WhatsApp usually automatically downloads media files we receive., which can help us avoid losing important photos and videos, although in certain cases this feature can overwhelm our device's memory. If for some reason you accidentally deleted an image or video, don't worry: there are different ways to recover them, both with the tools provided by the app itself and with alternative methods or additional applications.
Throughout this guide, we will show you the The most effective and up-to-date methods to recover deleted photos and videos from WhatsAppWhether you use Android or iPhone, you'll learn how to identify if they've actually been deleted, locate them in various sections, restore them from backups, and explore the gallery or file management, in addition to covering more advanced options and special cases.
Have your WhatsApp photos or videos really been deleted?
Before you panic, it's essential to check whether the file you're looking for is actually deleted or simply disorganized or moved in your gallery. WhatsApp automatically saves received images and videos to the app's images folder., so they don't always disappear from the device when you delete the message in the chat.
- Access the Gallery application on your phone and use the search function to locate the “WhatsApp Images” or “WhatsApp Video” folder. On some devices, it may also be located under “Media” or a similar path.
- Carefully review the contents of the folder, preferably in full view, as some images may not be recognizable in thumbnail mode due to cropping or adjustments in the gallery itself.
- Si the file has just been deleted from the chat but not from internal storage; it should still be available in the gallery. If you did clean up from the gallery or files, try the other methods explained below.
Step 1: Review the chat and associated multimedia
The most immediate method to try to recover deleted photos and videos is to return to the chat where they were sent or received:
- Open the WhatsApp conversation with the contact or group where you think the file was shared.
- Look for the image or video among the previous messages. If the file is grayed out or has a download icon, Click on it to try to download it againWhatsApp allows you to re-download recent files that are still on its servers.
- In the contact or group information, go to the "Multimedia, links and documents" section. You will find them here. all images and videos exchangedIf you find it, you can save it again.
Important: Images and videos can only be redownloaded if not too much time has passed since they were sent or received. WhatsApp temporarily stores files on its servers before permanently deleting them.
Recover deleted photos and videos using WhatsApp Web or Desktop
Web WhatsApp and the desktop app can serve as an additional way to recover deleted media files on your mobile, as sometimes the file is still available in the web version even if it has disappeared from the phone's internal storage.
- Enter to web.whatsapp.com from your preferred browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.).
- Scan the QR code from the WhatsApp app on your phone. Go to the three dots (menu) > "Paired devices" > "Pair a device" and point the camera at the QR code.
- Once your chats are synchronized, find the message with the photo or video you lostIf the file appears, click on it and use the "Download" option to retrieve it.
This method is valid for files that are not too old and it usually works on both Android and iOS, as long as you haven't deleted or unlinked your WhatsApp Web account during that time.
Restore deleted photos and videos using WhatsApp backup
One of the safest ways to recover deleted files on WhatsApp is through a backup.WhatsApp automatically creates backups of your messages and media files, either on Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone), usually daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on your settings.
Step 1: Check the latest backup
- Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Backup.
- Check the date and time of the last backup. Make sure the lost file was available before the copy.
Step 2: Restore the backup
- Uninstall WhatsApp from your device.
- Reinstall it from the app store.
- Enter your phone number and follow the verification process.
- When prompted, select “Restore” from Google Drive or iCloud backup.
- Wait for the process to complete: messages are restored first, followed by photos and videos. Restoration may take time depending on the number of files in your backup. and your Internet speed.
Remember that when restoring an older backup, You may lose messages after copying.This method is especially useful if the deletion was recent and you had automatic backups enabled, including media files.
How to find and restore old WhatsApp backups (advanced)
On some Android devices, WhatsApp keep multiple local backups from the last few days (usually in the “Databases” folder on internal storage). If the most recent backup doesn't contain the deleted file, you can try restoring a previous backup by following these steps:
- Use a file explorer to navigate to the path /WhatsApp/Databases/.
- You will find files with names similar to msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.cryptXX, each one being a backup from a different day.
- Rename the file to the day you need a
msgstore.db.cryptXX, replacing the default one. - Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. When it detects a modified local database, the app will restore that copy, returning the chats, photos, and videos it contains.
Nota: This process overwrites current messages with those that existed on the date of the selected copy. Make a manual backup before performing this process if you don't want to lose recent information.
Recover deleted photos and videos on iPhone: Recently Deleted folder and alternatives
On iPhone, unlike Android, photos and videos deleted from the Photos app go to the "Recently Deleted" folder where they remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can easily restore files from this folder:
- Open the Photos app > Albums > Recently Deleted.
- Select the WhatsApp photos or videos you want to recover and tap "Recover."
