The Complete Guide to WeChat Data Recovery for Android & iPhone

WeChat has become one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, with over 1.2 billion monthly active users. For many, it is the primary way they keep in touch with friends and family. Unfortunately, data loss can happen to anyone. You may have accidentally deleted important messages or media files, updated your phone OS and lost chat history, dropped your phone and cracked the screen, or had your device stolen or damaged.

Recovering lost WeChat data may seem daunting but is possible with the right tools and techniques. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to successfully recover your WeChat messages, photos, videos, voice messages, and more on Android and iPhone.

Key Takeaways

• WeChat data loss can occur due to accidental deletion, OS updates, phone damage, theft, and other issues. Recovery is possible in most cases.
• For Android users, recovering data directly from the device is usually ineffective. Using a Google Drive or local backup is better.
• iPhone users can recover WeChat data from iCloud and iTunes backups or directly from the iOS device with data recovery software.
• Specialized third-party software offers the best data recovery success rate compared to manual methods.
• Act quickly after data loss and avoid actions that overwrite missing data to maximize recoverability.
• Regularly backing up your WeChat data prevents permanent data loss when your phone is lost, damaged, or upgraded.

Part 1: Recovering Lost WeChat Data on Android

For Android users, recovering lost WeChat messages and attachments is a bit trickier compared to iPhone. The WeChat app does not automatically backup your data, so you need to manually backup to Google Drive or locally to your device storage.

Without a backup, directly scanning the Android device itself rarely works to recover deleted WeChat data. However, it is still possible in some cases using data recovery apps.

Method 1: Restore WeChat from Google Drive Backup

1. Open the WeChat app on your Android device.
2. Go to Me > Settings > General > Back Up and Restore Chat History.
3. Tap on Back Up to Google Drive and select the account you want to backup to.
4. Tap the types of data you want to include – you can choose Chat History, Photo Album, Video, Voice, Favorites and more.
5. Tap Back Up Now. It may take a few minutes to complete depending on how much data you are backing up.
6. Once backup is done, you can now restore if data loss occurs. Go back to Back Up and Restore and tap Restore from Google Drive.
7. Select the backup you want to restore from and tap Restore to recover data back to your device or a new device.

This method ensures you have a backup ready in case of accidental data loss. Just remember to re-backup regularly as your WeChat data changes.

Method 2: Use Local Backup to Restore Deleted WeChat Data

If you did not backup to Google Drive previously, you may still have an automatic local backup of WeChat available. Here’s how to find and restore it:

1. Go to your Android device’s File Manager app.
2. Navigate to the WeChat folder, usually found in Internal Storage/Android/data/com.tencent.mm/.
3. Look for a folder called Backup. This contains your chat history backups.
4. Long press on a backup folder and tap Copy to copy it to another location on your device or cloud storage.
5. Now uninstall and reinstall the WeChat app. When you log back in, you will get a prompt to restore chat history.
6. Tap Restore and select the backup copy you made to recover your WeChat data.

The key is finding that local backup folder before you overwrite it. Backups are made periodically so look for the most recent.

Method 3: Use Android Data Recovery Software

If you don’t have a WeChat backup available, third-party data recovery software offers the best chance to retrieve deleted or lost data directly from your Android device.

Programs like Tenorshare UltData (Android) can scan your phone and extract recoverable WeChat files even without a backup. Follow these steps:

1. Download and install the data recovery app on your computer.
2. Connect your Android phone to the computer via USB and allow USB debugging.
3. Select the file types you want to scan for – choose WeChat Database and WeChat Media Files.
4. Tap Scan to have the software search your device for any recoverable files.
5. Preview and select the WeChat messages and media you want to recover.
6. Save the retrieved WeChat data to your computer. You can then transfer it back to your device.

This method works even if you have no backup, though there is no guarantee all data can be recovered. The sooner you run the scan after data loss, the better.

Part 2: Recovering WeChat Data on iPhone

For iOS users, you have better chances of recovering lost WeChat data compared to Android. That’s because iPhones automatically backup your WeChat messages and attachments to iCloud. You can restore from these backups or use data recovery tools to extract data directly from the device.

