Many smartphone users are faced with a situation where the device storage is full, and the Google Drive security system warns of a lack of free space. Often the culprit is heavy messenger databases that are automatically saved in the background. Freeing up space requires a competent approach, since deleting these files can lead to the loss of correspondence if you are not careful.
In this article we will examine in detail how to delete a WhatsApp backup both from the cloud storage and from the internal memory of the smartphone. The process varies depending on where exactly your data is stored: on Google servers or in Android file system folders. Understanding these differences is critical to preventing accidental loss of important messages and media files.
Before you begin, you need to be clear about your end goal. Do you just want to free up space on Google Driveto download other files there, or is your goal to completely erase traces of the messenger from the device before selling it? In the first case, it is enough to disable synchronization; in the second, you will need to manually clean up the system directories through the file manager.
Deleting a copy from Google cloud storage
The most common method of storing data is the Google cloud. The application automatically creates backups at certain times of the day, usually at night, when the phone is connected to Wi-Fi. To stop this process and delete an existing file, you need to go to the settings of the messenger itself, and not to the Google Drive application.
Open WhatsApp and go to the Settingssection. In the menu, select the item Chat, and then click on the option Chat backup. Here you will see information about the last saved copy, its size and creation date. To completely delete data from the cloud, click the button Backup to Google Drive and select the value Never.
After changing the setting to “Never”, the system will offer to delete the existing copy. Confirm the action. The automatic creation of new archives has now stopped, and the old file has been deleted from Google servers. This action is irreversible without first downloading the data to another device.
⚠️ Attention: After deleting the cloud copy, you will not be able to restore your correspondence history if you reinstall the application or change your smartphone. Make sure you no longer need your important data.
If you plan to switch to an iPhone, delete the copy only after you have successfully transferred chats through the official "Move to iOS" app, otherwise restoring to the new device will become impossible.
It is worth noting that the changes take effect instantly for new data, but the old copy may disappear from Google storage statistics with a slight delay. Refresh the web version of the drive or restart the application to see the free space.
Cleaning local files in internal memory
Even if you have disabled synchronization with the cloud, they continue to be stored on the device itself local backups. Android has been creating them daily for the last 7 days. These files take up a significant amount of space, especially if you actively share videos and photos.
To access this data, you will need a file manager. In modern versions of Android (starting from 11 and higher), the path to folders has changed due to stricter security policies. Now the application data is in the protected partition. Follow the path: Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases.
In this folder you will find files with names like msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number may differ depending on the encryption version). The file without a date in the name is the most recent copy, the others have a date in the name. You can selectively delete old files or clear the folder completely.
☑️ Check before deleting local files
If you have an older version of Android, the path may be simpler: just find the folder WhatsApp at the root of the internal storage. The structure inside remains the same. Deleting files from the folder Databases will not affect the current correspondence, but will deprive you of the ability to roll back to previous days in case of failure.
⚠️ Attention: The files in the Databases folder are encrypted. You will not be able to read their text without installing the application and restoring from that particular copy.
Using third-party file managers
Standard file explorers on some smartphones, for example Samsung or Xiaomi, can hide system folders or restrict access to a directory. Android. In such cases, it is recommended to use specialized utilities such as Files by Google or RS File Manager.
These applications request special permission to access the management of all files. Once permissions are granted, you will be able to see hidden directories and delete their contents without restrictions. This is especially true for clearing cache and temporary files, which also bloat the storage size.
When using third-party software, pay attention to access rights. Do not provide them to dubious apps from unreliable sources. The security of your personal data depends on which tools you trust to manage your file system.
Why is the Android folder hidden?
Starting with Android 11, Google has restricted access to the Android/media folder for third-party apps to improve security and prevent other apps from deleting system data without the user's knowledge.
Version differences Android and file paths
The data storage structure changed with the release of new versions of the operating system. Understanding these differences helps you find the files you need faster. The table below shows the main paths for different OS versions.
| Android version | Database path | Access features |
|---|---|---|
| Android 10 and below | /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases | Direct access from any Explorer |
| Android 11 | /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases | Confirmation of access to the folder is required |
| Android 12-14 | /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases | Strict restrictions for third-party applications |
| Android 15 (Beta) | Isolated storage | Access only through the system file manager |
Please note that on devices with shells from manufacturers such like OneUI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi, the names of some system folders may be localized or slightly changed. However, the path logic Android/media remains the same for the entire ecosystem.
If you cannot find a folder in the specified path, use file search. Enter the name msgstorein the search bar of your explorer. The system will find all database files, no matter how deep in the directories they are hidden.
Disabling automatic copy creation
To prevent the memory overflow problem from returning, it is not enough to simply delete old files. You need to configure the application so that it does not create new heavy archives without your knowledge. This is done in the chat settings section.
Go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup. Here you can not only select the frequency of copying to Google Drive, but also disable the inclusion of videos in the archive. Video files take up up to 80% of the space in the backup, so excluding them significantly saves space.
It is also recommended to check your media autoload settings. If videos are constantly being sent in groups, they are automatically saved to the gallery and duplicated into a backup copy. Disable auto-download for group chats in the section Data and storage.
Disabling video uploading to backup saves up to 80% of space on Google Drive without losing text chat history.
Checking these settings regularly will help keep your storage tidy. Once every few months, go to this section and estimate the size of the latest copy. If it has grown disproportionately to the use of the messenger, perhaps heavy files have accumulated in chats that should be deleted manually.
Data recovery after cleaning
Sometimes users delete copies by mistake or change their mind before selling the phone. It is important to understand the recovery mechanism. When installed, WhatsApp automatically searches for a local copy in the phone's memory. If it is found, the application will offer to restore from it.
If the local copy is deleted, but there is a cloud copy, the application will offer to restore data from Google Drive upon first launch. This process requires a stable Wi-Fi connection and can take a long time depending on the size of the archive.
If both copies (local and cloud) are deleted, it is impossible to restore the correspondence. Messages are stored only on the device and in your archives; WhatsApp servers do not store user chat history after messages are delivered.
⚠️ Warning: The recovery process overwrites the current database. If you started using the application after deleting a copy, new messages will be lost when you roll back to the old version.
Is it possible to recover a deleted copy from Google Drive?
Technically, if you deleted a file from the Google Drive trash, you cannot restore it using standard means. There are paid data recovery services, but their effectiveness in the case of encrypted WhatsApp databases is extremely low.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will my correspondence be deleted if I delete the backup copy?
No, the current correspondence in the application will remain intact. Deleting a copy only affects archived files that are intended to be restored in the future. You can continue to use the messenger as usual.
Where is the WhatsApp folder on Android 13?
On Android 13 the path has changed to Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp. Access to this folder may be limited, so use the system file manager or give full rights to a third-party explorer.
How can I delete a copy if I changed my phone?
Go into WhatsApp settings on your old phone before resetting and disable Google Drive backup by selecting "Never". Then delete the copy through the chat settings interface, as described at the beginning of the article.
Does the backup copy take up space in the phone's memory?
Yes, local copies are stored in the device's internal memory in the Databases folder. They take up space regardless of whether cloud synchronization is enabled. They need to be deleted manually through the file manager.
Is it possible to restore a copy from one Google account to another?
No, the backup copy is strictly tied to the Google account in which it was created. It is impossible to transfer a copy to another account using standard WhatsApp tools.