How to See Deleted Messages on WhatsApp

Lost an important WhatsApp message due to accidental deletion? Whether it’s a critical conversation or a cherished memory, you might be wondering how to recover or view deleted messages on WhatsApp.

How to See Deleted Messages on WhatsApp: Proven Methods That Work

Don’t worry—this guide offers tested, effective methods to help you retrieve those elusive chats. Let’s dive in and explore your options!

How to See Deleted Messages on WhatsApp: 6 Reliable Solutions

Here are six practical ways to view deleted WhatsApp messages, ranging from built-in features to backup restoration techniques.

1. Check WhatsApp Notification History

Your phone’s notification log can act as a handy backup for WhatsApp messages—even deleted ones. If notifications are enabled, you can see message previews before they’re removed by the sender.

Steps for Android (Example):

1. Open Settings and search for “WhatsApp,” or go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp.
2. Tap Notifications and ensure “All WhatsApp Notifications” is toggled on.
3. After a message is received (and possibly deleted), check your phone’s Notification History (Settings > Notifications > Notification History) to view the original text.

Pros: No extra apps needed.
Cons: Only works for recent messages and requires notification history to be enabled beforehand.

2. Use PhoneParental Parental Control

For a more robust solution—especially for monitoring—PhoneParental Parental Control lets you view WhatsApp messages, including deleted ones, by syncing notifications from a target device.

How to Use It:

1. Download PhoneParental Parental Control from the Google Play Store or App Store on your device.
2. Sign up for an account and log in.
3. Install PhoneParental Kids on the target phone, pair it with your account using the provided code, and configure settings.
4. Open the app dashboard on your device, navigate to Notifications, and review all WhatsApp messages—even those deleted by the sender.

Extra Features: Real-time location tracking, content filtering, and app restrictions.
Best For: Parents or guardians monitoring loved ones responsibly.

3. Restore WhatsApp Chat Backup

WhatsApp automatically backs up your chats to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) based on your settings. If a backup exists from before the messages were deleted, you can recover them.

Steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
2. Check the last backup date to ensure it includes the deleted messages (e.g., if deleted after the backup, they won’t be recoverable).
3. Uninstall WhatsApp, reinstall it from your app store, and select Restore when prompted during setup.

Note: Restoring overwrites any new chats since the last backup.
Example: If your last backup was Jan 20th, messages deleted on Jan 21st can be recovered, but not those deleted on Jan 19th.

4. Recover Messages from Google Drive (Android)

If you’ve backed up WhatsApp to Google Drive, you can check and restore from there to retrieve deleted chats.

Steps to Check:

1. Log into drive.google.com with the Google account linked to WhatsApp.
2. Click the gear icon > Settings > Manage Apps to see if a WhatsApp backup exists.

Steps to Restore:

1. On your phone, ensure Google Drive sync is enabled (Settings > Accounts > Google > Sync).
2. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then choose Restore during setup.
3. Log in to see if the deleted messages reappear.

Limitation: Media files (photos, videos) may not restore fully.

5. Use iCloud Backup (iPhone)

For iPhone users, WhatsApp backups are stored in iCloud. With a prior backup, you can recover deleted messages.

Requirements:

• Enough iCloud and phone storage (at least 2.05x the backup size).
• Same Apple ID and phone number used for backup.

Steps:

1. In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup to confirm a backup exists.
2. Verify iCloud sync is on (Phone Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > WhatsApp).
3. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then select Restore during setup.

Pros: Simple for iPhone users.
Cons: New messages post-backup will be lost.

6. Restore via iTunes Backup (iPhone)

If you’ve backed up your iPhone to iTunes, you can use it to recover WhatsApp messages.

Steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes.
2. Click the device icon, go to Summary, and select Restore Backup.
3. Choose a backup that includes your WhatsApp data and click Restore.
4. Open WhatsApp after the process completes to check for recovered messages.

Note: Without a backup, recovery isn’t possible—even with third-party tools.

Bonus: How to Back Up WhatsApp Messages Before Deletion

Prevent future losses by backing up your WhatsApp chats regularly.

For Android (Google Drive):

1. Open WhatsApp > More Options > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
2. Tap Back Up to Google Drive and set a frequency (daily, weekly, monthly).
3. Choose a Google account and tap Back Up (include videos if desired).

For iPhone (iCloud):

1. Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
2. Tap Back Up Now or enable Auto Backup with a frequency.
3. Ensure you’re signed into iCloud with sufficient storage.

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s through notification logs, backups, or tools like PhoneParental, seeing deleted WhatsApp messages is achievable with the right method. Each approach has its strengths, so pick one that suits your needs—and always back up to avoid future headaches!

FAQs About Seeing Deleted Messages on WhatsApp

1. Can I Read Deleted Messages on WhatsApp Web?

No, WhatsApp Web (or desktop versions for Windows/Mac) doesn’t support viewing deleted messages. Recovery is only possible on mobile devices with the methods above.

2. Does Deleting a Chat on WhatsApp Erase It Permanently?

Not necessarily. Deleted chats may still exist in backups or phone memory. To remove them permanently, delete both the chat and its backup.

3. How Can I Retrieve Messages Deleted by Someone Else?

If someone deletes a message they sent, you can still see it if you’ve replied to it (the reply quotes the original). Otherwise, use the backup or notification methods outlined earlier.