How To Get Back Deleted Chats and How To Stop Them From Returning
Deleting a chat by mistake can be stressful. Many people worry when this happens and want to know if their messages can be brought back. Others want the opposite. They want their deleted chats to stay gone and never appear again.
This guide explains everything in clear, easy English. It will help you understand how chat recovery works, how to bring messages back, and how to stop deleted chats from returning.
What Chat Recovery Means
Chat recovery means getting deleted messages back. Many messaging apps save copies of your chats in a backup. A backup is like a saved file that stores your past messages. These backups may be stored in places such as:
- Google Drive on Android phones
- iCloud on iPhones
- Your phone’s storage
If a backup exists, your deleted messages might come back when you reinstall the app or restore your phone.
Why Apps Save Backups
Messaging apps save backups because:
- People delete things by accident
- Phones break or stop working
- People get new phones
- Apps can sometimes crash
Backups help you keep your chat history safe. But because of backups, deleted chats might return even if you want them gone.
How To Bring Back Deleted WhatsApp Messages
WhatsApp makes it easy to recover messages if you already have a backup. Here is the simplest way to do it.
Step 1: Check for a Backup
- Open WhatsApp
- Go to Settings
- Tap Chats
- Tap Chat Backup
You will see the last date and time your backup was made. If the backup was created before you deleted your chats, recovery is possible.
Step 2: Uninstall WhatsApp
Remove the app from your phone. Your backup will not be erased because it is stored online.
Step 3: Reinstall WhatsApp
Go to the app store on your phone and download WhatsApp again.
Step 4: Restore Your Messages
- Open WhatsApp
- Enter your phone number
- When asked if you want to restore your messages, choose Restore
Your deleted chats should return if the backup was recent enough.
What If You Do Not Have a Backup?
Recovering chats without a backup is harder, but there are still a few things you can try.
1. Use Recovery Tools
Some apps and computer programs can scan your phone and try to find lost messages. These tools may work in some cases, but not all. Some also cost money, so be careful.
2. Use WhatsApp Web Add-Ons
Certain add-ons for WhatsApp Web can show deleted messages, but only if they were installed earlier.
3. Check Phone Notification History (Android Only)
Some Android phones keep a log of old notifications. If you saw the message before it was deleted, you might find it in the history.
How To Bring Back Deleted SMS Text Messages
SMS recovery depends on the type of phone you use.
iPhone
iPhones have a “Recently Deleted” section where messages stay for 30 days. You can open the Messages app, tap Edit, and check Recently Deleted. If the message is still there, you can restore it.
If the message is not there, you would need an iCloud or computer backup.
Android
Some Android phones have a recycle bin for SMS messages. If yours does not, you need a backup or a recovery tool.
How Other Messaging Apps Handle Deleted Messages
Different apps treat deleted chats in different ways.
Messenger (Facebook)
Deleted messages usually cannot be brought back unless you moved them to Archived Chats earlier or saved your Facebook data before deleting.
Telegram
Telegram stores many messages online. If you delete a message, it may be deleted from all devices unless the other person still has a copy.
Signal
Signal removes deleted messages right away. You can only recover them if you had created your own backup before deleting.
How To Stop Deleted WhatsApp Chats From Returning
If you want deleted WhatsApp chats to stay gone, you need to turn off backups and delete old ones.
Turn Off Backups on Android
- Open WhatsApp
- Go to Settings
- Tap Chats
- Tap Chat Backup
- Tap Back Up to Google Drive
- Select Never
Turn Off Backups on iPhone
- Open WhatsApp
- Go to Settings
- Tap Chats
- Tap Chat Backup
- Turn off Auto Backup
Delete Old Backups
Turning off backups is not enough. You also need to remove old backups.
Delete Backups on Google Drive (Android)
- Open Google Drive
- Go to Backups
- Find the WhatsApp backup
- Delete it
Delete Backups on iCloud (iPhone)
- Open Settings
- Tap your name
- Tap iCloud
- Tap Manage Storage
- Find WhatsApp
- Delete the backup
Clear Leftover Files on Your Phone
Even after deletion, phones sometimes keep extra files. You can remove these by using your phone’s storage cleanup tools.
Use Message Timers
Many apps now offer features that let messages vanish after a set time. This keeps your chat history short and prevents old messages from coming back.
Here are some options:
- WhatsApp: Disappearing Messages
- Messenger: Vanish Mode
- Telegram: Self-Destruct Timer
Tips To Keep Your Chats Safe or Removed
Here are simple habits that help you manage your chats.
If You Want To Keep Your Chats Safe
- Make sure backups are turned on
- Check your storage space
- Use a screen lock to protect your phone
If You Want Deleted Chats Gone for Good
- Turn off backups
- Delete old backups
- Use message timers
- Remove leftover files
Final Words
Now you know how deleted chats can return, how to recover them, and how to stop them from coming back. This guide uses simple steps so anyone can follow along.
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