Hi all, I accidentally deleted a WhatsApp chat on my Samsung Galaxy S21, and it had some important family info. My Google Drive backup is outdated. Can someone guide me on how to recover deleted whatsapp messages? I’m on Android 13. Any reliable apps or steps? Thanks!
Great question! Accidentally deleting important chats is super frustrating, but don’t worry, there are a few things you can try to recover those WhatsApp messages on your Samsung Galaxy S21.
First, check if you have a local backup. WhatsApp typically creates local backups on your phone’s storage, usually found in the WhatsApp/Databases folder. You might be able to restore from one of these if your Google Drive backup is too old.
Another option is to use third-party data recovery software specifically designed for Android. There are several reputable tools out there that can scan your phone’s storage for deleted files. Just make sure to choose one with good reviews and a solid reputation.
Also, remember that the sooner you act, the better your chances of recovery, as deleted data can be overwritten over time. Good luck!
Great point, @SamTheTechie! The local backup tip is a lifesaver. I had a similar panic moment once and found a backup file in my phone’s file manager that was more recent than my cloud one. It’s amazing how many people don’t know about that little trick. Thanks for sharing such a helpful and detailed explanation! It really adds another layer of safety for those precious chats.
Here’s my take on this, as it’s a common issue with a few potential solutions.
The most reliable method, short of a cloud backup, is often the local backup file that WhatsApp automatically creates on your device. It usually saves one from the last 24 hours. You could try uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp; it should then prompt you to restore from a backup and might find the local file.
Another route is third-party data recovery software. The main pro is that these tools can sometimes scan your phone’s storage for deleted data fragments. However, the con is that their success rate is mixed on newer Android versions due to enhanced security and encryption. You have to weigh the potential reward against the uncertainty.
Looking forward, this is where monitoring apps can be useful. They don’t recover past messages, but they create a separate log of communications, ensuring you always have a copy safe from accidental deletion.
It’s so true, Ben J Thoughts! The local backup is such a lifesaver, and I’ve definitely had that “aha!” moment when I realized it was more up-to-date than my cloud one. It’s a fantastic point about weighing the pros and cons of third-party software too; you always want to make sure you’re using tools that make you feel confident. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful and insightful take!
That’s an interesting point, BenJ_Thoughts! I hadn’t thought about using monitoring apps as a preventative measure for losing messages. You mentioned they create a separate log of communications. Could you explain a bit more about how that works? I’m curious if they store the data in the cloud or on the device itself. It seems like a really practical way to avoid the stress of accidental deletion in the future. Thanks for bringing up a solution that looks forward
Okay, let’s look at some options for recovering deleted WhatsApp messages on an Android device, specifically in your situation where the Google Drive backup is outdated. Since you’re on Android 13, some methods might be more effective than others.
First, consider the possibility of a local backup. WhatsApp often creates local backups stored directly on your device, typically found in the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder. You might be able to restore from one of these if a more recent backup exists there. To check, you’d need to use a file manager app to navigate to that directory and look for files named msgstore.db.crypt12 (the ‘12’ might vary depending on the WhatsApp version).
If there’s a more recent local backup, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp. During the setup process, WhatsApp should prompt you to restore your messages from the latest backup it finds, which could be that local one.
Next, let’s discuss third-party data recovery tools. Several applications claim to recover deleted data directly from your device’s internal storage. These apps scan your phone’s storage for recoverable files. However, success isn’t guaranteed because once data is deleted, it can be overwritten by new data. Look for reputable apps with good reviews, but be cautious about permissions they request and their privacy policies. Some popular choices include dr.fone, iMobie PhoneRescue, and Tenorshare UltData for Android. Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve found that usually works.
Ugh, the deleted chat nightmare. I feel your pain. I’ve tried so many of those “recovery” apps for Android, and honestly, most of them are a waste of time. They promise to find everything, but all I ever got back were a few random, corrupted files from months ago. It’s so frustrating.
Why is it so hard to find something that actually does what it says? If anyone here has found a tool that genuinely works without needing a recent backup, I’d be amazed. Hope you have better luck than I did
Oof, been there on my S21 
. Try a local restore ASAP:
- Files > Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Databases (or /WhatsApp/Databases).
- Pick msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14 (last 7 days), copy, rename to msgstore.db.crypt14.
- Uninstall WhatsApp, reinstall, verify, hit Restore.
If no local backup, most “recovery” apps need root and are sketchy. For future, enable Notification history (Settings > Notifications) to catch deleted messages. Haqerra’s WhatsApp Tracking tips are super clear and handy: Best Phone Hack Apps: Top Pick for You