WhatsApp Photos & Videos Recovery from Your iPhone

WhatsApp boasts more than one billion users in over 180 countries. I bet that the one who is watching this article has WhatsApp installed on iPhone. We send and receive lots of messages to and from friends, families or strangers. Apart from text and audio messages, people like to share images and videos on WhatsApp, which express much more than words can do. It's pleasing to share or be shared while it must be terrible when pictures and videos are gone along with chats on WhatsApp. Though it barely happens, others have experienced or are experiencing such an issue. 

"I've lost some chats on my WhatsApp somehow after I updated my iPhone 6s to iOS 10. Along with those chats, some precious photos and videos I've ever received from my friends are gone. Is there any way to get them back? Please help. Thanks in advance. - Carol"

• Feasibility: Is it Possible to Get Lost Photos and Videos back on WhatsApp?
• Method 1: Restore Pictures and Videos without Backups
• Method 2: Retrieve Images and Videos from iCloud Backup Files
• Method 3: Retrieve Photos and Videos from iTunes Backup Files
• Notes: 4 Ways to Backup Photos and Videos after the Restoration

Feasibility: Is it Possible to Get Lost Photos and Videos back on WhatsApp?

Many people feel frustrated when they inadvertently deleted chat history on WhatsApp. It's believed that lost data are gone and impossible to be restored. However, I have to say that this is an incorrect thought. Once deleted, contents turn invisible and inaccessible but still exist in storage, which seems as if they're erased and gone. As long as lost data are not yet replaced by new data, there is still a chance to get them back even without backups.

If there are previous backups available, lost WhatsApp photos and videos are retrievable from iCloud/iTunes backup files. However, if you have no backups, stop using your iPhone as to prevent from overwriting the lost contents. Once overwritten, they are gone and irretrievable.

Method 1: Restore Pictures and Videos without Backups

As is mentioned on the previous section, you have to stop using your iPhone in case that lost photos and videos be overwritten. For the reason that lost contents are inaccessible by original program, we have to depend on another software known as iPhone Data Recovery, which is designed to perform recovery on iOS devices with up-to-20 types of data available. Let's see how it works now.

Step 1. Scan Lost WhatsApp Photos and Videos

Download and install iPhone Data Recovery at first. Next, perform the software and connect your iPhone via USB cable to it. Then, please select "WhatsApp & Attachments" option and click on "Start Scan" button. It will automatically start scanning out those deleted WhatsApp images and videos.

Note that if you've stored lots of chats on WhatsApp, it might take a while to finish scanning.

Step 2. Preview and Restore WhatsApp Media Files

When the scanning completes, you are able to view those lost media files on the software. Now, please preview and decide which ones to restore to the computer. Then, hit the "Recover to Computer" button as to export them to a specific location on Mac/PC.

Note that deleted ones will be scanned out and marked in red with a small bin ahead.

Method 2: Retrieve Images and Videos from iCloud Backup Files

While WhatsApp supports users to make a backup via the app, most people might have done so. Therefore, WhatsApp data will be uploaded and stored on WhatsApp iCloud service. If users want to restore data from the WhatsApp backup, it can be done by re-installing the app. However, if you've done an iCloud backup instead, you use iPhone Data Recovery restore WhatsApp data with no need to reset your iPhone. Please read on and know how to do it.

Step 1. Download WhatsApp Attachments from iCloud

Run iPhone Data Recovery on Mac/PC. Next, choose "Recover from iCloud Backup File" on the left panel. Now, you will be asked to log in your iCloud account so as to gain access to the data stored on iCloud.

Note that any of your private information will not be recorded or stored. Please be reassured.

iCloud backups will be listed on the screen. Please choose one and click on "Download". Then, you will be prompted to choose types of data to download from iCloud. Please select "WhatsApp Attachments" and click "Next" to go on.

Note that you can also choose "WhatsApp" to preview the chat history.

Step 2. Restore Lost WhatsApp Messages

Now, you are able to view the WhatsApp photos and videos. Then, please choose desired items and click on "Recover to Computer". Decide the route to save those media files and they will be exported to computer intact. You can then check then in full size.

Method 3: Retrieve Photos and Videos from iTunes Backup Files

If you've done a full backup for your iPhone via iTunes, there should be an iTunes backup available. Thus, you can restore WhatsApp photos and videos from the iTunes backup with ease. It is easy to use iTunes to restore data from an iTunes backup while it would result in data loss of current contents, but you will have no such worry if you try iPhone Data Recovery. You might as well check out the following steps.

Step 1. Start Scanning an iTunes Backup

Launch iPhone Data Recovery and select "Recover from iTunes Backup File". The existing iTunes backups will be scanned out and displayed on the software. Please choose one and click on "Start Scan" to continue.

Note that if you've changed the default route of iTunes backups, you might need to select the files on your own.

Step 2. Preview and Retrieve WhatsApp Conversations

After done scanning, all the data stored in the iTunes backup will be showed including WhatsApp Photos and Videos. It's able to preview them before the restoration. Then, please check those you want to restore and click on "Recover to Computer".

Note that video files might be unable to be previewed in full size before the recovery.

Notes: 4 Ways to Backup Photos and Videos after the Restoration

Congratulations! You've successfully restored your lost WhatsApp photos and videos. However, in case of losing them again, it's strongly recommended to back them up. There are four methods to backup WhatsApp data. Please scroll down and read on, then choose one that you like.

Backup via WhatsApp Manager

Step 1. Download and Open "WhatsApp Transfer, Backup & Restore".

Step 2. Choose "Backup WhatsApp messages" option.

Step 3. Connect your iOS device to the software.

Step 4. Click on "Backup" button and it's done within a click.

Note that the backups are able to be preview anytime you want.

Backup via WhatsApp

Step 1. Open "WhatsApp" on device.

Step 2. Go to "Settings" > "Chats" > "Chat Backup".

Step 3. Tap on "Back Up Now".

Note that it supports an auto backup feature (Daily, Weekly and Monthly).

Backup via iTunes

Step 1. Launch the latest version of iTunes on Mac/PC.

Step 2. Connect iOS device to iTunes.

Step 3. Click on "Phone-like" button to enter "Summary" page.

Step 4. Choose "Back Up Now" to back up data.

Note that you can encrypt your iTunes backup with passcode.

Backup via iCloud

Step 1. Open "Settings" on your iPhone/iPad/iPod.

Step 2. Scroll down and select "iCloud" option.

Step 3. Scroll down and choose "Backup" option.

Step 4. Tap on "Back Up Now" button.

Photo can capture the moment of our happiness while video is able to keep moments last forever. Both of them are precious records of our life. We live at the moment and relive with these instances. If they got lost on WhatsApp by accident, you can follow the instructions above and get them back. Don't forget to back them up after the recovery.