WhatsApp is one of the most commonly used messaging applications in the world. It gives users an easy way of communicating with their friends, family, and even colleagues. In fact, one thing that always strikes people’s curiosity is the “delete message” feature. You could be wondering what had been in the message that was sent before you saw it. Here’s how to read deleted WhatsApp messages. Let’s look at the simple ways below:
1. Use WhatsApp’s Notification Preview
WhatsApp sometimes displays the content of the message on your phone’s notification bar. Even if the message is deleted later, the preview might still show up. To check this, swipe down from the top of your screen (on Android), or pull down your notifications (on iPhone), to see if the deleted message is visible.
Note: This works only if a notification was sent beforehand before the message was deleted and you haven’t cleared the notifications.
2. Use a Third-Party App
There are some third-party apps you can use that will help you to read deleted messages. These generally work by tracking WhatsApp notifications to save the data for later retrieval. Some of the popular apps include:
- Notification History Log (for Android)
- Notification Saver (for iPhone)
All the incoming messages and notifications from apps are kept. You will see them, even after these have been erased on WhatsApp. Always be watchful in using these third-party applications as they could invade your personal life and security issues.
3. Review Your WhatsApp Backup
You can back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone. If you have an older backup from before the message was deleted, you might be able to recover it and read the message.
Restoring an old backup:
- For Android: Settings > Chats > Chat backup. If the message was included in a backup, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp and, during the installation process, select to restore the backup.
- For iPhone: Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Reinstall WhatsApp and restore from the backup.
Note: Restoring a backup will erase your current messages. Use this option with caution.
4. File Explorer (For Advanced Users)
Some Android users with root access can browse WhatsApp’s data storage to retrieve deleted messages. This is a very technical process and should not be attempted by average users since it involves rooting your phone, which may void warranties or damage your device.
5. Ask the Sender
If all else fails, you can always ask the person who sent you the message what it was. Sometimes, the easiest solution is to go straight to the source!
6. Use WhatsApp Web (Limited Functionality)
WhatsApp Web syncs the messages on your phone’s WhatsApp with your computer so that you can access them through a browser. But if a message was deleted after it was synced, it will not appear on WhatsApp Web either. But if you had WhatsApp Web open and hadn’t deleted the message before it synced, you may be able to see it.
Note: WhatsApp Web is simply an extension of the app on your phone, so it doesn’t provide additional avenues for accessing deleted messages that aren’t already on your phone.
7. WhatsApp Data Export
WhatsApp gives you the option of exporting your chat history: something useful in case you wish to maintain some record of conversation. If messages were on before you deleted them and included in your exported information, you might be able to access them.
How to Export a Chat:
- Open up the chat you want to export
- Tap on the dots (Android) or the contact’s name (iPhone).
- Tap Export Chat.
- Include or not the media.
- If chosen, media will be exported along with the chat in a .txt format
If in case the message was already deleted at the time of export, it would appear in the exported file.
8. Check Archived Chats
In other cases, messages get archived instead of being deleted. You won’t see archived chats on the main chat list. However, they’re still saved on your phone. If you suspect that a message doesn’t delete but archives instead, here’s how you can access it:
- On Android: Scroll all the way down to the bottom in your chat list, then tap on Archived Chats.
- On iPhone: Scroll all the way up to the top on your chat list and tap on Archived Chats.
9. Android Only: Rooted Phone for Access to WhatsApp Database
Android users, if they have rooted their phone, can go straight to accessing the WhatsApp database. This requires highly technical procedure, and in fact, you might use SQLite Database Viewer or WhatsApp Viewer. Those tools allow one to view the backup databases in which all of your WhatsApp messages are stored.
However, rooting your phone has several risks, such as voiding warranties, security vulnerabilities, and potential system instability. It is recommended only for tech-savvy users who understand the risks involved.
10. Legal and Ethical Considerations
While it might be tempting to explore deleted messages, it’s important to approach this with caution. Deleting messages is a privacy feature that WhatsApp offers to protect users’ data. Reading someone else’s deleted messages without their permission may violate their privacy rights, and in some cases, it could be illegal, depending on your location.
Always keep yourself mindful of the ethical boundaries. If you feel that one has deleted a message for some reason, better to communicate face to face with respect and humility towards that person.
11. Why Do People Delete Messages on WhatsApp?
Knowing why people delete messages may be able to give you a better perspective. There are several reasons why someone might delete a message on WhatsApp, including:
- Accidental sending: Some people just accidentally send a wrong message or send it to the wrong person and delete it at once.
- Privacy: Individuals may erase the messages that they feel contain personal or sensitive information.
- Apologies or regret: Sometimes, a person sends a message in which they have second thoughts; hence they want to get out of that particular conversation by deleting it.
12. Avoid the Situation of Having to Read Deleted Messages
If you cannot resist the urge to know what messages are being deleted, you can take the following steps to avoid the situation altogether:
- Enable message backups: Make sure your WhatsApp backs up your chats daily or weekly so that you have a copy of your messages.
- Take screenshots: If you get a message you think is essential, you can screenshot it for reference later before it gets deleted.
- Ask for clarification: If someone deletes a message, just ask him or her what it said. Open communication solves everything!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I read deleted WhatsApp messages without any app?
Yes, you can try checking your phone’s notification bar or use WhatsApp’s backup feature to recover deleted messages. However, without third-party apps or backups, your options are limited.
2. What is the easiest way to read deleted WhatsApp messages?
The easiest way is by checking your phone’s notifications. If the message was visible before deletion, the notification preview might still show the message content.
3. Do third-party apps work to read deleted WhatsApp messages?
Yes, apps like Notification History Log (for Android) and Notification Saver (for iPhone) can help you track and retrieve deleted messages. However, be cautious about using these apps as they may compromise your privacy.
4. Can I read deleted WhatsApp messages from a backup?
Yes, if you have an old backup from before the message was deleted, you can restore it and read the deleted messages. Just make sure you understand that restoring a backup will overwrite your current chats.
5. Is it legal to read someone else’s deleted WhatsApp messages?
Reading someone else’s deleted messages without their permission may violate privacy laws depending on your location. It’s important to respect others’ privacy when dealing with deleted messages.
6. Can WhatsApp Web help me read deleted messages?
No, WhatsApp Web does not offer any additional features to access deleted messages. If a message was deleted before syncing to WhatsApp Web, you won’t be able to see it there.
7. What should I do if I really need to know what was in a deleted message?
The best approach is to ask the person who sent you the message directly. Open and respectful communication is always the best way to resolve any misunderstandings.
8. How can I avoid losing important WhatsApp messages in the future?
You can enable automatic backups on WhatsApp to make sure your chats are backed up daily or weekly. You can also take screenshots of important messages before they get deleted.
