How to See Messages: WhatsApp “This Message Was Deleted”

Have you ever seen WhatsApp “This message was deleted” since you are using WhatsApp and out of nowhere? If it happens, you won’t see the message and not receive your WhatsApp message, and it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with your WhatsApp.

Follow this guide to enter this feature in WhatsApp and get everything you concern about WhatsApp “This message was deleted”.

What does WhatsApp “This message was deleted” mean?

First of all, you should know that it is possible to delete WhatsApp messages by using the “Delete for everyone” function. Literally, the “Delete For Everyone” feature helps recall or unsend the WhatsApp messages. It can be a nice helper to save you from embarrassment especially when you accidentally send a message to the wrong person or send a message with typos or even worse send a message that you regret just 1 minute later.

Now, it can explain why you see “This message was deleted” in WhatsApp. If someone sends you a message, and he uses the “Delete for everyone” feature to delete it, you will see “This message was deleted.” When you use the “Delete for everyone” feature, you as a sender will see, “You deleted this message” notification in the chat, while the receiver will see “This message was deleted”.

How to use “Delete for everyone” feature?
• Go to any individual or group chat that you want to delete messages from.

• Tap and hold the message and click Delete > Choose Delete For Everyone to confirm.

Precautions before using “Delete for everyone” feature
• It’s a time-specific function. Users can unsend a message using “Delete for everyone” feature only within 7 minutes of sending a message.
• It works only if you and the recipient are using the latest version of WhatsApp. The “Delete for everyone” is not visible, or you won’t see “This message was deleted” in WhatsApp if either you or the recipient is not using the latest version of WhatsApp.
• Unsend messages will be notified. As you can see, what is embarrassing is that you will see a WhatsApp “This message was deleted” symbol when unsending a message.

How to see deleted messages in WhatsApp

You may wonder how to see deleted messages in WhatsApp that shows “This message was deleted” symbol. Depending on whether you have enabled auto iCloud backup WhatsApp, this part will show you two ways to see deleted WhatsApp messages with or without backup.

Option 1. See deleted WhatsApp messages from backup

It is a common way to see deleted WhatsApp messages on iPhone by restoring iCloud backup. Just make sure you have the latest iCloud backup for WhatsApp, and then, restore the backup to your iPhone to get deleted WhatsApp messages. Here are the detailed steps.

How to check/enable iCloud WhatsApp backup
Open WhatsApp on your iPhone > Go to its Settings > Tap Chats > Chat Backup. From here, you can check whether you have the latest backup. Or you can tap Back Up Now to get the latest backup files.

How to restore iCloud WhatsApp backup
Step 1. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your iPhone > Verify your phone number.

Step 2. Tap Restore Chat History > Follow the onscreen instructions to restore WhatsApp backup.

Please be noted that it may not be the best choice to see the message that deleted using the “Delete for everyone” function since the massage probably hasn't been backed up.

Option 2. See deleted WhatsApp messages without backup

The deleted messages shown in WhatsApp “This message was deleted” may not be backed up in time. Or, you may have no enough iCloud storage to save all WhatsApp chat histories. If it is the case, you may need a WhatsApp data recovery tool to do you a favor.

Here we recommend AOMEI Data Recovery for iOS, which allows you to preview and recover certain WhatsApp files, such as deleted messages, videos, photos, call history, and so on, without overwriting previous files on your phone.

Now, follow the steps below to know how to recover and see deleted WhatsApp messages without backup but via AOMEI Data Recovery for iOS.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer. When it is detected successfully, click on Trust on your iPhone to let your computer access iPhone data. OpenAOMEI Data Recovery for iOS.

Step 2. Select Scan and click on Scan Now. The program will start scanning your iPhone . Once it is done, all WhatsApp messages will be listed.

Step 3. Here, you can read and preview the WhatsApp data. Then select the messages you want to recover and click on Recover.

Warm tip:
If you cannot find the deleted messages after trying both ways listed, then, you probably receive a WhatsApp “This message was deleted” prank from your friend. You might as well just go ahead and ask him what message he withdrew or poke fun at his pranks.

Summary

In conclusion, understanding the "WhatsApp this message was deleted" feature can help you better navigate your conversations on the platform. By knowing why messages are deleted and how to view them using third-party apps, you can gain valuable insights into your chats and avoid any misunderstandings.

However, it's also important to respect other users' decisions to delete their messages and to use the feature responsibly. With these tips in mind, you can make the most of your WhatsApp experience and communicate with confidence. Is this guide helpful? Share it with others.