WhatsApp has no button that jumps to the first message. The fastest way on a phone is to search by date: pick a date close to the start, then scroll up from there. You can also export the chat, because the top of the file is usually the earliest message that export holds.
Search by date
WhatsApp’s help page gives these steps for iPhone, Android and the web. They work in individual and group chats.
On iPhone:
- Open the chat, tap its name, then tap Search.
- Tap the calendar icon.
- Choose a date and tap Jump to date.
On Android:
- Open the chat, tap the three dots, then tap Search.
- Tap the calendar icon.
- Choose a date and tap OK.
On WhatsApp Web:
- Open the chat and click the magnifying glass.
- Click the calendar icon and choose a date.
WhatsApp’s help page gives no date steps for the Mac and Windows apps, and you can still search a chat by word there. TechCrunch reported in 2024 that date search had reached Mac desktop, so look for a calendar icon in the chat’s search, and that you can only pick one date at a time.
Getting to the very start
- Think of when you first spoke, and pick a date a little after it.
- Scroll up from there until the messages stop.
- If you land on the first message straight away, try an earlier date to be sure.
WhatsApp doesn’t say how the calendar treats dates before the chat began, so the end of scrolling is the best test. In a long chat, scrolling can take a while. WhatsApp says nothing about how far back a phone will scroll.
Use your phone for this. WhatsApp says not all messages sync to linked devices, and that you should check your phone to see your full history.
The quick way: export the chat
An export usually starts with the earliest message it holds, so you don’t have to scroll at all.
- Export the chat without media, which is much faster.
- Open the text file. On iPhone, it’s inside the ZIP as
_chat.txt. Our guide shows how to open it. - Read the top line, and check the next few dates, because exports can be out of date order.
You can also open your export on Chatonfile.com. It opens with the first message at the top, and you can search the whole chat. It’s free, and the file stays on your device.
Compare the first date with what your phone shows. If your phone goes back further than your export, the export may have hit a limit, and our article on the WhatsApp export limit explains what to try.
Why the first message may not be the real first message
The message at the top is only the earliest one on your phone. WhatsApp says it deletes messages from its servers once they’re delivered, so anything your phone has lost isn’t sitting there waiting for you. Here are the usual reasons a chat starts late:
| What happened | What WhatsApp says |
|---|---|
| You restored an older or incomplete backup | The backup probably didn’t contain the missing chats |
| You skipped the restore on a new phone | A later backup replaces the old one, and that history can’t be recovered |
| The backup was cut short | A bad connection, low storage or an interruption can leave it incomplete |
| Someone cleared the chat | You can only restore it if your latest backup was made before the chat was cleared |
| Disappearing messages were on | They’re deleted when a backup is restored, and they vanish on their own anyway |
| You joined a group later | History is only there for people who were members at the time |
If the search doesn’t seem to work after a restore, wait a while. WhatsApp says it can take time to rebuild the search database.
Where the older messages might be
- On the other person’s phone. They have their own copy, and it may go back further than yours. Ask them to look, or to export the chat for you.
- On your old phone. If it still turns on, it may hold messages your new one never received. Our article on getting messages from an old phone walks you through it.
- In a backup. You can only reach one by restoring it, which can replace what’s on your phone. Read how WhatsApp backups work before you try.
If none of those work, our article on recovering deleted messages explains what’s realistic.
Keep a copy now you’ve found it
Phones get lost and backups get replaced. If this chat matters to you, keep a copy somewhere safe. An export is free and takes a minute.
If you want something easier to read or hand over, you can order a dated PDF of the whole chat from Chatonfile.com. Its first page states the period covered, every message is numbered and every voice note in the export is written out, with a summary of the key highlights and promises at the front. For the voice notes, export with media.
Common questions
Is there a button to go to the first message in WhatsApp?
We found none. WhatsApp's help pages describe searching a chat by date, and nothing that jumps to the very first message. Search by date and scroll up from there.
How do I search WhatsApp messages by date?
On Android, open the chat, tap the three dots, tap Search, then tap the calendar icon. On iPhone, tap the chat name, tap Search, tap the calendar icon, pick a date and tap Jump to date.
Why doesn't my chat go back to the real start?
Your phone only holds what's on it, and WhatsApp deletes delivered messages from its servers. A new phone, a restored backup, a cleared chat or disappearing messages can all remove older messages. The other person's phone may go further back.
Can I search a date range in WhatsApp?
TechCrunch reported in 2024 that you can only pick one date at a time. To get a range as a file, WhatsApp's help page says WhatsApp Web can export a custom date range, without media.
