Deleted WhatsApp messages are not lost forever. There are even multiple recovery options. Both the sender and recipient of the deleted message can still access the already removed text. TECHBOOK shows how it’s done!
Hitting the send button too early, discovering an embarrassing autocorrect error or writing in the wrong chat – there can be many reasons for deleting a WhatsApp message. Since 2017, Messenger has offered its users the option of removing messages that have already been sent from the message history. However, that does not mean that the message is gone forever and irretrievably. TECHBOOK shows you how to access a message even after it has been deleted.
Deleted WhatsApp messages are not gone forever
WhatsApp users have been able to remove messages from the chat history for several years. To do this, the corresponding message must be selected by tapping and holding it. Then the “Delete” icon will appear in the options bar that appears at the top. Then you can choose whether you want to delete the message only for yourself or for everyone. You can read more about this in our article “How to delete sent messages on WhatsApp”. Instead of the sent text, it says: “You have deleted this message”. You can permanently remove this display from your own history by repeating the deletion process. But beware – the recipient will still see that you have deleted a message to him.
However, for security reasons, WhatsApp does not permanently remove these messages. Rather, the messenger logs and stores them. In principle, the message is not deleted at all, but simply no longer visible. However, it is still fully available in the chat log.
Make deleted WhatsApp messages visible again
Way 1: Show messages in quote
In certain situations, deleted messages can still be viewed. This also provides the first opportunity to watch them again after deleting them. If a person in the chat has quoted the removed text, the quote is still visible to everyone in the chat, even if this no longer applies to the original message. This is because in the case of a quote, the message is actually copied and pasted back as the quoter’s own message.
Option 2: Use the app to restore
Apps like Notification History Log, which create their own logs, can help with reading messages that have already been deleted. However, these usually have to be installed in advance – after the deletion process it is too late because the applications only start recording from the time they were installed. However, you should be aware that you must grant the apps full access to your WhatsApp account.
Install the app and allow WhatsApp access. Under the tab “Advanced History” you can see all incoming notifications. Go to the WhatsApp notification and then to the deleted message. The original message is now also displayed under the notification about the deletion of the text, which can also be seen in the usual chat.
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Possibility 3: Notification log about developer options
Another possibility is said to be the notification log in the developer options. To do this, you should open the settings of your smartphone and activate the developer mode by tapping “Build number” several times. Depending on your device and operating system, you can find the “build number” in different ways. It is often located in the software information under the “Phone info”/”About phone” tab.
After activation by tapping the build number seven times, you must return to the home screen. Find an empty space and then select the “Settings” widget. Drag the widget to the home screen and a menu with options will open. Select the “Notification log” item here, which is then stored on the home screen. The log keeps track of everything that was displayed as a message in the notification bar, including a preview of WhatsApp messages.
Developer trick not confirmed
However, this “cheat” does not work on all devices ex works: the widget is not integrated at all in Samsung smartphones, for example. Apps like Notification Saver bars that allow you to create a log on devices from the Korean manufacturer.
The TECHBOOK editorial team tested this option on two Android smartphones from different manufacturers (Samsung and OnePlus). At least with our two devices, this option described by several other portals did not work. The content of messages that were subsequently deleted from WhatsApp is also deleted from the notification log.