Losing precious videos from WhatsApp is frustrating — especially after a mistaken deletion, uninstall, or factory reset. The good news is: sometimes you can recover them — but success depends heavily on timing, backups, and your phone’s use since deletion.
Below is a refined, step-by-step guide (for both Android and iPhone) to help you recover deleted WhatsApp videos. I also explain when recovery is unlikely and what you can do to boost your chances.
Before trying recovery, it helps to understand how videos get lost in the first place:
No backup enabled or expired backup retention — If WhatsApp or your phone hasn’t backed up media, the video may not have been stored anywhere else.
User-initiated deletion or “Delete for Me” — If you delete a video in chat, it may vanish from your visible storage.
Uninstalling or reinstalling WhatsApp — If you didn’t restore from backup, local files may be lost.
Factory reset of device — Clears internal storage and with it any unbacked files.
Overwriting data — After deletion, the phone may reuse the storage space; the longer you wait or use the phone afterward, the lower your recovery odds.
Because of these constraints, recovery is not guaranteed. But with fast action, you increase your chances.
There are multiple ways to recover a deleted WhatsApp video.
Recovery Methods for Android Devices
Here are the best methods to try on Android phones:
1. Check WhatsApp’s local storage (Media folder)
Sometimes deleted videos linger in hidden internal folders before being overwritten.
Open your File Manager (built-in or third-party).
Navigate to Internal Storage → WhatsApp → Media → WhatsApp Video (or similar folder names).
Look for recently deleted video files — sometimes they remain but with a changed name or missing thumbnail.
If you find them, copy them out to another folder or gallery.
Note: This method works only if the files weren’t fully purged or overwritten. Also some guides note that media may be encrypted in WhatsApp’s database format, making direct recovery harder.
If you regularly backed up WhatsApp with media, your videos might be included in a Google Drive backup.
Steps:
Uninstall WhatsApp from your device.
Reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.
During setup, verify your phone number.
You’ll get a prompt to Restore your chat history and media from Google Drive. Choose Restore.
Once restored, check your Media/WhatsApp Video folder or in chat attachments.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Restoring a backup will overwrite any WhatsApp data created after the backup time. If the backup is old, you might lose newer messages or media.
3. Use a data recovery tool on Android (with caution)
When local and backup methods fail, recovery software may help — though success is less certain.
Download a reputable recovery tool (Windows/Mac version) that supports WhatsApp media recovery.
Connect your phone via USB and enable USB Debugging.
In the tool, choose scanning for WhatsApp Attachments / Videos.
Preview recoverable items, select your desired videos, and export them to your computer.
These tools rely on fragments still present on storage before they get overwritten. Be careful: using your phone heavily after deletion lowers chances of recovery.
One such approach is described by Mobikin’s guide for recovering deleted WhatsApp videos.
4. Ask the sender to resend the video
If a video was sent to you by someone else, ask them to send it again. If they haven’t deleted it, you can recover it easily this way.
Recovery Methods for iPhone (iOS)
iOS has different constraints, but here are the methods to try:
1. Recover from “Recently Deleted” in Photos
If the video was saved to your iPhone’s camera roll or iCloud Photos:
Open the Photos app.
Go to Albums → Recently Deleted.
Look for the WhatsApp video you want.
Tap Recover to move it back to your gallery.
This works only if iOS had saved the video to your Photos before deletion and it’s within the 30-day window.
2. Restore via iCloud WhatsApp backup (if configured)
If you enabled WhatsApp backup to iCloud including media:
Check in WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup to see if a recent iCloud backup exists.
Delete WhatsApp from your iPhone.
Reinstall and verify your phone number.
When prompted, tap Restore Chat History — this will include media if backup settings allowed it.
⚠️ Just like on Android, this overwrites WhatsApp data created after the backup time.
3. Restore from iTunes / Finder backup
If you’ve backed up your iPhone (including WhatsApp data) using iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on macOS):
Connect your iPhone to the computer.
In iTunes or Finder, choose “Restore from Backup.”
Pick a backup dated before you lost the video.
Restore the phone and then check your WhatsApp media.
Note: This restores the entire device snapshot, not just WhatsApp — any changes since that backup may be lost.
4. Use iOS data recovery tools (no backup)
If backups don’t exist, some tools claim to scan iOS storage for recoverable media. They are less reliable and may require connecting to a computer. Preview what they find before restoring.
What Works Best and When Recovery Fails
Method
Best Used If
Limitations / Risk
Local file scan (Android)
Right after deletion, before much phone use
Files may be overwritten or encrypted
Google Drive / iCloud backup
You had backups enabled
Overwrites newer content
Recovery tools
Partial fragments still exist
Not guaranteed; depends on storage condition
iTunes / Finder backup
You backed up your iPhone before deletion
Complete device restore; you may lose newer data
Sender resend
Video was sent by someone else
Depends on their device; they may have deleted it too
If none of these methods succeed, it’s likely the video has been permanently removed or overwritten. The longer you delay or keep using the phone, the lower the chances.
Tips to Maximize Chances Before You Start
Stop using your phone immediately after noticing the deletion — avoid adding files or installing apps.
Do not take new photos, videos, or install apps — these may overwrite the deleted data.
Use a recovery tool via computer rather than installing it on your phone, to avoid further writes.
Always check whether backups exist before attempting advanced recovery.
When restoring from backup, ensure you have enough storage and a stable internet connection.
Final Word & Prevention Tips
Recovering deleted WhatsApp videos is possible if you move fast and have backups or residual data. But it’s not guaranteed, and older deletions or heavy phone use after deletion often makes recovery impossible.
To avoid loss in future:
Enable automatic backups for WhatsApp media (Google Drive for Android, iCloud for iOS).
Periodically export important videos or move them to cloud storage (Google Photos, Dropbox, etc.).
Before a phone reset or uninstall, back up WhatsApp fully including media.
Take screenshots or archive critical conversations while videos exist.
