Received a WhatsApp message notification but the sender has now deleted the message? Here’s how you can read the deleted WhatsApp messages.
In Short
- WhatsApp allows users to delete chat messages within 60 hours.
- The platform does not have a dedicated feature to read the deleted messages.
- People can retrieve deleted messages by several ways including backup, third party apps and more.
By Divya Bhati: WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps. With over 2 billion active monthly users, the Meta-owned app is one of the go-to messaging platforms for many iOS and Android phone users. It offers users a simplified and convenient messaging experience while keeping user privacy on top. From end-to-end encryption to the block and report option, WhatsApp allows users to keep their chats private and block annoying or spam contacts. One such feature which WhatsApp released keeping in mind user privacy is the ‘Delete for Everyone’ feature.
WhatsApp allows users to delete the sent message within 2 days and 12 hours. The feature allows users to remove an accidentally sent chat even after hours. Users can delete the sent message by selecting the message and choosing from delete for me or delete for everyone. However, if the message is deleted for everyone in the chat box, WhatsApp displays a message in the chat to inform the recipient that a message was deleted.
While the feature is helpful, this display message often leaves the recipient more curious about what the message was and why it was deleted. It is also sometimes annoying to see the ‘this message has been deleted’ tag. Meta offers a similar delete option for Instagram, but there the recipient doesn’t get notified about the deleted messages.
So how to read the deleted WhatsApp message? Well, there is no dedicated feature by WhatsApp which can retrieve or show the deleted message. Looking at the privacy concern, the platform is not expected to launch such a feature in the near future too.
Then how to cure curiosity? Well if you are someone who gets annoyed by the delete message feature, then are some methods through which you can see deleted WhatsApp messages.
Read deleted WhatsApp messages using third-party apps
There are many third-party data recovery apps available online that you can download from app stores. The app claims to be able to recover deleted WhatsApp messages. However, using these tools comes with a number of risks, including data theft, malware, and unauthorised access to your device. Additionally, not all recovery tools are effective, and some may even cause permanent data loss.
Read deleted WhatsApp messages using backup
The second option is to back up your WhatsApp data regularly and restore the messages from an earlier backup. To do so, Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and look for an earlier backup that contains the deleted messages.
However, in this step too, it will be a hassle to delete the app and then again login and run the backup.
So the third option is the safest, and hassle-free but is only available for Android users. To be more specific, only for users with Android 11. Here’s how you can read deleted WhatsApp in Android by checking the notification history.
How to read deleted WhatsApp Messages on Android phone
- Go to your device’s ‘Settings’.
- Now scroll and tap on “Apps & Notifications.”
- Select “Notifications.”
- Under the option tap on “Notification history”.
- Next toggle the button next to ‘Use notification history’
Once the notification history is turned on you will be able to see notifications of the WhatsApp messages even if they are deleted.
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