How to Recover Deleted Photos from WhatsApp [5 Methods]

Accidentally deleted an important photo from WhatsApp? You’re not alone. With billions of messages exchanged daily, it’s common to delete a WhatsApp image by mistake. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to retrieve WhatsApp photos, whether through backups, phone storage, or cloud services.

This guide will walk you through how to retrieve deleted WhatsApp pictures using different methods, including WhatsApp backup, phone storage, and cloud recovery options. Whether you're using an Android or iPhone, these steps will help you recover your lost images quickly.

Method 1: Restore From a WhatsApp Backup

If you had Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) backup enabled before the deletion, you can restore the photo by reinstalling WhatsApp.

Step 1: Check Your Chat Backup Settings

Before proceeding, ensure that WhatsApp has a recent backup containing your deleted photos. Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and check the last backup date for Android (Google Drive) and for iPhone(iCloud). If the backup was created before you lost the photos, you can restore them successfully.

Step 2: Uninstall WhatsApp from Your iPhone

To restore deleted photos, you need to reinstall WhatsApp. Locate the WhatsApp app on your home screen, press and hold the icon, then tap Remove App > Delete App.

Step 3: Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store

Next, open the Google Play Store(Android ) or App Store(iPhone), search for WhatsApp Messenger, and tap Download (or the cloud icon if previously installed). Wait for the app to reinstall completely before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Set Up WhatsApp Again

Launch the newly installed WhatsApp and follow the setup process. Agree to the terms, enter your phone number, and verify it using the SMS code you receive. This step is necessary before restoring your chats and media.

Step 5: Restore Your Chat History and Photos

Once your number is verified, WhatsApp will detect an existing iCloud backup. Tap "Restore Chat History" and wait for the process to complete. Once restored, your deleted photos should reappear in the respective chats.

Method 2: Recover From Your Phone's Storage (Android Only)

If your WhatsApp photos or videos are missing, you can check the WhatsApp Media Folder to locate them. Follow these steps to access and recover your media files.

Step 1: Open the Photos App

Since WhatsApp automatically saves media to your android phone, start by opening the Photos app to check if your missing images or videos are still there.

Step 2: Go to the WhatsApp Album

• In the Photos app, tap on the Albums tab at the bottom.
• Scroll down and look for an album named WhatsApp or WhatsApp Media.
• Tap to open it and check if your missing media files are available.

Step 3: Check the Recently Deleted Folder

If you don’t see your photos in the WhatsApp album, they might have been deleted accidentally.

• In the Photos app, scroll down to Recently Deleted under Utilities.
• Look for any WhatsApp media files and tap Recover to restore them.

Step 4: Open WhatsApp and Check Individual Chats

If you can’t find the media in your Photos app, open WhatsApp and manually check chats where the missing photos or videos were sent or received.

Step 5: Enable Auto-Save for Future Media

To prevent losing WhatsApp media in the future:

• Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
• Tap Chats > Save to Camera Roll and make sure it’s enabled.

Method 3: Check Recently Deleted Folder (iPhone)

On iPhones, deleted photos are temporarily stored in the Recently Deleted folder for up to 30 days before being permanently erased. You may be able to recover your WhatsApp photos from there.

Step 1: Open the Photos App

• Unlock your iPhone and open the Photos app.

Step 2: Go to Recently Deleted

• Tap Albums at the bottom.
• Scroll down and open Recently Deleted.

Step 3: Find and Restore the Deleted Photo

• Look for your missing WhatsApp photo.
• Tap the photo, then select Recover to restore it to your gallery.

Your photo will now reappear in the WhatsApp album or your main Photos library!

If the photo is not in Recently Deleted, it may have been permanently deleted, and you should try other recovery methods like checking iCloud or WhatsApp backup.

Method 4: Check Email or Cloud Storage

If you manually saved or shared your WhatsApp photos, they might be stored in your email attachments or cloud storage services like Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox.

Step 1: Check Your Email Attachments

• Open your email app and search for terms like “WhatsApp photos” or the contact’s name.
• Check your sent folder, as you may have shared the image via email.

Step 2: Search Your Cloud Storage

• Google Photos (Android & iPhone): Open Google Photos > Search > WhatsApp to find backed-up images.
• iCloud Photos (iPhone): Open the Photos app > Albums > WhatsApp or Recently Deleted.
• Dropbox/OneDrive: If you use cloud backups, log in and search for WhatsApp media.

Step 3: Restore Your Photos

• If found in cloud storage, download and save them back to your device.
• If in Recently Deleted, tap Restore to recover them.

If your photos are missing from email or cloud storage, try restoring from a WhatsApp backup or checking your device’s media folder

Method 5: Ask the Sender to Resend

If you have accidentally deleted photos from WhatsApp and don’t have a backup, you can try recovering them by requesting the images from the sender or other chat participants. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the Chat with Missing Photos

Open WhatsApp and go to the chat where the photos were originally shared. If you remember the sender’s name, it will be easier to request the images.

Step 2: Ask the Sender or Group Members to Resend the Photos

If the image was sent by someone else, ask them directly to resend it. In group chats, any member who received the photo may still have it saved and can share it with you again.

Step 3: Check If the Sender Still Has the Image in Their Chat

Even if the sender has deleted the image from their gallery, they may still have it in their WhatsApp chat. Ask them to scroll through the conversation and forward the image back to you.

Step 4: Request the Original Image File

If the image was manually deleted from WhatsApp, the sender might still have the original file in their device’s gallery. Ask them to check their Photos app (iPhone) or File Manager (Android) and send the file directly.

Step 5: Check WhatsApp Web or Linked Devices

If you had WhatsApp linked to another device (such as WhatsApp Web or a secondary phone), open it and check if the photo is still available there. Sometimes, media files remain accessible on linked devices even after deletion from the main device.

Tips to Avoid Losing Photos in the Future

Enable Auto-Download:

• Open WhatsApp > Settings > Storage and Data > Media Auto-Download.
• Select the types of media you want to auto-download (e.g., photos, videos).

Backup Regularly:

• Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
• Tap Back Up to manually back up your data or enable automatic backups.

Save Photos Manually:

• Open the chat with the photo, tap and hold the photo, and select Save to Gallery (Android) or Save Image (iPhone).

Conclusion

Losing important photos can be frustrating, but with the right approach, WhatsApp image recovery is possible. Whether you restore from a backup, check cloud storage, or ask the sender to resend, there are multiple ways to get your photos back. To prevent future data loss, consider enabling WhatsApp backups and using cloud storage services for added security. By following these tips, you can ensure that your memories stay safe and easily accessible.