The loss of important correspondence in the messenger is a stressful situation that many smartphone users face Honor 8X. Accidentally deleting a chat, performing a factory reset, or crashing an app can result in valuable data disappearing. Fortunately, the Android architecture and operating features provide several information protection mechanisms that allow you to recover lost data. WhatsApp provide several information protection mechanisms that allow you to recover lost information.
The success of the recovery operation directly depends on whether automatic ones were previously configured and how long ago the chat was deleted. Owners backups and how long ago the chat was deleted. Owners Huawei Honor 8X need to act quickly and consistently, as overwriting files may make data recovery impossible. In this article we will analyze in detail all available methods, from standard cloud storage tools to working with local database files.
Checking the availability of a backup in Google Drive
The easiest and most reliable way to return messages is to use cloud storage Google Drive. By default, the WhatsApp app on Android offers to configure automatic creation of backups once a day, week or month. Before starting any steps to reinstall the messenger, it is critical to make sure that the required copy actually exists on Google servers.
To do this, go to the settings of the application itself, if it is already installed, or check the storage through the browser. You need to find the section Chats → Backup copy of chats. The date and time of the last save, as well as the amount of space used, is displayed here. If the date of creation of the copy precedes the moment of deleting the correspondence, the chances of success are maximum.
However, if you have already deleted the application or completely reset the phone Factory Reset, you can check the availability of a backup only during the installation process. When you first start WhatsApp clean Honor 8X the system will automatically detect your Google account and offer to restore your data. Refusal of this offer at this stage will result in a complete loss of the ability to use the cloud backup.
⚠️ Attention: Restoring from Google Drive is only possible when using the same phone number and the same Google account to which the copy was created. Changing any of these settings will make the backup unavailable.
Recovery via local database files
If the cloud copy is missing, outdated, or the recovery process via Google Drive failed, local backup comes to the rescue. Smartphones based on Android, including Honor 8X, store daily copies of correspondence in the internal memory of the device. These files are created automatically every morning at 2 am and are stored for 7 days.
To use this method, you will need a file manager. Huawei and Honor devices often have a built-in file manager, but you can also use third-party solutions, for example Files by Google or Total Commander. Your task is to find the folder where the encrypted databases are stored. The path to them may differ depending on the Android version:
- 📂 For Android 10 and below:
/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases - 📂 For Android 11 and higher:
/sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases - 📂 Alternative path:
/sdcard/Huawei/WhatsApp/Databases
In this directory you will see files with names like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14. The numbers in the title indicate the date the copy was created. The file named simply msgstore.db.crypt14 (no date) is the current database, which may already be empty or corrupt. You need to select a file with a date before the messages were deleted.
Before renaming files, copy the entire Databases folder to your computer or to the cloud. This will create a fallback point if something goes wrong.
The file replacement process requires care. First, delete or rename the current file msgstore.db.crypt14by adding the word .oldto its name. Then select the desired archive for the previous date and rename it to msgstore.db.crypt14, removing the date from the name. It is important to keep the file extension unchanged, otherwise the application will not be able to read it.
Step-by-step guide for replacing the database file
After preparing the files, you need to reinstall the messenger so that it picks up the changed database. This step is key, and any error in the sequence of actions can lead to the application starting with an empty list of chats.
First, completely remove the application WhatsApp from your Honor 8X. Then clear the cache and system data, if any, through the phone's settings menu. Make sure that the renamed database file is in the correct folder, which we discussed in the previous section.
☑️ Checklist before recovery
Now download and install WhatsApp again from the official store Google Play or AppGallery. When you first start, enter the same phone number that you used previously. After checking the number, the system will offer to find a backup copy. In this case, it will find the local file that you prepared manually.
Press the button Restore. Do not click "Skip" or you will have to start the process again. Wait until the media files are downloaded. This process may take time depending on the volume of correspondence and the memory speed of your smartphone.
| Option | Google Drive | Local copy | Third-party software |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low | Medium | High |
| Requires PC | No | No (preferred) | Yes |
| Data relevance | Until backup | Up to 7 days ago | Depends on success |
| Risk of loss | Minimal | Medium | High |
Local copies are stored for only 7 days. If the message was deleted two weeks ago, this method will not work without first manually copying the files.
