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Have you ever experienced accidentally erasing your WhatsApp chat history, or your iPhone suddenly crashes, and you need to do a factory reset? Losing all your WhatsApp conversation can be frustrating, especially when it contains important messages and media files that are crucial to you. Fortunately, there are ways to recover WhatsApp chats after a factory reset. In this article, we will show you the four best ways to recover WhatsApp chats after a factory reset on iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Recover WhatsApp Chats after Factory Reset on iPhone
Whenever we do a factory reset on our iPhone, all data stored in it will be erased, including our WhatsApp chat history. Most of us store important data on our mobile phones, such as notes, photos, and videos. Likewise, WhatsApp conversations may also hold sentimental or crucial information that we can’t afford to lose. It is useful to know how to recover WhatsApp chats after a factory reset on iPhone, to prevent you from losing any important information.
Method 1: Via iCloud Backup
iCloud is an online data storage system that Apple provides. We can back up WhatsApp chats to iCloud, and restore them after doing a factory reset on our iPhone. Follow these steps to do this:
1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chat > Chat Backup.
3. Tap "Backup Now" to backup your chats to iCloud.
4. After the factory reset, reinstall WhatsApp on your iPhone.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts until you get to the "Restore Chat History" page.
6. Tap "Restore Chat History" to start the restoration process.
7. Wait for the process to complete, and your WhatsApp chats will be restored.
Pros:
– Convenient and easy to use.
– iCloud backups are relatively secure.
Cons:
– Depends on the availability of internet connection.
– iCloud storage capacity may become a limiting factor, and it may require users to pay for additional storage.
Method 2: Via iTunes Backup
Another way to recover WhatsApp chats after a factory reset on iPhone is to use iTunes backup. iTunes is an application that allows you to back up, manage, and restore the content of your iPhone. Here’s how you can use it to recover your WhatsApp chats:
1. Ensure that you have an updated backup of your iPhone on your desktop’s iTunes application.
2. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the desktop computer that has iTunes.
3. Click the ‘Restore iPhone’ tab within the iPhone menu.
4. Choose the option to restore from a backup.
5. Select the iTunes backup with the WhatsApp chats you want to recover.
6. Wait for your iPhone to restore, and your WhatsApp chats will be restored as well.
Pros:
– Can be used when iCloud backup is not available at the moment.
– More convenient when restoring all data on iPhone.
Cons:
– Disk space may be an issue, especially if multiple backups are stored on your device.
– Requires a desktop or laptop with iTunes installed, which may not be accessible in all cases.
Method 3: Via WhatsApp iCloud Drive Backup
Another way to recover WhatsApp chats after a factory reset on iPhone is to use your WhatsApp iCloud Drive backup. WhatsApp gives you the option to automatically back up your chats to iCloud drive. Here’s how you can use it to restore your chats:
1. Make sure you have an iCloud Drive backup of your WhatsApp data.
2. Log in to the iCloud account on your iPhone.
3. Install WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
4. On the "Chat Backup" page, choose "Restore Chat History".
5. Wait for the restoration process to complete, and all your chats will be restored.
Pros:
– This backup method can be used when other backup methods fail.
– Allows easy access to WhatsApp chat backup on the iCloud Drive.
Cons:
– Requires manual initiation of the backup, which can be a hassle to remember regularly.
– Users may need additional storage for backup files on the iCloud Drive.
Method 4: Via Third-Party Recovery Tool
Sometimes, recovering data using conventional methods might not be possible. Hence, using third-party recovery software may be the best way to recover WhatsApp chats after a factory reset on iPhone. But before using any third-party tool, check if the software is reputable and read reviews. Here’s how the recovery process works:
1. Download a reputable third-party recovery tool (such as EaseUS MobiSaver iPhone Data Recovery or Tenorshare UltData – iPhone Data Recovery).
2. Connect your iPhone to your desktop or laptop.
3. Launch the recovery software and select "WhatsApp Chats" to recover.
4. Allow the software to scan your phone’s internal storage, which may take up some time.
5. Select the WhatsApp chat history you want to recover and click on the "Recover" button.
6. Wait for the process to complete, and your chats will be restored.
Pros:
– Can recover lost data without conventional backup procedures.
– Does not rely on internet connectivity to retrieve data.
Cons:
– Third-party recovery tools may be costly.
– There’s no guarantee that all data will be retrieved.
What to Do If You Can’t Recover WhatsApp Chats after a Factory Reset on iPhone
There are times when recovering WhatsApp chats after a factory reset on iPhone may not be possible. It may happen due to various reasons such as not having a backup or using a recovery tool that failed. In such instances, you can try the following:
1. Check another possible backup location, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
2. Contact WhatsApp support for further assistance.
3. Accept the loss and make a mental note to backup your data more regularly in the future.
Bonus Tip
Always back up your iPhone, especially before performing updates or making significant changes in your phone settings. This will enable you to restore your data quickly and easily if anything goes wrong in the future.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can I recover WhatsApp chats on my iPhone without a backup?
A: Yes, you can recover WhatsApp chats on your iPhone without a backup, using a third-party recovery tool specifically designed for iPhones.
Q2: Will all my WhatsApp chats be restored using the iCloud or iTunes backup method?
A: Yes, all WhatsApp chats will be restored, provided that they were backed up before doing the factory reset.
Q3: How do I know if my WhatsApp chat history is backed up on iCloud?
A: Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. If the page shows the backup size and the date and time of the last backup, then your chat history is currently backed up.
Q4: Can I recover WhatsApp chats that were deleted a long time ago?
A: Unfortunately, only WhatsApp chat history that was backed up will be recoverable. Chat history that was deleted from your phone before doing the backup will not be retrievable.
Q5: Can I recover only some WhatsApp chats instead of all of them at once?
A: Yes, select the option "Choose backup file" instead of "Restore Chat History" in the WhatsApp chat backup settings. This will enable you to choose specific chats to recover instead of all of them at once.
Final Thoughts
Losing WhatsApp chats after doing a factory reset on iPhone can be a cause of frustration to anyone. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to recover WhatsApp chats, such as using iCloud or iTunes backups or third-party recovery tools. Always remember to backup your phone regularly and to check that your backup methods are working correctly. We hope that these methods will help you recover any lost WhatsApp chats on your iPhone.