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WhatsApp is a popular instant messaging app that allows users to send messages, voice notes, images, and videos to their contacts. One of its useful features is the ability to save phone numbers of contacts that are not in the user’s phone contacts list. However, sometimes users can accidentally delete these phone numbers, resulting in inconvenience. This blog post aims to provide methods to recover deleted phone numbers from WhatsApp.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before starting the recovery process, users need to have the following requirements:
1. A smartphone with WhatsApp installed.
2. A backup of WhatsApp chats that includes the deleted phone numbers.
3. Access to a computer with an internet connection.
4. A USB cable to connect the phone to the computer.
5. Appropriate software to extract data from the backup file.
What requires your attention is…?
Users need to ensure that they have backed up their WhatsApp chats that include the deleted phone numbers. Without a backup, it is not possible to recover the deleted numbers. Additionally, users need to be careful when restoring the backup file to avoid losing any newly added contacts or data.
There are three methods to recover deleted phone numbers from WhatsApp. Each method has its own advantages and limitations.
Method 1: Using WhatsApp Chat Backup
This method requires users to have a backup of their WhatsApp chats that includes the deleted phone numbers.
1. Uninstall WhatsApp from the smartphone.
2. Reinstall WhatsApp and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the app.
3. During the setup process, WhatsApp will prompt the user to restore their backup. Choose to restore from the most recent backup that includes the deleted phone numbers.
4. Once the restore is complete, open WhatsApp and check if the deleted phone numbers have been restored.
Pros: This method is simple and does not require any additional software. It is also free of cost.
Cons: Users need to have a backup that includes the deleted phone numbers. Additionally, this method may not work if the backup is outdated or corrupted.
Method 2: Using Third-party Software
This method involves using data recovery software to extract the deleted phone numbers from the WhatsApp backup file.
1. Download and install appropriate data recovery software on the computer.
2. Connect the smartphone to the computer using a USB cable.
3. Open the data recovery software and select the WhatsApp backup file.
4. Choose the option to recover deleted data and select the phone numbers to recover.
5. Once the recovery process is complete, transfer the recovered phone numbers to the smartphone.
6. Open WhatsApp and add the recovered phone numbers to the contacts.
Pros: This method works even if the backup is outdated or corrupted. Additionally, users can recover specific data instead of restoring the entire backup file.
Cons: Data recovery software can be expensive, and users need to be careful while selecting the software as some may contain malware or viruses.
Method 3: Contacting WhatsApp Support
This method involves contacting WhatsApp Support for assistance in recovering the deleted phone numbers.
1. Open WhatsApp and go to the Settings.
2. Select Help > Contact Us.
3. Submit a request explaining the issue and provide the relevant information.
4. WhatsApp Support will respond with appropriate steps to recover the deleted phone numbers.
Pros: This method does not require any technical expertise or additional software.
Cons: The response time of WhatsApp Support may vary, and users may not always get a solution to their issue.
Why Can’t I Recover Deleted Phone Numbers from WhatsApp?
There can be several reasons why users are unable to recover deleted phone numbers from WhatsApp. Some of the common reasons are:
1. No backup: Users need to have a backup of their WhatsApp chats that includes the deleted phone numbers to recover them.
2. Outdated or corrupted backup: If the backup file is outdated or corrupted, it may not be possible to recover the deleted phone numbers using the backup.
3. Overwritten data: If the phone number was deleted a long time ago, there is a possibility that it has been overwritten by new data, making it impossible to recover.
Fixes: Ensure that a backup is regularly taken to avoid the loss of data. Additionally, users can use data recovery software to recover deleted phone numbers from outdated or corrupted backup files.
Implications and Recommendations
Users should ensure that they regularly back up their WhatsApp chats to avoid the loss of data. In addition, users should be careful when deleting data from the app to avoid accidental deletion of important information.
FAQs
Q. Can I recover phone numbers that were deleted a long time ago?
A. It is possible, but it depends on whether the data has been overwritten or not. If the data has been overwritten, it may not be possible to recover the deleted phone numbers.
Q. Can WhatsApp Support help me recover deleted phone numbers?
A. Yes, users can contact WhatsApp Support for assistance in recovering deleted phone numbers.
Q. Is it safe to use data recovery software?
A. Users need to be careful while selecting the data recovery software as some may contain malware or viruses.
Q. Can I recover specific data using data recovery software?
A. Yes, users can choose to recover specific data instead of restoring the entire backup file.
Q. What should I do if I don’t have a backup of my WhatsApp chats?
A. Unfortunately, without a backup, it is not possible to recover the deleted phone numbers. Users should regularly back up their WhatsApp chats to avoid data loss.
Conclusion
In conclusion, recovering deleted phone numbers from WhatsApp is possible if users have a backup that includes the deleted numbers. Users can choose to use WhatsApp’s in-built backup feature or third-party data recovery software to recover the numbers. Additionally, users should regularly back up their WhatsApp chats to avoid the loss of data.