On Android, there are several apps that can help you read deleted WhatsApp messages.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Messages sent to individual or group chats on WhatsApp can be deleted using the ‘Delete for Everyone’ feature.
- The feature enables the sender to delete messages from the platform within a specified time frame.
- With this workaround, recipients can still see deleted WhatsApp messages.
With the ‘Delete for Everyone’ feature, WhatsApp allows you to revoke messages that were “inadvertently” sent to a recipient. All you have to do is long-press the message -> tap on the ‘trash’ icon that appears atop the page -> and select ‘Delete for Everyone’. If you do this within a certain amount of time, WhatsApp will replace the message with the banner ‘This message has been deleted’ for the recipient. However, the feature is not without flaws. There are workarounds that allow recipients to view and read deleted WhatsApp messages. Unfortunately, you cannot currently read deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone. If you have an Android phone, this is how you can view deleted WhatsApp messages with or without installing a third-party app.
WhatsApp messages can be deleted up to 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds after they are sent. Following that, the option will be disabled, and you will only be able to delete messages for yourself; the recipient will still be able to read, copy, and forward the message.
How to see deleted WhatsApp messages on Android without any app
There is no built-in feature in WhatsApp that allows you to read deleted messages. You can, however, read deleted WhatsApp messages without installing any app if you have an Android 11 or later device. The operating system includes a notification history option that can keep a log of all WhatsApp messages, even if the recipient deletes them. It is also entirely free to use. To view deleted WhatsApp messages, enable notification history on your Android 11 phone:
1. Open the Settings app and select “Apps & Notifications.”
2. Tap “Notifications.”
3. Tap “Notification history,” then toggle the button next to “Use notification history.”
4. Following that, all future notifications, including WhatsApp messages, will appear on the page.
To read deleted WhatsApp messages, you must repeat the process each time. The messages will be piled on top of all other notifications (anything from the last 24 hours). You can interact with the notification by tapping it, just like you would with a notification in the phone’s pull-down notification shade. The Android 11 notification history option, like Notisave, does not recover media files. To do so, repeat the ‘how to see deleted WhatsApp media files’ step.
How to see deleted WhatsApp messages on Android using a third-party app
If your device isn’t running Android 11 or later, you’ll need to download a third-party app that monitors your phone’s notifications. It’s worth noting that the WhatsApp message should trigger a notification in order for the app to record it. This may not occur if the chat is open or you were present at the time the message was received.
On that note, let’s take a look at how to view deleted WhatsApp messages on Android using a third-party app.
1. Open the Google Play Store and download an app that can keep a tab on notification history. Antidelete : View Deleted Chat is one of the nicest options. The app has the most number of downloads and respectable reviews.
2. After installing the app, grant all necessary permissions. The Notisave app will require permission to read notifications, photos, media, and files, as well as to toggle the auto-start feature.
3. After that, the app will begin recording every notification you’ve received, including WhatsApp messages.
4. Even if the sender deletes the WhatsApp messages, you will still be able to read them using the Notisave app. However, this has no effect on the nature of the message on WhatsApp.
5. Furthermore, Notisave allows you to respond to messages without leaving the app.
6. The app is also useful for reading notifications that you have accidentally swiped away.
How to see WhatsApp deleted media files
From WhatsApp’s settings menu, toggle the “automatically save images to gallery” option. Media files such as GIFs, images, and videos will be stored locally in the storage, even if they are deleted from the chatbox.
How to see deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone
iCloud is the only way to view deleted WhatsApp messages on an iPhone. If the message is backed up on Apple’s cloud service, it can be restored and viewed after deletion. If you’ve already done that, here’s how to view deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone:
1. Uninstall WhatsApp from your iPhone and reinstall it from the App Store.
2. Now, open WhatsApp and restore the previous iCloud backup.
3. You can view the deleted messages in the relevant chats once the backup has been fully restored.
