WhatsApp no doubt offers a critical way of communication here in Kenya, offering instant messaging, video calling, and even group chats. However, one of the most irritating aspects of WhatsApp has got to do with cases where a message gets deleted before one has even read it. Though WhatsApp doesn't officially allow its users to view a message deleted by the sender, here are some workarounds you can use to recover or view those deleted texts.

This guide has discussed ways to access WhatsApp messages deleted on Android, iPhone, or PC. The methods mentioned here may be performed with the help of third-party applications, which are not always safe and reliable. Therefore, it is better to take a little extra caution when accessing those applications.

1. Notification Log Apps (For Android Users)

One of the best ways through which you can read deleted WhatsApp messages on Android is by using notification log apps. This apps record notifications, thus making it possible to retrieve messages that have been deleted.

Steps:

  • Install a Notification Log App
    Open the Google Play Store and install an app such as Notification History Log or Notification Log. These applications track all notifications that come to your phone, including WhatsApp messages.

  • Set Permissions
    After the installation, allow the app to access your notifications.

  • View Deleted Messages
    Launch the application and scroll through the list of notifications to locate the message that was deleted. You will know precisely what was initially sent before getting deleted.

Pros:

  • Very easy and straightforward for any Android user.
  • No rooting of your phone is required.

Cons:

  • This trick only works if you saw the original notification before it got deleted.
  • Might not retrieve long messages or any media files that are part of the message thread.

2. Recover WhatsApp Chats with WhatsApp Chat Backup

WhatsApp by default backs up your conversations. If you have backed up your WhatsApp conversations recently, then you can restore deleted messages received within the backup timeframe with this feature.

Steps:

  • Uninstall WhatsApp
    Start with uninstalling WhatsApp application from your phone.

  • Reinstall and Restore
    Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store for iPhone or from the Play Store for Android. While setting up, it will prompt to restore chats from a previous backup. Choose the most recent one, or one that is most likely to have deleted messages you are looking for.

Pros:

  • Official and secure method.
  • No requirement of any third-party apps.

Cons:

  • Will only work if the message was included in the most recent backup.
  • Backups are usually scheduled at 2 AM, which means real-time deleted messages are not recoverable.

3. Using WhatsRemoved+ Android App

WhatsRemoved+ is among famous applications that users often use to find deleted WhatsApp message history. It keeps a record of notifications and saves the deleted messages automatically.

Steps:

  • Download WhatsRemoved+
    Install the WhatsRemoved+ application from the Google Play Store.

  • Setup
    Allow the app to access notifications and select WhatsApp as the app you want to track.

  • View Deleted Messages
    Once it has set up, the application will notify you whenever a message has been deleted and keep a copy for viewing.

Pros:

  • It is designed for recovering WhatsApp messages only.
  • Media files, such as images, videos, and audio, can also be saved using this application.

Cons:

  • Works only for Android users.
  • This application may show ads inside it.

4. Using Third-Party Data Recovery Tools (For iPhone)

Third-party data recovery tools used by iPhone users include Dr.Fone and iMyFone D-Back. These apps allow recovering WhatsApp messages deleted by directly scanning the memory of your phone.

Steps:

  • Download Recovery Tool
    Follow the download and installation process of the tool with the likes of Dr.Fone or iMyFone D-Back on your computer.

  • Connect Your iPhone
    Attach your iPhone with your computer using a USB cable and let the software scan your device for deleted messages.

  • Recover Deleted Messages
    This tool shows all the recoverable messages in your device, including the deleted WhatsApp chat, once it has done with scanning.

Pros:

  • It recovers deleted messages that might not have been backed up.
  • Some software has photo, video recovery, among other data.

Cons:

  • Most of such tools offer only paid services.
  • Not all such tools can promise 100% recovery of messages.

5. Request the Sender to Resend the Message

Sometimes, the easiest way out is to ask the sender of that message to send it again. Of course, if they agree, then this is the fastest method of recovering the contents of a deleted message without any additional steps.

Pros:

  • No applications or tools are required.
  • Immediate effect.

Cons:

  • Depends on the sender's cooperation.

Why People Delete WhatsApp Messages

Before going into these methods, let's understand why people delete WhatsApp messages. Usually, messages are deleted either because of the following reasons:

  • Mistakes in Content: Sending a wrong message to the wrong person.
  • Regret: Users may regret what they said and thus delete the message immediately.
  • Privacy Concerns: Sometimes sensitive information or private data might be accidentally shared and then deleted.

Privacy Concerns and Limitations

Note that WhatsApp introduced the feature "Delete for Everyone" to improve privacy. While the ways shown above will let you recover or view deleted messages, they do raise privacy concerns. Always make it a point that you are not violating someone's privacy when you are looking forward to viewing deleted messages.

Besides this, seeing deleted messages using third-party applications may be hazardous to your data because not all these apps are trustworthy. The applications, which have positive reviews and hold a good reputation in the play store or app store, should be stuck to.

Final Words

Recovering or viewing deleted WhatsApp messages from an iPhone or Android device is possible; ways may differ depending on which you work with. You can choose between recovery from backup to third-party applications, but you have to consider the pros and cons according to each method for privacy and security reasons.

Be it to satiate one's curiosity or to recover a message that was accidentally deleted, the following tips will effortlessly lead you to get it back without much fuss. Remember, use such features responsibly and with respect for other people's privacy.

Enjoy more control over your WhatsApp experience with these solutions!