's memory at the binary data level and can find fragments of correspondence, even if they were deleted a long time ago.

Top 3 apps for Android:

app Support Viber root access Cost
Dr.Fone (Wondershare) ✅ Yes ❌ Not necessary From 50$
EaseUS MobiSaver ✅ Yes ⚠️ Partially From $40
DiskDigger ❌ No (media only) ❌ Does not require Free

How to recover messages using Dr.Fone:

  1. Install the app on your PC and connect your phone via USB.
  2. Select mode Android data recovery.
  3. Tick the checkbox Messages and attachments.
  4. Start scanning. The process can take from 10 minutes to several hours.
  5. Once completed, select the found messages Viber and click Recover.

⚠️ Attention: Free versions of apps often show found files, but do not allow you to save them. You will have to buy a license or look for alternatives.

Important: The less you use your phone after deleting messages, the higher the chances of restoring them. New data overwrites old data, so start scanning right away.

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If you are recovering data using software, turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data on your phone. This will prevent new files from being written over deleted ones.

4. Restoring via Google Drive (if synchronized)

Many users mistakenly believe that Viber automatically synchronizes chats with Google Drive. Actually messenger does not use cloud services for backup, but there is a workaround:

How to save a backup to the cloud manually:

  • 📤 Find the file backup copy Viber (.vcb) in the folder /sdcard/Viber/backup/.
  • ☁️ Upload it to Google Drive, Dropbox or another cloud service.
  • 🔄 If you need to restore, download the file back to your phone and follow instructions from the first section.

If you have not saved a copy to the cloud in advance, this method will not help. However, it is useful for future protection data. Set up automatic downloading of backups to avoid losses in the future.

How to automate saving to the cloud:

  1. Install the application Automate or Tasker.
  2. Create a task: "Copy a new file from /sdcard/Viber/backup/ to Google Drive".
  3. Run the task once a week or after each backup. Viber.
Why does Viber not synchronize with Google Drive automatically?

Messenger stores backups locally for security and privacy reasons. Cloud synchronization could simplify recovery, but increases the risk of data leakage. The developers believe that responsibility for backups lies with the user.

5. Contacting Viber support: when it makes sense

If you deleted a conversation by mistake and cannot restore it yourself, you can try contacting support service Viber. However, the chances of success are minimal - the company does not store user messages on its servers.

In what cases can support help:

  • 🔐 If the account was hacked and the correspondence was deleted by an attacker.
  • 📱 If messages disappeared after a failure in the application (for example, after an update).
  • 💳 If you have paid Viber Out subscription - support can provide call logs.

How to write to support correctly:

  1. Open Settings → Help → Contact us.
  2. Select a topic Problems with your account or Lost messages.
  3. Describe the situation in detail: when and how it happened messages were deleted, have you tried to recover them.
  4. Attach screenshots (if any).

⚠️ Attention: Support Viber does not restore deleted messages, but can help in exceptional cases (for example, in case of a technical failure on their side). You should not count on this method as the main one.

6. Alternative methods: from root access to forensics

If all the previous methods did not work, remain advanced technical techniques. They require special knowledge or the help of professionals, but sometimes they allow you to return data even after completely wiping the phone.

Methods for experienced users:

  • 🔧 Manual database parsing using SQLite. You can try to extract messages from damaged files .db.
  • 🛠️ Forensic analysis (using Autopsy or FTK Imager). Suitable for restoring data after formatting.
  • 📡 Using ADB commands to extract temporary files: 
    adb pull /data/data/com.viber.voip/databases/viber_messages.db

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect use ADB or editing the database can lead to to phone breakdown or loss of all data. If you are not sure of your actions, contact a data recovery specialist.

When you should contact professionals:

  • If the correspondence has legal value (for example, for court).
  • If the phone is physically damaged (drowned, broken, does not turn on).
  • If you have tried all methods, but to no avail.
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Without root access and specialized software, the chances of recovering deleted messages are older than 1 months tend to zero. The sooner you start acting, the higher the likelihood of success.

7. How to prevent data loss in the future

The best way to deal with the loss of correspondence is prevention. Set up automatic backup and follow simple rules to never encounter this problem again.

Checklist for securely saving chats:

  • 🔄 Enable weekly backup in settings Viber.
  • ☁️ Set up automatic uploading of backups to Google Drive or Dropbox.
  • 📱 Regularly check that copies are being created (go to the folder /sdcard/Viber/backup/).
  • 🔐 Use two-factor authentication to protect your account from hacking.
  • 🚫 Avoid clearing the cache Viber manually - this may delete temporary correspondence files.

Additional security measures:

  • 📧 Export important chats to .txt or .pdf via the function Export correspondence (available in chat settings).
  • 🔗 Synchronize contacts with Google Accountso as not to lose information about your interlocutors.
  • 🛡️ Set a strong password on your phone and don’t give it to strangers.

If you often lose data, consider using alternative messengers cloud backup (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp). However, remember that even they do not guarantee 100% protection.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to restore messages deleted for more than a year? back?

The chances are extremely low. Without a backup or root access, the data will almost certainly be overwritten with new files after a year. Try specialized software like Dr.Fone, but do not count on success.

I deleted Viber and installed it again?

If a backup was created before deletion (file .vcb), then yes. Find it in the folder /sdcard/Viber/backup/ and follow the instructions from the first section. If there is no copy, recovery is unlikely.

Do recovery methods work on phones without root?

Yes, but with limitations. Without root, you can only restore data from a backup or using apps like Dr.Fone (no guarantees). Access to system folders /data/data/ is only possible with superuser rights.

Can Viber restore correspondence at the request of law enforcement agencies?

Technically yes, but only if the messages have not been deleted from the company's servers. Viber stores metadata (dates, times, chat participants), but not the contents of the messages. An official request will be required for restoration.

How to transfer a Viber backup to a new phone?

Copy the file .vcb from the folder /sdcard/Viber/backup/ on the old device to the new phone in the same folder. Then reinstall Viber - the first time you start it, it will offer to restore the data.