Deleting an important chat in Viber is a situation that many users face. It is especially unpleasant if the correspondence contained valuable data: work agreements, personal photographs or contacts. Fortunately, even after deletion, there are chances to return messages - but only if you take correct and timely actions.

In this article we will look at all the available methods for restoring deleted chats in Viber on Android —from standard backup functions to little-known tricks with archives and third-party tools. It is important to understand that success depends on several factors: whether cloud synchronization was enabled, how long ago the chat was deleted, and whether the data on the device was overwritten. Some methods only work for a limited time after deletion, so you need to act quickly.

If you're looking for a way to get back messages that disappeared after resetting your phone, reinstalling Viber or accidentally clicking on "Delete", this guide will help you evaluate your chances and choose the best path. We will also tell you how to protect your chats from being lost in the future - because preventing a problem is always easier than solving its consequences.

1. Checking the archive of chats in Viber

The first thing to do is to check whether deleted messages have been saved in archive Viber. This feature automatically hides inactive chats, but does not delete them completely. Many users confuse archiving with deleting, so they start searching from the wrong place.

To find archived chats:

  • 📱 Open the application Viber on your Android-device.
  • 🔍 At the top of the screen, click on the search icon (magnifying glass).
  • 📂 Enter the name of the chat or the name of the contact you are looking for.
  • 🔄 If the chat is archived, it will appear in the search results marked "Archived". Click on it and select "Unarchive".

If the chat is not found through search, try another way:

  1. Tap on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper left corner.
  2. Select "Archive".
  3. Scroll the list - perhaps the chat you want here.
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Archived chats take up space in the device memory, but are not synchronized with the cloud. If you haven't opened it for a long time Vibercheck the archive first - sometimes there are "lost" correspondences there.

Important: archiving is not the same as backup. If you manually deleted the chat from the archive or cleared the application cache, this method will not work. In this case, proceed to the next method.

2. Restoring via Google Drive backup

Viber allows you to create backup copies of chats and media files in Google Drive. If this feature was activated before the chat was deleted, the chances of recovery are high. However, there are nuances: copies are not created automatically, but only upon manual launch or when reinstalling the application.

To restore chats from Google Drive:

  • ☁️ Make sure that the same account is authorized on the device Googlethat was used for the backup.
  • 📲 Reinstall Viber (remove and reinstall from Play Market).
  • 🔄 When you first launch the application, you will be prompted to restore data from a backup copy. Select the most recent date.
  • ⏳ Wait for the process to complete - this may take several minutes depending on the amount of data.

Make sure you have enough free space on your phone (minimum 1 GB)

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network

Battery should be charged be at least 50%

Use the same phone number as when creating the copy

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Method limitations:

  • ❌ Copies are created only during manual launch or reinstallation. Automatic backup to Viber is disabled by default.
  • ❌ If a lot of time has passed since the backup was created, the restored messages may be incomplete.
  • ❌ Media files (photos, videos, voice) are restored only if they were included in the backup settings.
📊 Do you regularly create backup copies of instant messengers?
Yes, once a month
Yes, before important events
Only when reinstalling
Never done
I don’t know how to do this

If the backup is missing or outdated, try the next method. But first, check if the messages you need are saved in another place - for example, in email correspondence or in cloud storage if you have ever exported the chat.

3. Using local backups on the device

Viber stores local copies of chats on the device, even if cloud synchronization is disabled. These files are located in a hidden folder and can be recovered using a file manager or special utilities. However, access to them requires root access or the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Instructions for users with root access:

  1. 📁 Open a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
  2. 🔍 Follow the path: /data/data/com.viber.voip/files/viber_data/
  3. 📄 Find files with the extension .vcrd (contacts) and .vmsg (messages).
  4. 📥 Copy them to a safe place (for example, on a computer).
  5. 🔄 Reinstall Viber and return the files back to the folder.

For users without root access:

  • 🖥️ Connect the phone to the PC and use ADB to access the folder:
    • adb pull /data/data/com.viber.voip/files/viber_data/ C:\ViberBackup\
  • 🔧 Install Viber again and return the files with the command:
    • adb push C:\ViberBackup\ /data/data/com.viber.voip/files/viber_data/
What to do if you don’t have root access and ADB doesn’t work?

If none of the methods work, try using specialized apps for data recovery, such as Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver. They scan the device's memory for deleted files, but success is not guaranteed - especially if a lot of time has passed since the chat was deleted or the phone's memory has been actively used. Local backups are overwritten with every update or clearing of the cache. If you have already reinstalled the application after deleting the chat, this method most likely will not work.

Local backups are overwritten with every update Viber or clearing the cache. If you've already reinstalled the app after deleting the chat, this method probably won't work.

4. Contacting Viber support

If standard methods do not help, you have one last chance - contact support service Viber. The company does not guarantee the restoration of deleted chats, but in some cases it can help, especially if:

  • 📅 The chat was deleted recently (less than 30 days ago).
  • 🔐 You have access to the email associated with your account Viber.
  • 📱 The device has not been reset or flashed.

