Can forensic recover deleted WhatsApp messages?

Asked by: Mr. Antone Lowe DDS  |  Last update: January 26, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (72 votes)

Yes, forensic experts can often recover deleted WhatsApp messages from a device or cloud backups, even with encryption, by analyzing device memory, SQLite databases (using carving/keyword searches), device backups (iCloud/Google Drive), or encrypted files for fragments, though success depends heavily on the time since deletion, device type, and overwritten data. Specialized tools and techniques are used to find remnants in the phone's database files (like wa.db), temporary files (like -wal files), or encrypted backup files.

Can permanently deleted WhatsApp messages be recovered by police?

Your deleted message may still be on the Cloud – your own Cloud or the person you sent the message to's Cloud. These are usually not encrypted, so the police can access them with relative ease.

Can my deleted WhatsApp messages be traced?

WhatsApp messages can be traced after they've been deleted because WhatsApp stores their source codes and destination codes for a period of time. On your device itself, deleted messages may be recovered using certain tools if new data has not overwritten it, or if they are saved in a backup.

Is it possible to recover permanently deleted WhatsApp messages?

Note: When you delete a chat, it can't be undone. WhatsApp is unable to recover deleted chats for you. You can only recover deleted chats if your latest backup occurred prior to deleting a chat. Please be aware that you'll lose any chats that occurred after the latest backup.

Can a hacker retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages?

Generally, deleted WhatsApp messages can be easily retrieved. The device needs to be subjected to digital forensic analyses.

Can Deleted WhatsApp Messages Be Recovered Forensically? - Law Enforcement Insider

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Can deleted WhatsApp messages be recovered by forensics?

Even though WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, making real-time interception nearly impossible, forensic examiners can often recover WhatsApp deleted messages, call logs, multimedia files, and location data from devices or cloud backups.

How can I see my husband's deleted WhatsApp messages?

The best way is to restore the deleted messages from his chat backup via Google Drive or iCloud. Suppose he doesn't have an existing backup, or you can't find the deleted messages. In that case, you should use the MobileTrans Backup & Restore tool to read his deleted WhatsApp messages from your computer.

How can I permanently delete WhatsApp messages so they can't be recovered?

This works for text, photos, videos, voice notes, and files. Once the message is highlighted, follow the steps for your device: iPhone (iOS): Tap the Trash Icon 🗑️ trash icon → Select Delete for Everyone. Android: Tap the Trash Can icon → Select Delete for Everyone.

Can you recover deleted WhatsApp chats from years ago?

To successfully restore your chats, you need to use the same phone number and Google Account or iCloud account you used to create the backup. We recommend performing a backup before uninstalling WhatsApp or moving to a new device.

Can police recover permanently deleted messages?

In many cases, the police are still able to download text messages from your phone, even when you have deleted them. If the police cannot obtain data from your phone, they might try to get the data from your mobile phone service provider instead.

Can police open WhatsApp messages?

Try updating your phone's operating system. Make sure you're connected to the internet. Restart your device. Make sure you've completed the verification process for your phone number.

Can forensics recover deleted photos?

Recover Recently Deleted Files: Even after files are deleted, traces often remain on hard drives, SSDs, mobile devices, and cloud platforms. Skilled forensic analysts can often recover these artefacts using specialised tools.

How far back can text messages be retrieved by police?

Deleted text messages may be recoverable depending on device type, backup settings, and forensic tools used by law enforcement. Recovery timelines vary; some data can be retrieved weeks or months after deletion if not overwritten. Police typically require legal authorization, like a warrant, to access such data.

Can deleted WhatsApp messages be used in court?

If the Messages Are Unaltered and Retrievable

WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption makes it difficult to modify messages. However, courts will only accept messages that can be directly retrieved from a device, cloud backup, or forensic extraction tools like Cellebrite.

Are deleted WhatsApp messages gone forever?

Deleted WhatsApp messages are gone from your device but can often be recovered from a recent cloud backup (Google Drive/iCloud) or potentially from old phone storage files, unless you used "Delete for Everyone," which removes them permanently for all users. If you haven't backed up recently, the messages might be overwritten and lost forever, but specialized tools sometimes find remnants in phone storage. 

How to recover 4 year old WhatsApp messages without backup?

How to restore WhatsApp messages without a backup on Android

  1. Open the File Explorer on your Android device and find the WhatsApp directory. ...
  2. Select the WhatsApp backup file you want to recover from.
  3. Uninstall and reinstall the WhatsApp app on your device.
  4. Validate your phone number.

Can WhatsApp messages be found after deleted?

As an Android user, you have two backup options to choose from to restore your old and also deleted WhatsApp messages. The first way is via a local backup, which automatically backs up your backups once a day, but can also be done manually under the settings. The second way works with the help of Google Drive.

Can WhatsApp messages be traced?

Can WhatsApp Be Tracked? Yes. While WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect the content of your messages, calls, photos, and videos (meaning WhatsApp and third parties cannot read or listen to them), certain aspects can still be tracked or accessed: Metadata: WhatsApp (Meta) collects metadata.

How to read spouse deleted text messages?

The only reliable way to retrieve deleted messages on Android is to access the backup file using Google Drive. To access the file and read the messages, go into the Google Drive associated with your husband's account on a computer. Scan the backup folder for the date you want to take a look at and open it.

Is it possible to read deleted messages?

Since you're using a Galaxy, open the Messages app, tap the three-dot menu and find Recycle bin. If the deleted thread's in there, you can restore it with a tap. It stays there for 30 days as far as I know.

How do I link someone's WhatsApp to my phone?

To link someone else's WhatsApp to your phone (using their account on your device), install WhatsApp on your phone, select "Link as companion device" (not entering a number), then use their primary phone's WhatsApp to scan the QR code that appears on your device, allowing you to use their account as a linked device. This lets you access their chats and messages on your phone without replacing your own account, but it's important to note this shares their account, not integrates your number into theirs.