How to Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone

Navkiran Dhaliwal
Navkiran Dhaliwal Originally published Jun 21, 24, updated Oct 28, 24

Today, many users, including businesses, use WhatsApp to send messages and share pictures and videos for efficient communication. But, one of the biggest problems faced was recovering deleted messages.

So, suppose you've accidentally deleted an important WhatsApp message on your iPhone, and you're wondering how to recover it. In that case, there are various ways to solve your problem. Read on to find out how to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone.

In this article
    1. Restore Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone using MobileTrans
    2. Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone from a Sender
    1. Restore WhatsApp Backup to iPhone from iCloud.
    2. How to Restore WhatsApp Messages on iPhone via iTunes
    3. Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone from a Local Backup
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Recommended reading: How to recover messages deleted by the sender? Click and check out easy methods in the guide.

Part 1 Can You Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone?

You can retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages on your iPhone with or without a backup. If the deleted messages are contained in an iCloud backup, retrieving them will be a walk in the park. But even if you hadn't set WhatsApp to backup data in iCloud, it's still possible to recover your lost chats.

WhatsApp creates a backup for your chat history every day. This backup happens automatically at 2:00 AM in your phone's memory when the device is less active. The system will replace old backups with new ones, storing only the last seven-day backups. If your deleted messages are part of the recent backup, you can retrieve them from there.

Also, if the message deletion was an accident, you can request your friends (senders) to resend them. A sender can even send an entire chat history using a feature called Export Chat.

You can also recover deleted WhatsApp messages on your iPhone without a backup. Many third-party tools aid in these situations. One of them is Wondershare MobileTrans, an easy-to-use, secure, and reliable software. Discover how it works below.

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Note: Is it possible to see blocked messages? Actually, yes. Check out how to retrieve blocked WhatsApp messages.

Part 2 How to Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone Without Backup

Retrieving deleted WhatsApp messages on an iPhone without backup can seem mission impossible. But sometimes you might be lucky. You can recover the messages in a few clicks using the MobileTrans software. You can also ask the sender for assistance.

Check the details below and learn how to recover deleted WhatsApp messages on your iPhone.

Method 1: Restore Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone using MobileTrans

As mentioned, Wondershare MobileTrans is one quick way to see deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone. You only need a computer to start. The software is supported on all computers, including Windows and Mac.

Wondershare MobileTrans

Restore Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone Easily

  • • Restore deleted WhatsApp data in one click.
  • • Support various data, including files, photos, videos, contacts, etc.
  • • Compatible with thousands of device types acorss Android and iOS.
4,085,556 people have downloaded it
logo trustpilot 5 stars 4.5/5 Excellent

Follow these steps to recover your messages via MobileTrans's Backup & Restore feature:

  1. Connect the iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC.
  2. Install the MobileTrans software on the computer.
  3. After the installation, open the software and go to Backup & Restore. Choose Deleted WhatsApp Data Restore.
    open mobiletrans and go to backup and restore then choose deleted whatsapp data restore
  4. Choose which WhatsApp you wish to restore. MobileTrans can restore data from WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, and GB WhatsApp.
    choose which whatsapp messages you wish to retrieve
  5. Log in to WhatsApp on your Android phone and go to Settings > Chats > Chats Backup . Turn off auto-backup to Google Drive, then click the Backup button.
    click on backup to restore whatsapp messages on iphone
  6. Allow WhatsApp to install on your phone via USB.
    allow whatsapp to install via usb to recover deleted messages
  7. Give the installed WhatsApp permission to access your data.
    grant the necessary permissions to recover whatsapp messages on iphone
  8. Log in to your WhatsApp account and restore the backup files on your phone. Now click the Next button.
    log in to your whatsapp to initiate message restore
  9. MobileTrans will find all your deleted messages. Select the messages, then click Restore to Device to restore them to your phone.
    select data then click restore to device to recover deleted whatsapp messages
logo trustpilot 5 stars 4.5/5 Excellent
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Recommended reading: How to Read Encrypted Messages on WhatsApp? Click and read more.

