Ever found yourself in a situation where you received a WhatsApp message, only to see it disappear before you could read it? I know how frustrating it can be. But guess what? There’s a way to retrieve those “deleted for everyone” messages on your iPhone.
In this guide, I’ll share a simple yet effective method to read those already deleted WhatsApp messages. Whether it’s curiosity or the need to keep track of important information, this trick could be a lifesaver. So, let’s dive into the world of WhatsApp and uncover the secrets of deleted messages.
What are “deleted for everyone” messages in WhatsApp?
Before we delve deeper into the process of retrieving deleted for everyone messages, it’s crucial to understand what they are.
The “Delete for Everyone” feature was introduced by WhatsApp back in 2017 to provide users with more control over the content they share. We’ve all been there, unintentionally sending a message to the wrong person or a group chat. This feature allows a user to remove a sent message from both their chat and the receiver’s chat within an hour of sending it.
Understanding how these messages function is important. Here’s what happens when you delete a message:
- Once a user taps on “Delete for Everyone,” the message instantly disappears from every involved party’s chat.
- WhatsApp replaces the deleted message with a note saying: “This message was deleted.”
- It’s not only limited to text messages. You can delete photos, videos, files, and even voice messages.
You might be wondering how the process of deleting these messages works? The app keeps a temporary encrypted copy of your chat on your device. When you choose to delete a message for everyone, this copy gets updated, and the chosen message is removed.
Does this mean that the deleted message is gone forever? Well, not exactly. As we’ll explore in the next section, there are ways to unveil these digital apparitions, revealing the shadows of deleted messages.
Understanding the limitations of retrieving deleted messages
It’s practical to comprehend that there are certain restrictions when attempting to recoup the ghost of deleted WhatsApp messages. As crucial as it is to understand how to locate these deleted pieces, it’s equally essential to know the confines of the system’s flexibility.
Here’s the catch – deleted messages cannot be retrieved beyond seven days. WhatsApp automatically creates a backup of your chats at 2 AM every day. So, if a message got deleted before the latest backup, there’s a realistic chance you could recover it. But if it surpasses the seven-day window, the opportunity nearly dissipates.
The system’s design doesn’t prioritize the retrieval of deleted voice messages, documents, or any type of media files. While traces of text messages might be picked up, media files are almost impossible to retrieve once erased by the “Delete for Everyone” feature.
Also, remember that if you’ve updated your WhatsApp after the point of deletion, the odds of getting that message back are notably slim. This happens because updating the app overwrites the backup data, obliterating the faintest traces of the deleted content.
Lastly, this method works solely for iPhone users. Other operating systems have different setups and their own series of methods for recovery. So, it’s worth noting that these instructions won’t work for non-iPhone users.
Understanding these boundaries will help streamline your expectations. It’s not a foolproof method and comes with its own set of hurdles. But with a dash of perseverance and a bit of tech-savvy dexterity, one can occasionally catch glimpses of those lost words in the digital ether.
Let’s now focus on the step-by-step procedure to recover these elusive messages on an iPhone…
Method 1: Checking the notification history on your iPhone
Ready to dive into the first method? We’re going to delve into how notification history on your iPhone could be a saving grace in this predicament. Chances are, if you have your WhatsApp notifications on, you might find what you’re looking for right there. I’ll take you through the steps.
Before we start, it’s worth noting that this is just one technique. The effectiveness of this method may vary, depending on when the message was deleted, among other things.
The first step is to check your Notification Center. You might be wondering: “Why?” But stick with me – it gets interesting. Sometimes, even though messages have been deleted in the app, you’ll find that it’s still visible as a notification. All you need to do is swipe down from the top of your screen. That’s it! You have accessed your Notification Center. Within these cascades of notifications, navigate to the WhatsApp ones and see if you can find your gift.
Let’s suppose you’re unlucky here, or maybe you cleared out your Notification Center recently. What now? Don’t fret. There’s another way to get a hint of this ghost message.
Next, try inspecting Siri Suggestions. Search for it by pulling down from the middle of your home screen. Siri Suggestions often store previews of messages. Scroll through the suggestions and check out Whatsapp. If you’re fortunate enough, the tease of a deleted message might be lurking there, waiting for discovery.
If this technique hasn’t worked for you, don’t let it get you down. Remember, there’s no exclusive pathway in this. You still have more alternative methods to test out and satisfy the Sherlock in you. As always, do remember that nothing is guaranteed when you’re trying to eavesdrop on deleted messages. However, that reality sure doesn’t take away from the thrill of the chase, does it? So, stay hopeful, keep trying. And in our next section, we’ll go on exploring more techniques. This journey is far from over.
Method 2: Using third-party apps to recover deleted WhatsApp messages
If checking the notification history doesn’t get you the result you’re after, another approach worth considering is using third-party apps. The market is teeming with options; therefore, I am here to narrow them down and highlight the most effective ones.
One notable app for WhatsApp recovery is Dr.Fone – Recover (iOS). As per user ratings and my personal experience, it undoubtedly stands out among its competitors. With its user-friendly design and easy-to-follow process, you do not need extensive technical knowledge to retrieve your lost messages.
However, it’s not all roses. Let’s make it clear, the performance of these third-party apps can depend on several factors. If you’ve updated your WhatsApp or your iPhone, the success of recovery might falter. So, while this method can be effective, it’s essential to know the limitations.
Let me walk you through on how to use Dr.Fone:
- First, download and install the Dr.Fone app on your computer.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- After launching the app, select “Recover from iOS Device”.
- Check “WhatsApp & Attachments” then click “Start Scan”.
- Once the scan is finished, it’ll display both existing and deleted data. Simply choose which ones you need to recover.
On the flip side, using these apps might go against WhatsApp’s policy. It opens up a debate on privacy issues as well, since you’re allowing third-party apps to delve into your personal messages.
Method 3: Restoring WhatsApp backup to retrieve deleted messages
Now let’s move onto our third method: restoring WhatsApp backup. This way is a lifesaver when you haven’t found success in the notification log or using third-party apps like Dr.Fone.
To start, WhatsApp keeps a backup of your chat history in iCloud (for iPhone users) or Google Drive (for Android users). For the iCloud backup to work, you need to have a backup created beforehand. So it’s a clever move always to have these auto backups enabled.
To restore a backup, you need to:
- Uninstall and then reinstall WhatsApp
- Enter your phone number to verify it
- On the backup prompt screen, tap restore
- Wait for the restoration process to complete
Just following these few steps can potentially recover your deleted messages.
But remember, this method has its downsides too. One significant pitfall is that all your current chats will be replaced with the backup file, likely erasing recent messages not included in the backup.
Moreover, WhatsApp doesn’t support cross-platform or cross-account restorations. Android backups can’t be restored on an iPhone (and vice versa), and backups created under one phone number can’t be transferred to another.
However, despite these caveats, restoring a WhatsApp backup can be a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal for retrieving lost messages. The key lies in creating regular backups to ensure you don’t lose important information.
Conclusion
So there you have it. I’ve walked you through different ways to recover deleted WhatsApp messages on your iPhone. We’ve explored the notification history method, the use of third-party apps like Dr.Fone – Recover (iOS), and restoring WhatsApp backup from iCloud. Each method has its strengths and caveats, and what works best may depend on your specific circumstances. Remember, using third-party apps might conflict with WhatsApp’s policy and raise privacy issues. Also, restoring a backup could replace all your current chats, and it doesn’t support cross-platform or cross-account restorations. But if you’re diligent about creating regular backups, this could be your best bet for retrieving lost messages. Here’s hoping you never lose an important message again, but if you do, you now know the steps to recover it.