Removing Viber from Androiddevices is an unpleasant situation, but not critical. Even if you deleted the application along with the cache, there is still a chance to get your correspondence and contacts back. The main thing is to act quickly and correctly so as not to lose access to your account forever. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios: from a simple reinstallation to restoring from a backup, including nuances for different versions Android and Viber.

Many users panic, thinking that deleting an application is tantamount to losing all data. In fact, Viber stores some information on servers, and some in the local storage of the device. However, there is an important caveat: if you not only deleted the application, but also reset the phone to factory settings or formatted the memory, the chances of recovery are sharply reduced. Therefore, first of all, check whether you have performed these actions.

Recovery Viber after deletion depends on three factors:

  1. Whether it was enabled automatic backup in the messenger settings.
  2. Are local files applications saved on the device.
  3. Have you used Google Drive or third-party backup services.

The following are step-by-step guide for each case.

1. Easy reinstallation of Viber: when it works

If you deleted Viber without wiping your data or resetting your phone, the fastest way to get the messenger back is to reinstall it from Google Play. In this case:

  • 🔄 The account will be restored automatically the first time you log in (if you remember the phone number).
  • 📱 Contact will be pulled from the phone book (if synchronization was enabled).
  • 💬 Correspondence may return if local data was not deleted along with the application.

To reinstall Viber:

  1. Open Google Play and find Viber Messenger.
  2. Click Install and wait for the download to complete.
  3. Launch the application and enter the phone number associated with your account.
  4. Confirm login using the SMS code.

If correspondence does not appear after reinstallation, then the local data has been deleted. In this case, proceed to the next section about backups.

📊 Do you regularly make backups of instant messengers?
Yes, automatically
Yes, manually
No, I don’t see the point
I don’t know how do

2. Restoring from a Viber backup

Backup is the only reliable way to return correspondence if local data is lost. Viber offers two backup options:

  • 🖥️ Local copy (saved on the device in a folder /sdcard/Viber/backup).
  • ☁️ Cloud backup (in Google Driveif the function has been activated).

To restore data from a local copy:

  1. Install Viber again (if you have not already done so).
  2. When you first start the application, you will be prompted restore data from backup. Click Restore.
  3. If the offer does not appear, go to Settings → Account → Restore from backup.

To restore from Google Drive:

  1. Make sure that the same account is authorized on your phone Googlethat was used for the backup.
  2. B Viber go to Settings → Account → Restore from Google Drive.
  3. Select the most recent copy and confirm the restoration.

Make sure that there is enough memory on the phone|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi|Battery charge > 50%|Use the same phone number as in the backup-->

Important! If you changed the phone number after creating the backup, restoring correspondence may not work. In this case, the data will remain tied to the old number.

3. What to do if there is no backup

If there are no backups and local data is deleted, the chances of returning correspondence are minimal. However, you can try the following methods:

Method 1: Recovering through application files

Sometimes after deleting Viber its data remains in the device memory. To find them:

  1. Connect your phone to the PC and turn on the mode File transfer.
  2. Open the folder /sdcard/Viber or /storage/emulated/0/Viber.
  3. Check for files with the extension .vcf (contacts) or folders backup.
  4. If there are files, copy them to your PC, reinstall Viber and try to recover the data manually.

Method 2: Using data recovery apps

Specialized utilities like DiskDigger, Recuva or Dr.Fone can find deleted files Viberif they have not been overwritten. However, success depends on:

  • 🕒 Time elapsed after deletion (the less, the better).
  • 📱 Phone model (on some devices, recovery is difficult due to encryption).
  • 🔄 Device activity (the more new data is recorded, the lower the chances).
💡

If you are using a recovery app, turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data on your phone to avoid overwriting deleted files.

Method 3: Contact Viber support

As a last resort, you can write to support Viber via the form on the official website. Indicate:

  • Phone number associated with the account.
  • Date of application deletion.
  • Phone model and version Android.

The chances of success are low, but support can help with account recovery (although not correspondence).

4. Features of recovery on different versions of Android

The recovery process Viber may differ depending on the version Android. Below are the key nuances for popular versions:

Android version Recovery features Possible problems
Android 10 and later Automatic backup c Google Drive enabled by default. Recovery via Settings → Google → Backup. Data encryption can block access to local files Viber without root access.
Android 8-9 Local backups are saved in /sdcard/Viber/backup. Restore through the app menu. When resetting the settings, backups can be deleted along with other data.
Android 7 and older Manual backup via Settings → Account → Backup. The files are stored in the device memory. No integration with Google Drive, high probability of data loss when deleted.

