Where to find and how to restore a WhatsApp backup on Android

The loss of important correspondence or media files in the messenger is one of the most painful situations for a modern smartphone user. Many owners of devices based Android do not even suspect that their data is regularly saved, but simply do not know where exactly to look for these files if manual intervention is necessary. Understanding the backup storage structure is the key to successfully restoring information after a factory reset or gadget breakdown.

The WhatsApp system works in two main directions: cloud storage backup WhatsApp works in two main directions: cloud storage Google Drive and the local memory of the device itself. Depending on your settings, the copy may only be in the cloud, only on your phone, or both. If you are planning to transfer data to a new phone or just want to check the integrity of the archive, you need to clearly distinguish between these two types of storage.

In this article we will analyze in detail the paths to database files, the nuances of working with a cloud service and methods for forcibly restoring chats. You will learn how to manually manage files .crypt and why sometimes automatic recovery does not work without your participation.

Google Drive cloud storage: primary source

For most users, the main place for storing correspondence history is a cloud service Google Drive. This is the most reliable method, since the data is protected from physical loss or damage to the smartphone itself. However, it is impossible to find the copy file itself in the Google Drive application interface - it is hidden in a special section for security.

To make sure that the copy exists and is up-to-date, you need to go to the settings of the messenger itself. Go to menu Settings → Chats → Chat backup. This displays the date and time of the last save, as well as the size of the file and the Google account to which it is linked. If you see an old date, it means that automatic saving is not working.

To view the availability of a backup through the browser or storage application, follow these steps:

• 📂 Open the application Google Drive on your phone or go to the drive website through a browser.
• ⚙️ Click on the menu icon (three bars) and select Backups.
• 📱 In the list, find the entry with the name of your device or WhatsApp icon.
• 👁️ You will see the size and date, but you cannot download or view the content directly.

⚠️ Attention: Backup files in Google Drive are encrypted and linked to a specific phone number and Google account. You cannot copy this file to another account or open it on your computer without the recovery process inside the WhatsApp application.

If you have photo and video saving enabled, the copy may take up several gigabytes. Make sure you have enough free space on your Google Drive equally, otherwise creating a new copy will be blocked by the system.

Local storage: path to files in the phone memory

In addition to the cloud, WhatsApp daily creates local copies of the database in the internal memory of the device. These files are stored in hidden system folders and have a specific extension. They can only be accessed through a file manager with rights to view system directories.

Starting with version Android 11, Google has tightened the folder access policy Android/data, which has made it more difficult for some users to find files. However, the basic path remains the same for most devices. You will need any advanced file manager, for example Files by Google, Solid Explorer or the manufacturer's standard explorer.

The standard path to the backup folder is as follows:

/sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases

On older versions of the operating system (before Android 11), the path could be different and located in the root of the memory:

/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases

In this folder you will find files with names like msgstore.db.crypt14 or msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14. The file msgstore.db.crypt without a date in the name is the most recent copy created tonight. Files with a date are archived copies of the previous 7 days.

What does the number in the .crypt extension mean?

The number after the word crypt (for example, crypt12, crypt14, crypt15) indicates the version of the encryption algorithm. It changes with major updates to the WhatsApp application. Files with different encryption versions are incompatible with each other when you try to manually decrypt them on a PC, but the WhatsApp application on your phone will automatically determine the correct version when restoring.

Database file structure and encryption

WhatsApp backup files are not ordinary text documents or pure SQLite databases. They are encrypted containers that can only be read by the messenger application itself if the correct decryption key is provided.

The encryption key is stored in a protected area of ​​the phone's memory and is linked to your account. That's why simply copying a file .crypt to another phone without transferring the key or using the same phone number will not lead to successful recovery. The security system WhatsApp prevents unauthorized access to correspondence.

Let's look at the main types of files that you can find in the folder Databases:

File name	Description	Priority when recovery
msgstore.db.cryptXX	Current database (tonight)	High (default)
msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.cryptXX	Backup copy for a specific date	Medium (requires renaming)
wa.db	Base contact data and settings	Auxiliary

If you want to restore correspondence not from yesterday, but from a week ago, you will have to manually rename the desired archive file. Delete or rename the current file msgstore.db.cryptXXand then remove the date from the name of the old file so that the system perceives it as current.