Method 1: Restore WeChat from iCloud Backup

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. Make sure you are signed into your iCloud account.
2. Scroll down and tap on Manage Storage > Backups. Select your device backup.
3. Tap Restore to restore iCloud backup to your device. This will overwrite existing data so make sure your important stuff is backed up.
4. Once device restoration is complete, open the WeChat app and log in to find your chat history recovered. Media files may take more time to sync from iCloud.

This works great if you have a recent iCloud backup containing the lost WeChat data. Just be prepared for full device restore.

Method 2: Use iTunes Backup to Restore WeChat Data

If you sync your iPhone to iTunes and backup locally on your computer, you can also restore from an iTunes backup:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.
2. Click on your device icon and go to Summary > Restore Backup.
3. Select the backup you want to restore from – choose a recent one containing your WeChat data.
4. Click Restore and wait for the restore process to complete.
5. Your device will reboot. Open WeChat to find your messages, media files, and settings restored.

iTunes backup is another easy option if you routinely sync your device to your computer. Just pick a backup that has your missing data.

Method 3: Use iPhone Data Recovery Software

Data recovery apps like Tenorshare UltData (iOS) allow recovering WeChat messages and attachments directly from the iOS device, even without a backup. Follow these steps:

1. Download and install the software on your Windows or Mac computer.
2. Connect your iPhone to the computer using the USB cable provided. Click Trust on your device.
3. On the program interface, select the file types you want to scan for. Select WeChat Database and WeChat Media Files at minimum.
4. Click the Start button to begin scanning your device to extract recoverable WeChat data.
5. Preview and select the WeChat messages, photos, videos, and other files you want to recover.
6. Save the recovered data to your computer. You can then sync it back to your iPhone.

Data recovery software like UltData (full review) offers the most flexible WeChat recovery capabilities for iOS users if you don’t have a recent backup.

Part 3: How to Avoid WeChat Data Loss

While recovery is possible in many cases, prevention is always better than cure. Follow these tips to keep your WeChat data safe and avoid permanent data loss:

• Back up your chat history – Manually back up your WeChat messages and media to iCloud or Google Drive regularly.
• Export important chats – You can also export important chat history to storage as text files or databases.
• Sync devices – Link WeChat to multiple devices like smartphone + tablet to have chat history synced.
• Secure your phone – Use screen locks, find my device features, and physical phone protection cases to prevent theft or damage.
• Update carefully – Make backups before major iOS or Android OS updates which can sometimes corrupt data.
• Avoid unstable apps – Don’t download shady third-party apps that could cause WeChat crashes or data loss.
• Have account recovery options – Set up trusted contacts and secondary emails/numbers for WeChat account recovery.

Beside, learn more about WhatsApp data recovery from Android & iPhone.

FAQs on WeChat Data Recovery

What are the most common causes of WeChat data loss?

The most common reasons are accidentally deleting messages or media files, phone OS updates causing data corruption, hardware damage from drops or water, malware or app crashes, stolen devices, and forgotten passwords locking you out.

Can I recover WeChat data without a backup?

It depends on the device – iPhone users can recover directly from the phone in many cases using data recovery software. Android users will typically need a Google Drive or local backup to restore missing data.

Is it safe to use third-party software for WeChat recovery?

As long as you use reputable apps from well-known developers, third-party software is generally very safe to use. Check reviews and avoid anything that seems sketchy.

What is the success rate for WeChat data recovery?

This varies based on your device, the recovery method used, and how long since data loss occurred. Specialized software has some of the highest success rates, allowing recovery in over 80-90% of cases if done promptly.

Can I selectively restore only certain WeChat data?

Yes, many recovery methods allow you to preview scan results and selectively choose which files or messages to restore. You don’t have to recover everything at once.

How can I prevent WeChat data loss?

Regularly backing up your chat history, media files, and account data is the best prevention. Also avoiding unstable apps, securing your phone, and updating carefully reduces risk.

Conclusion

Losing your precious memories and conversations on WeChat can be devastating. But in most cases, recovery is possible with the right tools and techniques.

For Android users, restore from Google Drive backup or local device backups. On iPhone, use iCloud and iTunes restore or data recovery software. Avoid device actions that can overwrite missing data.

Act quickly after data loss, use reputable software, and keep regular backups to maximize successful WeChat recovery. With the tips in this guide, you can get those important messages back.

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