Smartphone users Samsung Galaxy often face the need to find hidden messenger files. This is required to transfer your chat history to a new phone, free up memory, or restore lost data. Unlike ordinary photos or documents, the message database does not lie in a prominent place in the gallery or the Downloads folder.
The system Android, especially in the latest versions of One UI, has tightened the rules for accessing the file system for the sake of security. Directory paths have changed several times over the years, causing confusion. In this article, we will take a closer look at where files are physically located msgstore.db and how to access them on devices Samsung.
Understanding the data storage structure will allow you to manually manage backups without relying solely on cloud services Google Drive. We will look at both standard paths through the built-in explorer and access methods if available root access, as well as the nuances of encrypting modern databases.
Standard path to files on modern versions of Android
Starting with version Android 11 and higher, which has long been installed on most smartphones Samsung, Google has changed its file access policy. Now applications cannot freely write to the root of the internal memory. All messenger data, including WhatsApp, moved to a protected system directory.
To find messages, you need to open the My Files application, which is pre-installed on all devices. Samsung. Go to the “Internal Memory” section and follow the path Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp. This is where the main messenger folder structure is now stored.
⚠️ Attention: In some versions of the One UI shell, the folder
Android/mediamay be hidden from third-party file managers. If you do not see the contents, try using the official Samsung Explorer or connect your phone to your PC.
Inside this directory you will find the usual folders: Databases, Media, Backups. The file with the correspondence history itself is located in the subfolder Databases. It is important to note that without special rights, you will only be able to copy these files, but not open them for reading text.
If the Android/media folder is empty or not visible, check the application access settings in the "Privacy" → "Permissions Manager" → "Files and Media" section.
Search for backups in the old structure directories
If your smartphone Samsung runs on an older version of the operating system (below Android 11), or if you previously manually transferred folders, the path structure will be different. In the outdated scheme, the messenger files were located directly in the root of the internal drive.
In this case, the search algorithm looks different. Open the file manager and go to the root of the internal memory. You should see a folder named WhatsApp, which is not nested in any other system directories. There will also be a subdirectory inside it Databases.
- 📂 Path for old versions:
/WhatsApp/Databases/ - 💾 Path for new versions:
/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases/ - 📱 Path for SD card (if configured):
/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/
Users often wonder why files may be duplicated or located in different places. This occurs when updating the system or when using data transfer functions from Samsung Smart Switch. The system could automatically move the data to a new protected area, leaving the old folders untouched.
Analysis of database files and their formats
Files containing correspondence history have specific names and extensions. The main active database file is usually named msgstore.db or msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number may vary depending on the encryption version). The number at the end of the name indicates the version of the encryption algorithm.
In addition to the current file, the folder Databases automatic backup copies for the last 7 days are stored. They are named by the date of creation, for example, msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14. These files are created daily at 2 am if the local backup function is active in the application settings.
| File name | Description of contents | Recovery option |
|---|---|---|
msgstore.db |
Current active database | High (main file) |
msgstore-DATE.db.cryptXX |
Archive copy for a specific date | High (needs to be renamed) |
wa.db |
Database of contacts and settings | Low (technical data) |
blurhash.db |
Image thumbnail cache | None (does not contain text) |
It is important to understand that all these files are encrypted. You can't just open them through a text editor or notepad on your computer. Decryption requires a unique key, which is stored in the system partition of the phone and linked to your Google account and phone number.
Why can’t you just read the file on your PC?
Database files use the End-to-End encryption protocol. The decryption key is generated when the application is installed and stored in Android's secure storage (Keystore). Without this key, the file is a collection of random bytes.
Accessing messages through a computer connection
The most reliable way to find and copy message files on the device Samsung is using a personal computer. Built-in file managers on your phone sometimes restrict access to system folders Android, especially if you downloaded a third-party explorer from the application store.
Connect your smartphone to the PC using the original USB cable. A request for data transfer mode will appear on the phone screen. Select mode MTP or “File transfer”. After this, an explorer window will open on your computer, where your phone will appear as a removable drive.
Navigating through folders on a computer is often more visual. You will be able to see the full path Internal Storage → Android → media → com.whatsapp. From here, you can copy the entire folder WhatsApp to your computer's hard drive for safekeeping.
⚠️ Attention: When copying large amounts of data (gigabytes of messages and media), do not abruptly disconnect the cable. Interrupting the transfer can damage the database file system, rendering the backup unreadable.
If the computer does not see the folder Android/media, try enabling USB debugging in developer mode, although normal file copying rarely requires this on Samsung. Most often, the problem is solved by replacing the cable or clearing the cache of the My Files application on the phone.
☑️ Checking the connection to the PC
Recovering messages from a local copy
Knowing where files are stored becomes critical if you need to recover deleted correspondence without using the Google cloud. This method is relevant if you have a backup file made before the messages were deleted.
The recovery process requires strict adherence to the sequence of actions. First you need to delete the current application WhatsApp from your phone. Then, using the file manager, find the desired backup file in the folder Databases.
Rename the selected file (for example, for yesterday's date) to msgstore.db.cryptXX, removing the date from the name, but keeping the encryption version number. After that, install the messenger again. During the initial setup, the application will detect a local copy and offer to restore data from it.
The success of recovery depends on the coincidence of the encryption version (numbers in the file name) and the phone number on which the copy was created.
Features of storage on SD memory cards
Many smartphone owners Samsung series Galaxy A or M use microSD cards to expand memory. Previously, the messenger allowed you to store backups directly on an external card, which simplified the transfer of data when changing devices.
In modern versions of the software, this function has become less obvious or has been completely transferred to internal memory to increase speed. However, if the option to store on an SD card was activated in the chat settings, the files will be located on the path /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/ or /Android/media/com.whatsapp/ on external storage.
When you remove the memory card and install it in another phone, the folder structure will be preserved. This allows you to quickly transfer your chat history by simply inserting the card into a new device and installing the application. But remember that decryption will still require logging into the same account.
Is it possible to read messages without installing WhatsApp?
No, directly read the text of messages from a file .db.crypt impossible without a decryption key. There are third-party PC utilities that require you to obtain the key from root, but this is a complex and unsafe process for the average user.
Why is the Android/media folder empty on Samsung?
This may be due to access restrictions in Android 11+. Try giving Explorer permission to access all files in the application settings or use a PC connection to view the content.
Where are WhatsApp voice messages stored?
Voice messages are not stored in a database, but in a folder /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Voice Notes/. They have the format .opus and can be listened to by any media player.
How to transfer the database to a new Samsung?
Copy the folder Databases from the old phone to the new one in the same directory. When installing WhatsApp on a new device, choose to restore from a local copy, first deleting the application if it is already installed.
How much space does the msgstore.db file take up?
The size of the file depends on the amount of correspondence. It can vary from a few megabytes to several gigabytes. Regular cleaning of media files does not reduce the size of this file, since it contains only text and metadata.