Backups WhatsApp on Android are created automatically, but not all users know where they are stored and how to view them. Unlike iOS, where backups are integrated into iCloud, on Android backups can be located both in the cloud (Google Drive) and directly on the device - in hidden folders. The problem is that the backup files themselves have an inconvenient format for reading .crypt14 or .db, and you won’t be able to open them just like that.

In this article we will look at all ways to view WhatsApp backups on Android: from standard methods through Google Drive to using third-party tools to decrypt local backups. You'll learn how to find files manually, which applications can help you read them, and what to do if your copy is damaged. And also - how to extract only the necessary chats or media files from a backup without restoring everything.

Where WhatsApp backups are stored on Android

WhatsApp creates two types of backups:

  • 📁 Local backups - stored directly on the phone in the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases (or /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases). Updated daily at 2:00 am if the phone is connected to charging and Wi-Fi. The files have the extension .db.crypt14 (new versions) or .db.crypt12 (old).
  • ☁️ Cloud backups - are loaded into Google Drive (if synchronization is enabled). The frequency depends on the settings: daily, weekly or manual. In the cloud, copies are stored in encrypted form and linked to a Google account.

It is important to understand that You cannot directly view the contents of the backup -neither local nor cloud. The files are encrypted and WhatsApp does not provide built-in tools to read them. However, there are workarounds, which will be discussed further.

📊 How often do you make WhatsApp backups?
Daily
Weekly
Manual backup before important changes
I never do
I don’t know how it works

If you just want make sure that the backup exists, just look in the folder Databases or check Google Drive. To do this:

  1. Open Google Drive on your phone or in the browser.
  2. In the search bar enter WhatsApp.
  3. If there are copies, you will see a folder with the name WhatsApp Backups and the date of the last save.
⚠️ Attention: Backup files in Google Drive do not appear in shared storage and do not take up space in your account - they are stored separately and do not count towards the 15 GB quota. However, when you delete your WhatsApp account or reset your phone, cloud copies may disappear if they were not pinned manually.

Method 1: View through the file manager (without decryption)

This method is suitable if you need make sure you have local backups or find out their creation date. You will not be able to read messages, but you will see a list of files and their size.

Use any file manager with access to hidden folders, for example:

  • 📂 Total Commander (there is a built-in view of hidden files)
  • 📂 FX File Explorer (you need to enable displaying system files in settings)
  • 📂 Solid Explorer (supports root access if the phone is rooted)

Instructions:

  1. Open the file manager and follow the path: 
    /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases

    If there is no folder, check /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.

  2. In the folder you you will see files like: 
    msgstore.db.crypt14

    backup-2026-05-15.db.crypt14

    File msgstore.db.crypt14 —the latest copy, the rest are archived.

  3. Click on the file and see its properties: creation date, size (can reach several gigabytes if there are a lot of media files).

☑️ What to check in the folder Databases

Done: 0 / 4

If the folder Databases is empty, check:

  • 🔋 Whether the device was connected to charging at night (a backup is created only when charging).
  • 📶 Was Wi-Fi turned on (without the Internet, the local backup is not updated).
  • ⚙️ Are backups disabled in WhatsApp settings (⋮ → Settings → Chat → Backup).

Method 2: Restoring a backup to a new phone for viewing

The most reliable way View the contents of the backup copy is to restore it on another device. This works for both local and cloud backups. Disadvantage of the method: you will have to temporarily install WhatsApp on a second phone or reset the settings of the current one.

Step-by-step guide for a cloud backup:

  1. Install WhatsApp on a new device (or reset the current one via Settings → System → Reset).
  2. When you first start, enter the same phone number as on the old device.
  3. When WhatsApp prompts you to restore chats from Google Disk, press Restore.
  4. Wait for the process to complete (may take from several minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the backup).

For local backup:

  1. Copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14 from folders /WhatsApp/Databases to a new device (in the same folder).
  2. Install WhatsApp and when registering, select recovery from local copy.
⚠️ Attention: If you are restoring a backup to the same device where it was created, WhatsApp may not offer recovery. In this case, you will have to temporarily delete the folder /WhatsApp or use a second phone.
💡

If you do not have a second phone, you can use an Android emulator (for example, BlueStacks) and restore the backup there. The main thing is to link the same Google account as on the main device.

Type. backup Where it is stored How to restore Limitations
Local /WhatsApp/Databases Copy file msgstore.db.crypt14 to a new device Does not work if the version of WhatsApp on the new phone is older than on the old one
Cloud (Google Drive) Linked to a Google account Restore when you first launch WhatsApp Requires the same number phone and Google account
Local (manual) Any folder on the phone Rename to msgstore.db.crypt14 and put in /WhatsApp/Databases May not work if the file damaged

Method 3: Using third-party applications to read backups

If restoring a backup to another device is not an option, you can use specialized apps that decrypt files .crypt14 show the contents of chats. Most of these tools work on a PC, but there are also mobile solutions.

Popular apps:

  • 💻 WhatsApp Viewer (Windows/macOS) - a free utility for viewing .db and .crypt files. Requires an encryption key, which can be extracted from a rooted phone.
  • 📱 WA GB Extractor (Android) - an application for extracting media files from backups (photos, videos, voice messages). Does not show the text of chats.
  • 💻 Dr.Fone — WhatsApp Transfer (paid) - allows you to view and export chats in a readable format (HTML, CSV). It works without root access, but requires connecting the phone to the PC.

