Seeing a “This message was deleted” notification on WhatsApp can be frustrating, especially when the message contains important information. While WhatsApp does not offer a direct way to view deleted messages, there are a few workarounds that may help you recover or read them on Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp Web
Steps to See Deleted Messages on WhatsApp
Use the methods below to view or recover deleted WhatsApp messages on Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp Web.
Method 1: Through WhatsApp Notification Log
If you are using an Android device, you can see deleted for everyone messages on whatsapp through the Notification Log feature. However, this method works only if notifications were received before the message was deleted and if your device supports notification history.
Step 1: Open the Settings App
Go to your phone’s Settings to access system options.
Step 2: Navigate to Notifications
Scroll down and tap on Apps & notifications (or Notifications, depending on your device).
Step 3: Select WhatsApp and Turn On Notification
Tap on Notification for the WhatsApp so that it can reflect on you notification bar.
Step 4: View Deleted Messages
Now you can read the messages from the notification bar, even the messages got deleted still you know the messages.
Note: This method works only for messages that generated a notification before being deleted.
Method 2: Restoring WhatsApp Chats Backup
To see deleted for everyone messages on whatsapp using backup, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then restore chats from the most recent backup saved before the message was deleted.
Step 1: Check Backup Availability
Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat backup and check the last backup date. If the backup was made before the message was deleted, you can restore it.
Step 2: Uninstall WhatsApp
Long-press the WhatsApp app icon and select Uninstall or remove it from the app settings.
Step 3: Reinstall WhatsApp
Download WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and install it again.
Step 4: Verify Your Number
- Open WhatsApp and enter your phone number.
- Follow the verification process using the OTP sent to your phone.
Step 5: Restore from Backup
When prompted, tap Restore to recover your chats from the backup. Wait for the process to complete, and your deleted messages will reappear.
Note: Restoring a backup replaces current chats with the backup version. Any messages received after the backup date may be lost.
Method 3: Export Chat Before Messages Are Deleted
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp Chat
Open the conversation you want to save.
Step 2: Open Chat Options
Tap the three-dot menu and select More > Export Chat.
Step 3: Choose Export Method
Export with or without media files.
Step 4: Save the Chat
Store the exported file in email, cloud storage, or your device.
Step 5: Access Saved Messages
Open the exported file whenever needed to review previously saved conversations
Note: This method cannot recover already deleted messages but helps preserve chats before deletion.
Method 4: Reading Deleted Message by Reply or Quote Before Deletion
If someone replied to a message before it was deleted, the quoted text may still appear in the chat, allowing you to view the deleted content.
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp Chat
Launch WhatsApp on your device and navigate to the specificchat where the deleted message was sent. This could be a group chat or a one-on-one conversation.
Step 2: Scroll Up in the Conversation
Swipe or scroll upward through the chat history to locate the area where the deleted message originally appeared. Look for replies or quoted text around the time you suspect the deletion occurred.
Step 3: Identify a Reply or Quoted Message
Find a reply or quoted text (in a box) that shows the deleted message.
Step 4: Read the Quoted Content
Once you find the reply or quote, read the preserved text within it. This is the content of the deleted message as it was captured before deletion.
Step 5: Take Note if Needed
If you want to save the information, manually copy the quoted text or take a screenshot of the chat for future reference, as it won’t be restored to the original message slot.
Method 5: Using Third-Party Apps
Some third-party apps store incoming WhatsApp notifications and may allow users to view deleted message previews. However, these apps require access to sensitive data such as notifications and storage, which can pose privacy and security risks.
Their effectiveness also varies across Android versions and WhatsApp updates. Therefore, using such apps is not recommended.