If the 30 days have passed or the files do not appear there, Go to the WhatsApp chat where you received or sent them., locate the message and use the “Share” > “Save” option to try to re-export them to your gallery.
Also, if you have photos synced to iCloud, you can try to recover them from iCloud backup following the same restoration process explained previously.
How to use file managers to locate hidden or not completely deleted files
On Android devicesIt's common for media files deleted from the gallery to remain hidden in the internal memory. Using a powerful file manager is essential to locate them:
- Install Google files or alternative apps like Solid Explorer.
- Go to the “Explore” tab and access “Internal Storage.”
- Navigate to the “WhatsApp” > “Media” > “WhatsApp Images” or “WhatsApp Video” folder.
- Look for deleted files: some may still be there if you only deleted them from the chat but not from the storage.
In case the files are not in visible status, you can try file recovery applications (we'll explain this later), although its results are usually better if the file hasn't been overwritten by other data.
Recover photos and videos with specialized file recovery applications
There are specialized apps that can help you recover deleted photos and videos If the above methods didn't work, some of the most notable are DiskDigger, DigDeep, WAMR, and Recoverit. These apps scan your device's internal storage for deleted files that haven't yet been overwritten.
- On Android, DiskDigger It allows you to scan and restore images. Without root permissions, it only recovers thumbnails, but with root permission, you can access entire files.
- WAMR It specializes in recovering messages and files deleted by other users with the “Delete for everyone” feature.
- Recovery It excels at advanced recovery from SD cards or external storage, making it useful if you stored multimedia files on the microSD and lost them after formatting or accidental deletion.
On iPhone, app recovery is much more limited due to system restrictions, so it almost always relies on official WhatsApp and iCloud features.
Step by step to use a recovery app
- Download the desired app from the Google Play Store.
- Grant the required permissions to scan the internal memory.
- Choose the type of file you're looking for (photos, videos, etc.) and wait for the scan to complete.
- Select the files you want to restore and save them to a different folder to avoid overwriting.
Warning: These apps are usually more successful the sooner you use them after deletion. If the file was overwritten by new downloads, it may be unrecoverable.
Contacting the sender: a practical and often forgotten solution
If you deleted an important photo or video and the above options fail, You can always ask the person who sent it to you to resend it to you.WhatsApp saves files in both the sender and recipient's chats, unless both have deleted the message and associated files.
- Use the direct reply feature on the message in question to request a resend.
- In groups, any of the participants might still have the file available.
This method is especially useful for sentimental files, documents delivered in PDF files, images of specific events, etc.
Key backup issues, limitations, and recommendations
- If you make a backup after deleting the media file, You won't be able to recover it by restoring that most recent copy..
- WhatsApp only allows you to restore the last cloud backupIf you need to recover files from an older local backup on Android, you'll need to do so manually by following the advanced steps mentioned above.
- Enable the “Include videos” option in backups so that videos are backed up along with messages and photos.
- On iOS, backups are saved to iCloud and restored when you reinstall WhatsApp, just like on Google Drive for Android.
Tip: Schedule frequent automatic backups and choose the daily option to minimize the risk of losing important files. Always check what type of data is included in the backup.
Additional solutions and prevention for future file loss
- Keep your device's storage as free as possible to prevent WhatsApp from deleting old files due to lack of space.
- Use the "archive chats" option if you don't want to delete files but don't need visible chats either.
- On Android, periodically check the “WhatsApp Images Sent” and “WhatsApp Video Sent” folders to manually save important files to another location or to the cloud.
- On iPhone, turn on automatic file downloads so that received photos and videos are always saved to your gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions About WhatsApp Media Recovery
- Can I recover files if my phone was formatted?
Only if there was a previous cloud backup. Recovery apps will only recover files if the storage hasn't been overwritten by other data. - Why do some files not appear even after restoring a backup?
They may not have been included (for example, if you didn't turn on “Include Videos”) or were deleted before the time of copying. - Can WhatsApp messages and media be recovered if the sender deleted them “for everyone”?
Only using apps like WAMR, which monitor notifications and save temporary copies of files before they disappear, doesn't always work 100%. - Can WhatsApp support restore deleted files?
No, WhatsApp does not keep copies of your files nor can it restore them directly for privacy and encryption reasons.
Accidental loss of photos and videos on WhatsApp is not permanent. If you act quickly and explore all the options we've detailed. From checking your chats, gallery, and file managers to restoring backups and using specialized apps, you have several options at your disposal. Don't forget to set up automatic backups and keep your device optimized to prevent future losses. In cases where there's no digital solution, relying on your contacts for an additional backup can make all the difference. WhatsApp makes communication and sharing memories easier: with conscious and regular management of your files, you'll avoid surprises and protect the important moments of your digital life.