How to Recover Deleted WhatsApp Photos [iOS & Android Supported]

Accidentally deleted important photos from WhatsApp? In many cases, you can still recover deleted WhatsApp photos from your phone gallery, WhatsApp backup, Google Photos, iCloud, or other available backups. The best recovery method depends on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone and whether the photos were backed up before deletion. In this guide, we'll show you 5 practical ways to retrieve deleted WhatsApp photos on both iOS and Android.

Method 1: Check Photos/Gallery and Recently Deleted

Before restoring a backup or using recovery software, first check whether the deleted WhatsApp photo is still saved on your phone. Deleting a picture from a WhatsApp chat does not always remove the copy that was previously saved to the Photos or Gallery app.

This is the easiest method because it does not require reinstalling WhatsApp or restoring any backup.

On Android:

• Step 1. Open the Gallery or Google Photos app on your Android phone.
• Step 2. Check Albums or Collections for a folder named WhatsApp Images, WhatsApp, or a similar media folder.
• Step 3. If the photo is not there, open Trash or Bin in Google Photos.

If the photo was deleted from Google Photos, backed-up photos are generally kept in Trash for up to 60 days, while photos that were not backed up may be kept for up to 30 days.

On iPhone:

• Step 1. Open the Photos app.
• Step 2. Check Recents, Library, or any album where WhatsApp images were previously saved.
• Step 3. If you deleted the photo from the Photos app as well, go to Albums > Recently Deleted.
• Step 4. Unlock the Recently Deleted album if required, select the WhatsApp photo, and tap Recover.

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Method 2. Ask the Sender to Resend the WhatsApp Photo

If the deleted photo was originally sent to you by another person, asking the sender to resend it may be the fastest way to get it back.

Deleting a photo from your own WhatsApp chat does not necessarily delete the sender's copy. The sender may still have the image in the conversation or saved in their phone's local storage.

• Step 1. Open the WhatsApp chat where the deleted photo originally appeared.
• Step 2. Contact the sender and ask whether they still have the original image.
• Step 3. Ask them to resend the photo or share it with you again.

Even if Delete for Everyone was used, the sender may still have a separate copy saved in their Photos or Gallery app.

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Method 3. Check WhatsApp's Local Media Folder on Android

Android users may also be able to find WhatsApp photos directly in the phone's local storage.

WhatsApp stores downloaded media in dedicated folders on Android. Therefore, a photo removed from a WhatsApp conversation may still exist as a local file if it was previously downloaded and has not been deleted from the device.

• Step 1. Open the Files, My Files, File Manager, or similar app on your Android phone.
• Step 2. Search for WhatsApp Images. Alternatively, navigate through your device storage to locate the WhatsApp media directory. The exact folder path may vary depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer.
• Step 3. Open the WhatsApp Images folder.
• Step 4. Browse the files or use the search and sorting options to locate the missing picture.

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Method 4. Restore Deleted WhatsApp Photos from a WhatsApp Backup

If the photo is no longer stored on your phone, the next option is to check your WhatsApp backup.

WhatsApp can back up chat history and media to Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone when backup has been enabled. However, the backup must contain the photo you want to recover.

Check the Backup Date First

Before uninstalling WhatsApp, check when your most recent backup was created.

• Step 1. Open WhatsApp.
• Step 2. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
• Step 3. Check the date of the latest backup.

For example, if you deleted a photo on August 10 but have a backup from August 8 that still contains it, restoring that backup may bring the photo back.

However, if your latest backup was created after the photo had disappeared, that backup may no longer contain the image.

Restore WhatsApp Backup on Android or iPhone

• Step 1. Confirm that the available backup contains the WhatsApp data you want to recover.
• Step 2. Uninstall WhatsApp from your phone.
• Step 3. Reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or App Store.
• Step 4. Open WhatsApp and verify the same phone number associated with the backup.
• Step 5. Sign in to the same Google Account or Apple Account that was used to create the backup.
• Step 6. When WhatsApp detects the backup, tap Restore or Restore Chat History.
• Step 7. Wait for the chat history and media to be restored, then check whether the deleted photo has returned.

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Method 5. Recover Deleted WhatsApp Photos with TunesKit iPhone Data Recovery

If you use an iPhone and cannot find the WhatsApp photo in Photos, Recently Deleted, or an available WhatsApp backup, you can also try scanning available iPhone or backup data with TunesKit iPhone Data Recovery.

Unlike restoring an entire WhatsApp backup, TunesKit allows you to scan and preview recoverable files before deciding what to export. It supports three recovery approaches:

• Recover from iOS Device – scans an accessible iPhone for recoverable data.
• Recover from iTunes Backup – extracts files from an existing local iTunes backup.
• Recover from iCloud Backup – lets you check supported data stored in an available iCloud backup.

This is useful when you want to look for particular WhatsApp photos rather than restore an entire backup to the iPhone.

Option 1. Scan the iPhone Without a Backup

If no usable backup is available, you can first try scanning the iPhone itself.

Step 1. Download and Launch TunesKit

Install TunesKit iPhone Data Recovery on your Windows PC or Mac. Connect the iPhone to the computer with a USB cable. Unlock the iPhone and tap Trust if the device asks whether you trust the computer. Launch TunesKit and select iPhone/iPad Data Recovery.

Step 2. Preview the WhatsApp Data

Choose the data categories you want to scan. To narrow the results, select WhatsApp and any relevant photo categories. Click Scan.

Step 3. Export the Photos

After scanning is complete, open the WhatsApp-related category and browse the detected data. Preview the available files and select the photos you want to retrieve. Click Recover to PC to save the selected files to your computer.

Option 2. Recover WhatsApp Photos from an iTunes Backup

If you previously backed up your iPhone to a computer, TunesKit can scan the local backup without requiring you to restore the entire backup to the iPhone.

• Step 1. Open TunesKit iPhone Data Recovery and choose Recover Data from iTunes.
• Step 2. Select the relevant iPhone backup from the available backup list.
• Step 3. Choose WhatsApp Messages & Attachments and start scanning.
• Step 4. Preview the detected photos. Select the files you need and click Recover to export them to your computer.

This approach is particularly useful when you want only a few WhatsApp photos and do not want to replace the current data on your iPhone by performing a full backup restore.

Option 3. Check an iCloud Backup

If your WhatsApp or iPhone data was backed up to iCloud, you can also use the Recover from iCloud Backup mode.

• Step 1. Open TunesKit iPhone Data Recovery and select Recover Data from iCloud.
• Step 2. Sign in with the Apple Account associated with your available backup.
• Step 3. Select the appropriate backup or supported iCloud data.
• Step 4. Download and scan the relevant data.
• Step 5. Open the WhatsApp-related category, preview the photos, and export any files you want to keep.

This method allows you to inspect recoverable backup data without restoring the entire iPhone from an older backup.

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FAQs Related to Deleted WhatsApp Photos

Here are some answers to the questions frequently asked by our customers. Hope you can successfully recover your deleted WhatsApp photos.

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The Bottom Line

Is there any way to recover deleted WhatsApp photos? Yes! Losing WhatsApp pictures can be distressing, but with the right tools and knowledge, recovery is often possible. By following these steps, you'll be better equipped to handle accidental deletions. TunesKit iPhone Data Recovery is the always best choice on how to recover lost images from WhatsApp on iPhone. In the end, don't forget to regularly back up your WhatsApp data with TunesKit WhatsApp Transfer to avoid mishaps.