It usually happens in a fit of rage. Someone sends you something nasty. Or maybe it’s a spam bot trying to sell you crypto. Or your ex being… well, your ex. Your thumb hovers over the button. “Report and Block.” You tap it. The chat vanishes. The problem is gone.
But then, 20 minutes later, the regret sets in. Maybe you need that chat for legal evidence. Maybe you blocked the wrong number. Maybe you just realized you deleted the only copy of a photo you actually wanted.
You open WhatsApp, desperate to find an “Undo” button. Spoiler Alert: There isn’t one.
If you are reading this from London, New York, or Sydney, you are probably used to apps having a “Recently Deleted” folder. WhatsApp does not have this. When you hit “Report and Block,” WhatsApp treats that chat like toxic waste. It nukes it.
However, depending on your backup settings and how fast you act, there is a small window of hope. Here is the chaotic, honest guide to what you can recover, what is gone forever, and why you should never trust those “Recovery Apps” you see on Google.
The Difference Between “Block” and “Report & Block”
First, we have to clarify what you actually did, because the outcome is totally different.
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If you just hit “Block”: You are fine. The chat is still there. It’s just buried in your list. You can unblock them, and the history remains.
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If you hit “Report and Block”: This is the scorched earth option.
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It forwards the last 5 messages to WhatsApp’s moderation team (for review).
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It deletes the entire chat history from your phone instantly.
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It blocks the contact.
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If you did option #2, the chat is gone from your screen. So, how do we get it back?
Method 1: The “Time Travel” Restore (Your Only Real Shot)
This is the only method that actually works reliably. You have to trick WhatsApp by turning back time.
The condition: You must have an Automatic Backup (iCloud or Google Drive) that ran before you deleted the chat.
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Scenario: It is 2:00 PM. You blocked/reported them at 1:55 PM. Your last backup was at 4:00 AM this morning.
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The Fix: You can wipe your WhatsApp and restore the 4:00 AM backup. The chat will reappear because it existed at 4:00 AM.
The Steps:
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Do NOT create a new backup. If you back up now, you will save the “empty” version and overwrite the good one.
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Uninstall WhatsApp. Delete the app entirely.
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Reinstall WhatsApp. Verification code, phone number, the works.
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Restore Backup. When it asks “Restore from iCloud/Google Drive?”, say YES.
The Catch: You will lose every message sent between 4:00 AM and 2:00 PM. It’s a trade-off. You lose the new stuff to get the old stuff back.
Method 2: Request Account Info (For the GDPR Nerds)
If you are in Europe (GDPR) or California (CCPA), you have a legal right to your data. You can ask WhatsApp to give you everything they know about you.
How to do it:
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Settings > Account > Request Account Info.
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Tap Request Report.
The Disappointment: I have to be honest with you. This report does not contain your message history. WhatsApp is End-to-End Encrypted. They literally cannot see your messages, so they cannot put them in a report.
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What you get: A list of your groups, your profile photo history, your block list, and device details.
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What you don’t get: The text where your ex said “I’m sorry.”
This method is useless for recovering content, but it is useful if you just need to prove that you were in contact with that number (metadata).
Method 3: The “Recovery Software” Scam (Danger Zone)
If you Google this topic, you will see ads for software like “Dr. Fone,” “Tenorshare,” or “ChatBack Pro.” They promise to “Deep Scan” your iPhone or Android to find deleted WhatsApp chats.
Do not pay them. Especially if you are on an iPhone (iOS 17+). Apple’s “Sandbox” security is incredibly tight. No third-party app can just “scan” another app’s private database unless you jailbreak your phone (which ruins your warranty and banking apps).
Most of these tools are “Snake Oil.” They will take your $40, scan your phone, find nothing (because the database is encrypted), and then refuse to refund you. Even worse, some of them are malware designed to steal your data. If the “Time Travel” backup didn’t work, no software on Earth can fix it.
Method 4: The “Other Person” (The Awkward Option)
This is the lowest-tech solution, but it works. “Report and Block” deletes the chat from your phone. It does not delete the chat from the other person’s phone.
Unless you used “Disappearing Messages,” the chat history is still sitting safely on their device. If you blocked them by mistake (or if you made up), you can ask them: “Hey, my WhatsApp glitched and deleted our chat. Can you export it and email it to me?”
How they can do it:
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Open Chat > Tap Name > Export Chat.
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It creates a ZIP file with all the text and media.
(Obviously, if you blocked them because they were harassing you, do not do this. Do not break your own peace just for a text file).
The “Report” Reality (What actually happens?)
A lot of people worry: “I reported them… will the police show up?” No. When you “Report” a message, it goes to a moderation team at Meta (often an AI system, sometimes a human). They check the last 5 messages to see if it violates Terms of Service (spam, scams, illegal content).
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If it’s a scammer: They ban the number.
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If it’s just a personal argument: They usually do nothing.
You won’t get a notification saying “Review Complete.” It’s a black box.
(Okay, I lied, I’m using the header because it works). The “Report and Block” button is a nuclear launch key. It is designed to be permanent. If you don’t have a backup from yesterday, the chat is gone.
This is a hard lesson, but a necessary one. Next time, if you just want to ignore someone, use “Archive” or plain old “Block.” Save the “Report” button for the real villains.
Now, go check when your last backup ran. If it says “Never,” fix that immediately. You will thank me later.