How to make a request correctly:

  1. 📧 Open the feedback form on the official website Viber ("Support" section).
  2. 📝 Specify:
    • Phone number associated with the account.
    • Date and approximate time the chat was deleted.
    • Contact name or group name (if you remember).
    • Phone model and version Android.
  • 📎 Attach screenshots (if any) with confirmation of account ownership.
    • 💡

    The support service Viber does not restore messages deleted more than a month ago. The sooner you contact, the higher the chances of success.

    You will have to wait for a response from several days to a week. If the chat was critically important (for example, it contained evidence for court or financial data), specify in the request that you are ready to provide additional documents to confirm your identity.

    5. Recovery through third-party apps

    If all the previous methods did not work, you can try specialized utilities for data recovery. They scan the device's memory for deleted files and sometimes find fragments of chats. However, effectiveness depends on many factors: phone model, version Android, time elapsed after deletion, and memory usage activity.

    Popular recovery apps:

    app Support Viber Required root Cost
    Dr.Fone (Wondershare) Yes No (partially) From $50
    EaseUS MobiSaver Yes No From $30
    Tenorshare UltData Yes Desirable From $40
    DiskDigger No (media only) No Free

    Instructions for use Dr.Fone:

    1. 📥 Install the app on your PC and connect your phone via USB.
    2. 🔍 Select the "Android Data Recovery" mode.
    3. 📂 Specify the file types to scan (messages, media).
    4. ⏳ Wait for the analysis to complete (may take up to an hour).
    5. 📋 View the data found and save the ones you need.
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    Before using third-party apps, turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data on your phone. This will prevent the deleted data from being overwritten by new files.

    It is important to understand that:

    • ⚠️ There is no guarantee that the app will find exactly your messages from Viber.
    • ⚠️ Some utilities require payment for a full recovery.
    • ⚠️ Risk of running into scammers offering “100% recovery” for money.

    6. How to prevent loss of chats in the future

    The best way to combat data loss is prevention. If you actively use Viber to work or store important information, set up automatic backup and follow simple rules:

    Basic protection measures:

    • 🔄 Enable automatic synchronization with Google Drive:
      1. Open Viber → "More" (three dots) → "Settings".
      2. Select "Account" → "Backup".
      3. Activate the "Automatic backup" option and select the frequency (weekly or monthly).
  • 📤 Regularly export important chats manually:
    • Open the desired chat → click on the contact name → "Export chat".
    • Select the format (TXT or HTML) and save the file to your device or to the cloud.
  • 🚫 Avoid clear cache Viber through your phone settings - this may delete local copies of chats.
  • 📱 Use two-factor authentication for your account Viberto prevent unauthorized access.

    • Additional tips:

    • 📌 If there is critical information in the chat (for example, contracts or passwords), take screenshots or transfer the data to a more secure storage.
    • 🔄 Before selling or resetting your phone required save backup Viber and unlink your account.
    • 📡 When using Viber on multiple devices, make sure that synchronization is enabled on all of them.
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    Exported chats take little time places, but can save in a critical situation. Store them in the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) or on your computer.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is it possible to restore a chat that was deleted more than a year ago?

    The chances are extremely low. Viber does not store messages on its servers for longer than 30 days, and local copies are overwritten during updates. If you don't have a backup created before deletion, it's almost impossible to get the chat back. The exception is if you contacted support immediately after deletion and they saved the logs.

    Are media files (photos, videos) restored along with messages?

    This depends on the backup settings. In Google Drive media is saved only if you have enabled the "Backup media files" option in settings Viber. Local backups can contain media, but they take up a lot of space and are often deleted when the memory is cleared. If files were sent via chat but not saved on the device, their recovery is unlikely.

    What should you do if Viber asks for a password when restoring from a backup?

    This means that the copy was encrypted. The password usually matches what you used to lock your phone screen at the time the backup was created. If you don't remember it, try:

    • Standard combinations (for example, 1234, 0000).
    • Account password Google.
    • Date of birth or other personal data.

      • If all else fails, create a new backup without encryption.

    Is it possible to restore a chat after resetting the phone to factory settings?

    Only if you had a backup in Google Drive or another cloud service. Local data is permanently deleted after a reset. If there is no copy, try:

    1. Install Viber and log in with the same number.
    2. Check if the application offers to restore data from the cloud.
    3. Contact support Viber indicating the date reset.

    The chances are low, but with a quick response, sometimes it is possible to return some of the correspondence.

    Is it true that Viber stores all messages on its servers?

    No, it's a myth. Viber uses end-to-end encryption, so messages are stored only on the devices of chat participants. The company's servers temporarily store data for delivery (usually no longer than 30 days), but do not archive it. The exception is backups in Google Drive, which are created at the user's initiative.

    If none of the described methods helped, all that remains is to accept the loss of data and be more careful about backups in the future. Modern instant messengers provide enough tools to protect information - the main thing is to configure them correctly in advance.