Deleted messages in WhatsApp are a headache for many users Samsung Galaxy. Have you accidentally erased an important chat or has the interlocutor “revoked” the message via the Delete for Everyonefunction? Don't panic: there are several ways to restore access to lost information. In this article we will look at 5 proven methodsincluding working with backups, system notifications and specialized utilities.

It is important to understand: the success of the recovery depends on how long ago the message was deletedwhether you have automatic backups enabled and what kind of version Android installed on Samsung. For example, on devices with Android 12+ i One UI 5.0 some methods may work differently than on older firmware. We will take these nuances into account and give recommendations for different scenarios.

Also note: WhatsApp does not store deleted messages on its servers - all information is erased from the devices of chat participants immediately after the deletion command. This means that there is no “magic button” to return the text, but indirect methods often help to recover at least part of the data.

📊 How often do you encounter deleted messages on WhatsApp?
Constantly, this is a problem
Sometimes, but not critical
There is someone nearby who erases chats
Never encountered

1. Restoring through a Google Drive backup

The most reliable way to recover deleted messages is restore chats from backupif it was created before the deletion. WhatsApp automatically saves backups to Google Drive (if the function is enabled in the settings). Here's how it works to Samsung:

The first thing you need to check is date of the last backup. To do this:

  1. Open WhatsApp and go to ⋮ → Settings → Chat → Backup.
  2. Look at the date in section Last backup to Google Drive.
  3. If the date neweris later than the moment the messages were deleted, you can restore chats.

To restore data:

  • 📱 Reinstall WhatsApp (delete the application and install again from Google Play).
  • 🔑 When you first start, enter the same phone number that was used previously.
  • ☁️ A proposal will appear on the screen to restore chats from Google Drive — confirm action.
  • ⏳ Wait for the process to complete (it may take from several minutes to an hour depending on the size of the backup).
⚠️ Attention: If after deleting messages you have already created a new backup, the previous version will be overwritten. In this case, you will not be able to restore the old data.

Make sure there is enough free space on your phone (a backup can weigh several gigabytes)

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (restoration consumes a lot of traffic)

Use the same Google account to which the backup is linked

The battery charge must be at least 50%-->

2. Using Android notifications to view deleted messages

If a message was deleted using the function Delete for Everyone, but you managed to receive a notification about it, there is a chance to read the text through notification history Android. This method works even if the chat in WhatsApp has already been cleared.

On most smartphones Samsung (for example Galaxy S23, A54, Note 20), the notification history is included like this:

  1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Advanced → Notification history.
  2. Activate the switch Notification history.
  3. Return to the main notification menu and find section History.
  4. Scroll through the list to find notifications from WhatsApp.

If the feature is disabled, turn it on in advance so you can view all future notifications, even if the messages are deleted. Please note: Samsung stores notification history only 24 hours (on some firmware - up to 7 days).

Why are not all notifications saved?

Some versions of One UI limit the number of notifications saved (usually the last 50-100). Also, the history may not contain notifications from system applications or those for which notifications are disabled.

3. Third-party applications for data recovery

If there are no backups and notifications are not saved, you can try specialized utilities to recover data. They scan the internal memory Samsung looking for fragments of deleted messages. Important: this method requires root access (on most modern devices, obtaining them violates the warranty).

Among the tested applications:

  • 🔍 Dr.Fone — Data Recovery (paid, but there is a trial version).
  • 📱 EaseUS MobiSaver (supports recovery from internal memory and SD cards).
  • 🛠️ DiskDigger (free for photos, paid for messages).

Instructions for Dr.Fone:

  1. Install the app on your PC and connect Samsung to USB (enable USB debugging in Settings → About phone → Build number - press 7 times to activate developer mode).
  2. Select mode Android data recovery.
  3. Specify the data type - Whatsapp messages.
  4. Follow the app's instructions to scan the memory.
⚠️ Attention: Data recovery applications may contain advertising or offer paid features. Before use, check reviews in Google Play and on independent forums (for example, 4PDA). Also remember: the more you use the phone after deleting messages, the lower the chances of successful recovery (new data overwrites old ones).
App Root required Recovers media Cost
Dr.Fone ❌ No (partially) ✅ Yes From $50
EaseUS MobiSaver ✅ Yes ✅ Yes From $30
DiskDigger ✅ Yes ❌ No (text only) Free/Paid
GT Recovery ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Free