Due to restrictions Android 11+ due to restrictions Scoped Storage access to application folders is difficult. If Viber does not see the local backup, try:

  1. Copy the backup file (.vbk) to the folder Download.
  2. B Viber select Restore from file and specify the path to the copied backup.
What is Scoped Storage?

This is a file access restriction system introduced in Android 10+. Applications can no longer freely read other apps' files without the user's explicit permission. Because of this, Viber may not see backups created by older versions.

5. How to avoid data loss in the future

To avoid encountering the problem of deleted data again, set up automatic backup in Viber:

  1. Open Viber and go to Settings → Account → Backup copy.
  2. Enable the option Automatic backup.
  3. Select frequency (daily, weekly or monthly).
  4. Specify the storage location: Google Drive or local storage.

Additional precautions:

  • 🔐 Link your email to your account Viber (in profile settings). This will help restore access if you lose your SIM card.
  • 📁 Export chats regularly manually via Settings → Account → Export history.
  • 📱 Do not delete Viber via "Clear data" in settings Android this also deletes local backups.
💡

Even if you do not use Viber actively, do not delete it from your phone without first backup. Local data can store important correspondence that cannot be recovered otherwise.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When restoring Viber users often make mistakes that lead to final data loss. Let's look at the most common ones:

Error 1: Deleting an application through "Clear data"

If you delete Viber via Settings → Applications → Viber → Storage → Clear data, this leads to deletion all local files, including backups. Instead:

  • Delete the application in the standard way (via Google Play or menu applications).
  • Or disable it if you want to temporarily free up space.

Error 2: Logging in from a new phone number

If you deleted Viber and when reinstalling you entered different number, the old account will be blocked. To avoid this:

  • Use the same number that was linked earlier.
  • If the SIM card is lost, restore the number from the operator before logging in Viber.

Error 3: Ignoring updates

Old versions Viber may not support modern recovery methods (for example, backup to Google Drive). Always update the application before creating or restoring a backup. Google Drive This file can be saved on your PC or in the cloud and imported to a new device.

💡

If you change phones frequently, export your chat history to .zip-archive through settings Viber. This file can be saved to your PC or the cloud and imported to a new device.

7. Alternative methods of communication if Viber is not restored

If recovery Viber failed, consider alternative instant messengers for temporary communication:

  • 📱 WhatsApp - supports backup to Google Drive and migration of chats between devices.
  • 💬 Telegram — cloud storage of chats (does not require backups) and cross-platform.
  • 🔒 Signal —private messenger with encryption and the ability to export chats.

To transfer contacts from Viber to another messenger:

  1. Export contacts from the phone book to a file .vcf.
  2. Import them into a new messenger (most support this function).
  3. Create a group chat and invite contacts manually (if automatic synchronization does not works).

If you used Viber Out to call landline numbers, check the balance in your personal account on the website Viber. When you delete the application, the funds are not lost, but to use them you will need to re-authorize.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to restore Viber correspondence after resetting the phone to factory settings?

If you had backup enabled in Google Drive, there are chances. Otherwise, no, since the reset deletes all local data, including backups Viber. Try using recovery apps like Dr.Fone, but success is not guaranteed.

Viber asks for confirmation via SMS, but the message does not arrive. What to do?

The problem may be related to messages being blocked by the operator or an incorrect number. Try:

  1. Reboot your phone.
  2. Check if SMS is blocked by an antivirus or third-party applications.
  3. Request a call with a verification code in Viber ("Call me" option).
  4. Make sure that the SIM card is active and the number has not been changed.

Is it possible to recover deleted messages in Viber if the application was not deleted?

Yes, if the messages were recently deleted. Open the chat, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Restore messages. This option is available for 30 days after deletion. For older messages, a backup copy will be required.

What happens if you do not use Viber for more than a year?

Account Viber becomes inactive if not used use during 12 months. After this, the phone number is released, and you will not be able to restore access to the old account. However, if you simply did not enter the application, but the number remained active, the account is saved.

How to transfer Viber history to a new phone?

Transfer methods:

  • If both phones are on Android: create a backup on the old device and restore it on the new one via Google Drive or a local file.
  • If the new phone is on iOS: export the history to a file on Android, then import it to iPhone via iTunes or iCloud (required Viber for iOS version 10.0+).
  • Via Viber Desktop: log in to your PC, save the history manually, then import to a new phone.