The process of restoring from a local copy

Restoring data from a local file is required in situations where the cloud copy is missing, damaged, or contains outdated data. This process requires care and adherence to the sequence of actions, since any error in the file name can lead to the application simply not seeing the backup copy.

Before starting the procedure, make sure that you have access rights to the file system. If you are using a computer to transfer files, connect your phone in file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the desired file .crypt to the appropriate folder on the device.

Step-by-step recovery instructions:

1. Delete the current application WhatsApp from the device.
2. Use a file manager to find the folder Databases along the path indicated above.
3. Rename the file you want to restore to msgstore.db.cryptXX (keeping the encryption version number).
4. Install WhatsApp again and go through the phone number verification.
5. When appears suggestion Restore backup, click “Restore”.

After pressing the restore button, the application will begin the decryption process and message import. This may take from a few minutes to an hour depending on the size of the database and the memory speed of your smartphone. Do not interrupt the process and do not close the application until the main chat screen appears.

Problems with searching and restoring copies

Even if there are files in memory, users often encounter the fact that WhatsApp does not see the backup copy. This is most often due to mismatched encryption versions or incorrect file locations after updating the operating system.

If the application offers to restore a copy from Google Drive, but you want to use a local file, you need to temporarily disable the Google account on your phone or delete the Google Drive application itself before installing WhatsApp. This will force the messenger to look for copies only in the internal memory.

Common causes of errors during recovery:

• 🚫 The file has the wrong extension or name (for example, an extra space has been added).
• 🔒 The folder Databases is located in the wrong directory due to firmware features.
• 📉 There is not enough free disk space to unpack the database.
• 🔄 Version conflict: the file is encrypted with a new version of the protocol, and an old application is installed.

⚠️ Attention: If you updated your phone to Android 12 or 13, the folder structure may have changed. Be sure to check the path /Android/media/com.whatsapp/as the old path /WhatsApp/ may no longer be used by the system for new installations.

In some cases, clearing the cache of the Google Play Services application helps, since this service is responsible for interacting with Google Drive. Go to Settings → Applications → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear cache.

Setting up automatic backup and frequency

To avoid the need to manually search for files in the future, it is important to correctly configure the automatic backup settings. By default, WhatsApp offers weekly saving, but this may not be enough for active users.

Go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup. In the Frequency section, select the Daily option. Also pay attention to the “Video” item. If you enable video downloading, the copy size will increase significantly, which can quickly exhaust your cloud storage limits.

It is recommended to periodically check the status of the latest copy. If you see a "Backup failed" message, check your Wi-Fi connection and Google Drive space availability. mobile data is not used to upload large amounts of data to the cloud by default, so as not to waste traffic.

Remember that local copies are stored for only 7 days. After this, old files are automatically deleted by the system to save space. Cloud copies may be stored longer, but also depend on the Google service policy.

Can I transfer a copy from Android to iPhone?

It is not possible to directly transfer a .crypt file from Android to iPhone due to different file systems and encryption methods. To move between platforms, you need to use the official chat transfer feature when initially setting up your iPhone or third-party paid utilities by connecting your phone to your computer.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I read a backup file on a computer?

No, files .crypt encrypted. To read them, special utilities and a decryption key are required, which is located inside the phone. Without root access and complex technical manipulations, it is impossible to read correspondence on a PC.

What should I do if I forgot the password for the Google account where the copy is located?

You will have to restore access to your Google account through the password reset procedure. Without access to this account, it will not be possible to restore data from the cloud. The local copy will remain available if the files have not been deleted.

How much space does a WhatsApp backup take?

The size depends on the number of messages and media files. Text correspondence for a year can take up only 50-100 MB, but if there are thousands of photos and videos, the size can reach 5-10 GB or more.

Are local copy files deleted when deleting an application?

When you normally delete an application through settings Databases are often saved. However, if you select the “Delete data” option before deleting or reset the phone to factory settings, all local copies will be irretrievably lost.

How to restore correspondence if I changed my phone number?

The backup copy is linked to the phone number. When changing your number, you must first restore a copy to the old number, and then use the “Change Number” function inside the WhatsApp settings to transfer the data to the new number.