Deleted WhatsApp images/videos by mistake? Now, you can restore them
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature that allows users to download deleted media files like images, videos, GIFs, voice messages, and documents. Earlier, when users deleted media files sent over WhatsApp from their smartphone's gallery, the content was gone forever. But now they can re-download the same later. The new feature is available on WhatsApp version 2.18.113 on Android.
The feature worked with media as old as three months. But for the files that were too old (say, last year), it didn't work. Instead, WhatsApp suggested users ask the sender to send the media again, indicating that's the only way to get it back.
This means that WhatsApp, in order to make the feature work, now stores our media on its servers even after it has been delivered and downloaded by users. Earlier, WhatsApp stored media that was yet to be downloaded on its servers for 30 days, post which it was deleted from their end. However, please note that media files are end-to-end encrypted on the app.
Keep in mind that in order to re-download, the media file must only have been deleted from its destination folder on the smartphone (sdcard/WhatsApp/), and not from the message in WhatsApp itself. Once the latter happens, it's not possible to get back the file.
WhatsApp has also rolled out a new vCard indexing feature in beta v2.18.111 for Android. Under it, if an unknown user sends you a message and you have already received his contact card (vCard) from someone else, you will be asked if you want to save or discard it. The feature allows users to quickly identify new unknown contacts.
