Many messenger users often encounter with the problem of losing important correspondence when changing devices or accidentally deleting an application. The backup, or create Whatsapp archivefunction is the only reliable way to save your conversation history, media files and voice messages. This process is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance, but it requires a clear understanding of where exactly the data is saved and how to subsequently retrieve it.
In the operating system Android the mechanism for creating backups has its own characteristics that differ from iOS. Here you can store copies of chats both in cloud storage Google Driveand in the local memory of your smartphone. Understanding the difference between these two methods is critical to ensure that you are not left without access to your information at a critical time. Let's look in detail at each step of creating a full-fledged archive of your data.
Preparing to create a backup copy
Before you start the archiving process, you need to make sure that your smartphone is ready for this operation. Creating a complete copy of chats, especially if they contain a lot of photos and videos, requires a sufficient amount of free space. Check the available space in the device memory or in the account Googleto which the phone is linked.
Also make sure that you have a stable network connection Wi-Fi. Transferring large amounts of data over the mobile data can be slow and costly, and in some cases carriers may limit the speed. If you plan to save the archive only locally, you may not need the Internet, but for synchronization with the cloud it is required.
It is important to check the application version in advance WhatsApp Messenger. Outdated versions of the app may contain errors that prevent the correct creation of a backup. Go to the app store Google Play and make sure that you have the latest available build installed.
⚠️ Attention: If you use two-factor authentication in WhatsApp, be sure to remember your PIN code. When restoring an archive on a new device, the system may request this code, and without it you will not be able to access your chats, even if you have a backup file.
Setting up automatic archiving in Google Drive
The most convenient way to save data is to use cloud storage. In this case, the archive is created automatically according to a schedule, and you do not need to worry about manually uploading files. To set up this function, open the messenger and go to the settings menu.
Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and select Settings. Next, go to the Chat section and find the option Chat backup. This is where all the key options for managing your digital archive are located.
In the “Backup to Google Drive” section, you can choose the frequency of creating copies. The options are daily, weekly, monthly or never. For maximum security, we recommend choosing daily updates.
- 📅 Choose your preferred frequency: daily, weekly or monthly.
- ☁️ Make sure you select the correct Google account to save your data.
- 📶 Decide whether to use your mobile network to download videos (not recommended).
- 🔐 Check if backup encryption is enabled for additional protection.
Pay attention to the “Video” item. By default, videos are often excluded from the archive to save space. If it is important for you to save a visual history of correspondence, you need to activate the switch Add video. This will significantly increase the size of the archive, but guarantees the safety of all media files.
⚠️ Attention: The WhatsApp settings interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the manufacturer's shell (for example, MIUI, OneUI or ColorOS). If you do not find the described items, use the search inside the phone settings menu.
Creating a local archive in the phone's memory
In addition to the cloud, WhatsApp automatically creates local copies of the database on the internal storage of your smartphone. These files are stored in hidden system folders and are updated, as a rule, daily at night (usually at 2:00 or 3:00 am).
A local archive is an encrypted file with the extension .db.crypt14 (the number may vary depending on the version of the encryption protocol). You can find it using any file manager. The path to the file usually looks like this: Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases or, on older versions of Android, WhatsApp/Databases in the root of the internal memory.
If you want to create a local archive right now, without waiting overnight, you can do it manually through the app settings. In the same menu Chat backup press the green button Backup. The system will immediately package the current state of the conversations and save them on the device.
☑️ Checking the local archive
It is worth noting that local copies are stored for a limited time. Typically, the system stores archives for the last 7 days, overwriting the oldest file with a new one every day. Therefore, if you need to save data for a long time, you need to manually copy the backup file to another folder or computer.
Manually copying database files
To create a long-term archive that will not be deleted by the system automatically, it is best to copy the database file to an external drive or to a secure cloud that is not associated with the WhatsApp auto-backup function. This gives you complete control over the file.
First, locate the backup file as described in the previous section. The file will be called something like this: msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14, where the creation date is indicated. Copy this file to a folder Downloads or connect your phone to your computer and transfer it to your hard drive.
Copy path:
Internal memory/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14
If you plan to transfer the archive to another phone, simply place this file in the appropriate folder on the new device before installing the application. It is important not to rename the file if you want WhatsApp to automatically pick it up when you first launch it.
⚠️ Attention: Never edit database files
.db.cryptwith third-party apps. Any change in the file structure will damage the archive, and it will be impossible to recover messages from it.
What to do if the file is not visible in the file manager?
In new versions of Android (11 and higher), access to the Android folder is limited. You may need to give the file manager special permission to access system folders or use the built-in Files application from Google.
Restoring data from a created archive
Creating an archive makes sense only when you are confident that it can be restored. The data recovery process depends on where exactly your copy is stored: in the Google cloud or in the device memory.
To restore from Google Drive just install WhatsApp on your phone, log in to the same Google account and confirm your phone number. The application will automatically detect an available backup and offer to restore chats. This process is fully automated.
Recovery from local file requires a little more steps. You need to make sure that the backup file is in the correct folder Databases before installing or immediately after installing the application, but before logging into your account. When initializing, WhatsApp scans the memory and finds a local file, offering to use it.
| Archive type | Where it is stored | Difficulty of recovery | Dependency on Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Cloud storage | Low (automatic) | Requires stable Wi-Fi |
| Local | Phone memory | Medium (file manager required) | Not required |
| Manual export | Computer/Flash drive | High (manual renaming) | Not required |
Remember that you cannot restore messages from a local copy if they were sent or received after that copy was created. Always focus on the date and time of the last backup specified in the application settings.
Before restoring from a local archive on a new phone, rename the current database file (if any) to backup.db so that the system does not confuse the old and new versions.
Common problems and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes encounter errors when creating or restoring an archive. The most common problem is “Failed to create backup.” Most often this is due to lack of space on Google Drive.
Check your storage quota. If you run out of space, delete unnecessary files or buy additional space. Errors can also occur when Google Play services fail. In this case, clearing the application cache Google Play Services in the phone settings will help.
Another difficulty arises when changing the region or phone number. The archive is linked to a specific number and account. If you have changed your number, use the Change Number function inside WhatsApp settings before creating a new copy to transfer your chat history to the new profile.
Successful recovery depends on matching the phone number and Google account that were used when creating the backup.
Sometimes users complain that after restoring, messages received in the last few hours disappear. This is normal behavior, since the archive records the state of chats at the time of its creation. Everything that was written after this point is not saved.
Is it possible to read the WhatsApp archive on a computer without a phone?
No, the backup files are encrypted. They can only be read by restoring them on a device with the WhatsApp application installed and the same phone number. Third-party decryption apps are often fraudulent.
How much space does an archive of correspondence take up for a year?
The volume of the archive greatly depends on the number of media files. Text correspondence for a year can take up only 50-100 MB, while an archive with photos and videos can easily reach 5-10 GB or more.
What happens if I delete WhatsApp before creating the archive?
If you have not made a backup copy in advance, all local data will be deleted along with the application. It will be impossible to restore chats unless you have an old copy in Google Drive from a previous date.
How to transfer an archive from Android to iPhone?
Direct transfer of a local file is not possible due to different encryption systems. Use the official “Data Transfer” feature when setting up your iPhone for the first time, or special utilities from phone manufacturers (for example, Samsung Smart Switch or Move to iOS) that support WhatsApp migration.