Using third-party recovery apps
When built-in methods do not help, users turn to specialized data recovery software. There are many apps, such as Dr.Fone, Tenorshare UltData or iMobie PhoneRescue, which are positioned as tools for rescuing deleted information from Android devices.
The principle of operation of such utilities is based on a deep scan of the phone's memory or analysis of the remaining fragments of database files. To work with Honor 8X you will need a computer with Windows or macOS, a USB cable and USB debugging mode enabled. This mode is activated in the menu Settings → System → For developers.
It is worth noting that modern versions of Android have strict security policies that limit direct access to system memory sections. Therefore, the effectiveness of such apps is not 100% guaranteed. Moreover, most of them are paid, and often the ability to preview found messages is provided for free, but the recovery itself requires the purchase of a license.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful when downloading recovery apps. Many free utilities may contain malware. Use only the official website of the developer.
Why may apps not find data?
Modern smartphones use memory encryption. Without root access, access to deleted memory sectors is often closed, which makes software recovery extremely difficult or impossible.
Features of recovery on Honor and Huawei smartphones
Owners of brand devices Honor face a number of specific features due to the shell EMUI or Magic UI. In the latest firmware versions, access to the folder Android/data i Android/media may be restricted for third-party file managers for security purposes.
If you cannot find the folder with databases through a standard explorer, try connecting the phone to the computer in file transfer mode (MTP). Through the Windows Explorer interface, navigation through system folders is often more complete and convenient. Also make sure that your file manager has all the necessary permissions in the application settings.
Another feature is working with a Huawei ID account. Although WhatsApp uses Google Drive for backups on global firmware versions, some models without Google services may require setting up synchronization via the Huawei cloud, although the messenger's native support for this is limited. In such cases, the local method remains the only working option.
Preventing future data loss
In order to no longer encounter the problem of losing correspondence, you need to set up a competent backup system. Don't rely on chance. Go to WhatsApp settings and set the frequency of creating copies in Google Drive to “Daily”. This ensures that if lost, you will lose a maximum of one day of correspondence.
It is also recommended to periodically manually copy the folder Databases to a computer or external drive. This will create a long-term archive that is not limited to seven days like automatic local copies. Set aside time once a month for such a procedure, and your data will be safe.
- 💾 Set up auto-backup in Google Drive on a daily basis.
- 💻 Once a month, copy the database folder to your PC.
- 🔒 Do not provide root access to dubious people applications.
When changing your smartphone to a new Honor, be sure to restore data from Google Drive during the first setup, before you start actively using the messenger.
Remember that no method gives a 100% guarantee, especially if the data was overwritten with new files. The fewer actions you take on your phone after deleting messages, the higher the chances of successful recovery. Put the phone aside and carefully read the instructions before starting work.
Is it possible to restore correspondence if I did not make backup copies?
Without a previously created backup copy (cloud or local), it is impossible to restore correspondence using standard means. Third-party apps may try to find deleted fragments in memory, but success is not guaranteed, especially on modern versions of Android with encryption.
What should you do if WhatsApp says “File is corrupted” when restoring?
This means that the database file msgstore.db.crypt... cannot be read. Try selecting another copy from an earlier date. Make sure that you have not changed the file extension and that the file name matches the format msgstore.db.crypt14 (number may vary).
Will current messages be erased when restoring an old copy?
Yes, all messages received between the date the backup was created and the current moment will be deleted. Restoring replaces the current database with the one that was in the archive. It is recommended to save important new chats by taking screenshots or sending them to yourself in another messenger.
Where are backups stored on Honor 8X with Android 11?
On Android 11 and higher, the path has changed due to security policies. Look for copies at: /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. The old path /sdcard/WhatsApp can be empty or used only for media files.
Do you need Root to restore correspondence?
For standard recovery methods via Google Drive or local files, root access is not needed. They may only be required when using highly specialized software to recover deleted memory sectors, but this is a risky procedure.