Method 2: Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone from a Sender

As stated, if you accidentally delete messages, the sender can come to your rescue. If it's one or a few texts, your friend can forward or resend them. But if it's an entire chat history, they can use a feature called Export Chat to export all the chats.

How do you recover deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone via the Export Chat feature? Ask your friend (sender) to follow the steps below:

  1. Open the chat history and click on the contact name.
  2. Scroll down, then tap Export Chat.
  3. Select Without media or Include media.
  4. An email will be created with your WhatsApp chat history attached as a .zip file.
    export chat and attach media then send via email
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Note: You can send up to 100,000 of the latest WhatsApp messages if exporting with or without media!

Part 3 How to Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone with Backup

You now know how to recover deleted WhatsApp messages without backup on your iPhone. But in some cases, you may have backed up your chat history.

If you're lucky to have done so, you can quickly restore WhatsApp backup to your iPhone. There are different ways of doing that. Check the details here:

Method 1: Restore WhatsApp Backup to iPhone from iCloud

The first thing you must do is to check if a backup exists in iCloud. Launch WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.

check if you have an existing whatsapp backup

If there's a backup, proceed as follows:

  1. Uninstall, then reinstall WhatsApp.
  2. Open the app and set up your account again. Verify your phone number.
  3. Tap Restore Chat History.
  4. Wait for the process to complete. After that, you can see your deleted messages on WhatsApp on your iPhone.
    restore an icloud backup to recover deleted whatsapp messages

Method 2: How to Restore WhatsApp Messages on iPhone via iTunes

Some people often back up their iPhone data to iTunes. If you also do that, you can restore your WhatsApp messages from there. However, with this method, you must first reset your iPhone to factory settings.

Here's how to restore and read deleted messages on WhatsApp on iPhone via iTunes:

  1. Reset your iPhone.
    restore your iphone to factory settings
  2. Set up the iPhone until you reach the Apps & Data screen. Here, tap Restore from Mac or PC.
    choose restore from mac or pc while you set up iphone
  3. Open iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC. Next, connect your iOS to the computer with a USB cable.
  4. Click the iPhone icon at the top left corner of the screen.
    click your iphone icon on the top of the itunes home screen
  5. Click Summary from the left side and then Restore Backup from the right side of the screen.
  6. Choose the backup containing your WhatsApp messages and restore it.
    restore an itunes backup and recover deleted messages on whatsapp

Method 3: Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages on iPhone from a Local Backup

If you don't have a backup on iCloud or iTunes, you can rely on the local backup (WhatsApp database). To restore chats stored in your phone's WhatsApp database:

  1. Open the Files app on your iPhone. Go to WhatsApp database: Phone storage > WhatsApp > Databases. The database can also be saved in SD card > WhatsApp > Databases.
  2. Find the ideal backup file, depending on when you deleted your messages. The files are named using names like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14.
  3. Rename the file to msgstore.db.crypt14.
    rename your local whatsapp backup file to restore deleted messages
icon note
Note: An earlier backup might be on an earlier protocol, such as crypt12. Please don't change the number of the crypt extension.
  1. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
  2. Follow the setup steps, then choose Restore when prompted.
    restore a whatsapp backup from your phone’s internal storage

Conclusion

After reading the above guide, you can retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages on your iPhone. You can do so with or without a backup.

MobileTrans is one of the quickest ways to recover deleted WhatsApp chats without backup. You can also ask your friend to export chats using the Export Chat feature. If you have a backup, things get even more straightforward.

You can restore a WhatsApp backup to your iPhone from iCloud or iTunes. A local backup may also contain your lost messages. You can restore any of these backups using the few easy steps discussed above.

Hopefully, you'll be lucky enough, and one of those methods will work for you. Give them a try and find out!

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Navkiran Dhaliwal
Navkiran Dhaliwal Oct 28, 24
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