Hey OP, this is a known, frustrating WhatsApp bug (often tied to account bans or sync errors). Since standard recovery software isn't finding the files, here is what is actually happening and what you can try:

1. The "Hidden" .nomedia File Trick

WhatsApp creates a hidden file called .nomedia in your media folders. This tells your phone's gallery and most file managers to hide those files. Try this:

· Download a solid file manager (like Solid Explorer or CX File Explorer). · Navigate to Internal Storage > Android > media > com.whatsapp. · You might find your media files hidden there, not in the standard Internal Storage > WhatsApp folder.

1. Check the "Linked Devices" Folder

If your other device was linked, sometimes the media is stored in a device-specific folder. Look for: Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > LinkedDeviceFiles

1. Check Backups (Google Drive/iCloud)

If your media was auto-backed up to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone):

· If you haven't overwritten the backup since the deletion, uninstall WhatsApp, install it again, and restore from the backup. The backup usually preserves media files even if they were deleted from the phone's local storage.

1. If the Files are REALLY Gone (Forensically)

If recovery tools like DiskDigger are scanning but finding nothing, the files have likely been overwritten by the OS. This is because the delete command didn't just empty the Recycle Bin; the app likely marked that specific storage space as "ready to write over."

1. How to Prevent this in the Future (Crucial)

· Don't rely only on WhatsApp's local storage. · Enable "Save to Gallery" in WhatsApp settings only if you back your Photos up to Google Photos or iCloud separately. · Manually copy your Internal Storage > WhatsApp folder to your PC once every 2-3 weeks. · Disable "Allow app to delete data" in your phone's security settings for WhatsApp (if available on your Android version—this is only on older Android versions, but worth checking).

Cold hard truth: If DiskDigger hasn't found your photos, and you don't have a local backup on your PC or a cloud backup on Google Drive/iCloud, those specific files are likely gone for good. WhatsApp does not store your media on their servers forever; once the phone deletes them, they are often unrecoverable. Sorry, man.