4. Viewing the WhatsApp database manually

All messages WhatsApp are stored in an encrypted database on your Samsung. The file is called msgstore.db.crypt14 (or crypt12/crypt15 depending on the version of the application) and is located along the path:

/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/

To read this file:

  1. Download the app to your PC DB Browser for SQLite or WhatsApp Viewer.
  2. Connect Samsung to your computer and copy the database file.
  3. Use key decryption (it can be extracted from the phone using root or special scripts).
  4. Open the file in the app and find deleted messages by date or text.

This method is complex and requires technical skills, but it the only oneallows you to recover deleted messages a few months ago (if the database file has not been overwritten). On forums such as XDA Developersthere are detailed guides on working with crypt14 for specific models Samsung.

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If you have an old WhatsApp backup (for example, from another phone), you can try replace the current msgstore.db file with a backup copy from the archive. To do this, rename the downloaded backup to msgstore.db and place it in the /WhatsApp/Databases/ folder, then reinstall the application.

5. Alternative methods: cloud services and email

If none of the above worked, check:

  • 📧 Email: WhatsApp allows you to send copies of chats to email via Settings → Chat → Chat history → Export chat. You may have done this before.
  • ☁️ Cloud storage: Check Google Drive, Samsung Cloud or Dropbox for the presence of manual backups (files with the extension .crypt).
  • 📎 Attachments in other messengers: Sometimes users forward important messages to themselves Telegram or Viber.

On devices Samsung with One UI there is also a function Samsung Secure Folderwhere you can store copies of important data. If you use it for backup, check the folder for archives. WhatsApp.

What to do if nothing helps?

If all methods turned out to be useless, all that remains is prevention for the future:

  • 🔄 Enable daily backups in Settings WhatsApp → Chat → Backup.
  • 📤 Export important chats to email or to the cloud once a month.
  • 🛡️ Use two-factor authenticationto avoid account hacking (a common cause of data loss).
  • 📱 Install an application for monitoring notifications (for example, Notification History Log), which will duplicate all notifications.

Some forums advise contacting support WhatsApp with a request to restore messages, but this useless: the company does not store the contents of chats on its servers and cannot help in this situation. The only official way is to restore from a backup.

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On Samsung devices with Android 13+, the notification history function works more stable than on older versions. If you have a new model (for example, Galaxy S24), the chances of seeing a deleted message through notifications are higher.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about restoring messages on WhatsApp

Is it possible to recover messages deleted more than a year ago?

Theoretically, yes, but only if you have local backup (file msgstore.db.crypt*) for this period. Cloud copies are stored for a limited time (usually up to 1 year), after which they are overwritten. Also, the chances depend on how many times you reinstalled Google Drive are stored for a limited time (usually up to 1 year), after which they are overwritten. Also the chances depend on how many times you reinstalled WhatsApp during this time.

Why are all messages not returned when restoring from Google Drive?

This happens if:

  • Backup was created after deleting messages.
  • You restore the copy to another phone number.
  • In the settings Google Drive backup compression is enabled (some of the data may be lost).
  • The application WhatsApp was updated between creating a backup and restoring (sometimes this breaks compatibility).
Is it possible to restore messages without root access?

Yes, but with restrictions:

  • Through Google Drive (if there is a backup).
  • Through notification history (if the function is enabled).
  • Via email-export (if you have done it before).

For deep memory scanning (for example, using DiskDigger) root required.

What to do if WhatsApp asks to confirm the number, but recovery does not start?

The problem may be:

  • Google account mismatch (the backup is linked to another email).
  • Lack of space on the phone (free up at least 2-3 GB).
  • Unstable Internet (restoration requires a constant connection).
  • Old version of WhatsApp (update the application to Google Play).

Try to restart your phone and repeat the process.

Is it possible to recover deleted messages on another phone?

Yes, but for this you need to:

  1. Copy the backup file (msgstore.db.crypt*) from the old Samsung to the new one.
  2. Install WhatsApp on the new device and enter the same phone number.
  3. When a request to restore appears, specify local file (and not Google Drive).

Please note: the number must be the same as on the old phone.