Example of working with WhatsApp Viewer:

  1. Copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14 from the phone to the PC.
  2. Install WhatsApp Viewer and open the copied file in it file.
  3. The app will ask for an encryption key. You can get it: From a rooted phone (file) what to do if there is no encryption key?
    • From a rooted phone (file /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key).
    • From backup Titanium Backup (if there is one).
  • After entering the key, you will see a list of chats and can export them to a convenient format.
    • What to do if there is no encryption key?

    Decryption without a key .crypt14 is almost impossible - WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption. The only option is to restore the backup to your phone and view the chats there. Some apps (for example Dr.Fone) claim that they can bypass encryption, but in practice this does not always work.

    ⚠️ Attention: Most apps for decrypting backups require root access or connecting the phone to the PC. Be careful with applications that promise to “read a backup without root” - they may be fraudulent or contain malicious code.

    Method 4: Extracting media files from a backup without restoring

    If you need not chat texts, but photos, videos or voice messages, they can be extracted from the backup without complete restoration. To do this:

    1. Connect your phone to a PC or use a file manager.
    2. Go to the folder: 
      /WhatsApp/Media

      All media files are stored here, divided by type:

      • WhatsApp Images — photos
      • WhatsApp Video — video
      • WhatsApp Voice Notes — voice messages
      • WhatsApp Animated Gifs — gifs
  • Copy the necessary files to your PC or to another location on your phone.

    • Please attention:

    • 📸 Media files are stored in unencrypted form, so they can be opened by any player.
    • 🗃️ The files are organized into folders with the names of phone numbers or groups (for example, +79123456789).
    • 🔍 If there are no files, check your WhatsApp settings: saving media to the gallery may be disabled (Settings → Chat → Visibility of media files).
    💡

    Media files from WhatsApp are stored separately from chat texts and are not encrypted. They can be copied directly, without restoring the entire backup.

    Method 5: Viewing the backup via email (chat export)

    If you need to view specific chat, and not the entire backup, you can use the built-in WhatsApp export function. This method does not require restoring a backup, but only works for individual conversations.

    Instructions:

    1. Open WhatsApp and find the desired chat.
    2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → More → Export chat.
    3. Select whether to include media files (without them, export will be faster).
    4. Specify the email to which to send the archive (or save the file on Google Disk).
    5. Open the resulting file (format .txt or .zip) on your PC or phone.

    Method limitations:

    • 📧 Exported only one chat at a time.
    • 🕒 The process can take a long time if there are a lot of messages in the chat.
    • 📎 Media files are attached separately and may not appear in the archive.

    This method is suitable if you need it save important correspondence or transfer it to someone, but does not replace a full view of the backup.

    Frequent problems and their solutions

    When working with WhatsApp backups, users often encounter errors. Here are the most common ones and their solutions. corrections:

    Problem Possible cause Solution
    Backup is not created automatically The option is disabled in the settings or there is no connection to Wi-Fi/charging Check Settings → Chat → Backup and conditions for creating a copy
    File msgstore.db.crypt14 corrupted Whatsapp shutdown incorrectly or recording failed Restore the backup from an archived copy (files backup-*.db.crypt14)
    Cannot restore cloud backup Another Google account or phone number Make sure you are using the same account and number as when creating the backup
    Local backup is not restored Different versions of WhatsApp on the old and new device Update WhatsApp to the latest version before restoring

    If none of the methods helped, try:

    • 🔄 Reinstall WhatsApp - sometimes this resets errors recovery.
    • 📡 Check your Internet connection —cloud backups are not restored when the Internet is slow.
    • 📅 Make sure the backup is up to date —if the copy is older than 1 year, WhatsApp may not show it.
    ⚠️ Attention: If you deleted WhatsApp and immediately installed it again, the local backup may have been erased. In this case, only the cloud copy remains (if there is one) Always check for backups before reinstalling!

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about WhatsApp backups

    Is it possible to view a WhatsApp backup without restoring?

    Yes, but only using third-party apps (for example, WhatsApp Viewer or Dr.Fone).For this you need a file msgstore.db.crypt14 and an encryption key (requires root access). Without a key, it is impossible to read the backup.

    Where is the WhatsApp backup stored if the phone is broken?

    If the phone is broken. turns on, but the memory is not damaged, you can remove the memory card (if copies were saved to it) or connect the phone to the PC in Recovery mode (skills in working with ADBare required). Cloud copies remain in Google Drive and are linked to your account.

    How to transfer WhatsApp backup from Android to iPhone?

    There is no direct way, but you can use apps like Dr.Fone — WhatsApp Transfer or Backuptrans. They convert the backup into a format compatible with iOS. Please note that the transfer may be incomplete (for example, without call history).

    Why does WhatsApp not see the backup in Google Drive?

    The reasons may be the following:

    • A different Google account is used.
    • The backup is older than 1 year (WhatsApp stores only the latest copy).
    • Not enough space in Google Drive (although WhatsApp backups usually do not take up the quota).
    • Synchronization with Google Drive is disabled on the phone data-i="274">Check the settings in.

    Check the settings in Settings → Chat → Backup → Google Account.

    Is it possible to recover deleted messages from a backup?

    Yes, if you have a backup, created Before deleting messages. Restore it to your phone and the deleted chats will return. If a backup was created after deletion, it will not be possible to return messages.