How to find a WhatsApp backup on an Android phone: all the methods and nuances

WhatsApp automatically creates backup copies of your chats, but not all users know where exactly they are stored. Without this knowledge, it becomes almost impossible to restore correspondence after resetting the phone, replacing the device, or accidentally deleting an application. In this article we will look how to find a WhatsApp backup on Android —from standard paths in the phone memory to hidden folders and cloud storage Google Drive.

It is important to understand that the location of backups depends on the version of the application, synchronization settings and even the smartphone manufacturer (for example, on Xiaomi or Samsung paths may differ). We will look at all current search methods, including manual and automatic methods, and also explain why sometimes copies “disappear” from view.

1. Where WhatsApp stores local backups on Android

By default WhatsApp saves local backups directly in your phone's memory. These files are created daily in 4:00 (if the device is connected to charging and a Wi-Fi network) and contain the entire correspondence history, media files and settings. The main path to the backup folder:

/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/

On most modern smartphones (even without a physical memory card) sdcard is the internal storage. If you have a microSD installed, the path may look like /storage/1234-5678/WhatsApp/Databases/, where 1234-5678 is the card's unique identifier.

• 📁 Backup files have a name like msgstore.db.crypt14 (where crypt14 is the encryption version, maybe crypt12 or crypt15 for new versions).
• 🔄 Last 7 copies are saved automatically (for example, msgstore-2026-05-15.db.crypt14 - backup dated May 15, 2026).
• 📎 Media files (photos, videos, voice messages) are stored separately in a folder /WhatsApp/Media/ and are not included in the main backup.

Critical detail: if you delete the folder Databases manually, WhatsApp will not be able to restore chats when installed again. At the same time, the backup files themselves are not displayed in the standard file manager without turning on the mode for showing hidden folders.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, MIUI from Xiaomi or ColorOS from Oppo) access to the folder WhatsApp may be limited. If the file manager is not enough, use ADB or specialized utilities like FX File Explorer.

2. How to find a WhatsApp backup through a file manager

The easiest way is to use a built-in or third-party file manager. Here are the step-by-step guide:

1. Open any file manager (for example, Files by Google, Solid Explorer or standard My file on Samsung).
2. Turn on display of hidden files:
   • In Files by Google: press ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.
   • B Solid Explorer: swipe right → Settings → Show hidden files.

If folder WhatsApp is not in the root directory, check:

• 🔍 Folder Android/media/com.whatsapp/ (on some firmware backups are stored here).
• 📱 External SD card (if it is used as the main storage).
• 🗑️ Recycle bin of the file manager (sometimes deleted backups are stored there for 30 days).

Enable showing hidden files

Check path /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases/

View external SD card (if available)

Use search using the keyword "msgstore"-->

3. Search for WhatsApp backups in Google Drive

Google Drive —the main cloud storage for backups WhatsApp on Android. Here copies are created on a schedule. (daily, weekly or manually) and linked to your account Google. To check their availability:

1. Open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → Chats → Backup chats.
2. In the section Google Drive the date of the last backup will be indicated (for example, Last copy: 06/10/2026, 03:15).
3. To see the files in Google Drive:
   • Open drive.google.com in the browser.
   • In the search bar, enter whatsapp.
   • The backup files will be named backup.ab or WhatsApp Backups (do not delete them!).

Please note: backups in Google Drive do not take up space in your cloud storage —they are stored separately and are not included in the 15 GB quota. However, if you have not used WhatsApp more than a year, backup copies can be automatically deleted.

⚠️ Attention: If you change your phone number or account Google, backups from Google Drive will become unavailable for recovery. In this case, only a local copy on the old one remains device.

4. How to find WhatsApp backup on Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands phones

Smartphone manufacturers often modify Android, which can affect the location of files WhatsApp. Let's consider the features of popular brands:

Samsung (One UI)

On devices Samsung Galaxy the path to backups is standard, but access to the folder may be limited due to Knox. To see the files:

• 📂 Use My Files (standard manager) → Internal storage → WhatsApp → Databases.
• 🔓 If the folder is not displayed, go to Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Storage and click Clear cache (sometimes this resets access rights).

Xiaomi (MIUI)

On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO access to system folders are blocked by default. Solution:

• 🛠️ Install FX File Explorer or Root Explorer (they bypass restrictions MIUI).
• 📌 Enable Show hidden files and go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.whatsapp/.

Huawei (EMUI/HarmonyOS)

On devices Huawei without services Google backups are not available. Local copies are not available. use Google Drive not available. Look for local copies along the following path:

/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases/

For cloud backup use Huawei Cloud (but WhatsApp does not support this integration directly - only manual export of chats).

5. How to restore WhatsApp from a found backup

Finding a backup is half the battle. Now you need to restore it correctly. depending on the type of copy:

Restore from a local backup

1. Delete WhatsApp (if installed).
2. Rename the desired backup file (for example, msgstore-2026-06-10.db.crypt14) in msgstore.db.crypt14.
3. Install WhatsApp again and confirm your phone number.
4. The application will automatically find a backup and offer to restore chats.

Recovery from Google Drive

• 📱 Install WhatsApp on a new phone with the same number and account Google.
• 🔑 If At the first launch, the application will offer to restore data from Google Drive (click Restore).
• ⚡ Make sure that the phone is connected to Wi-Fi - backups can weigh several gigabytes.

Important nuance: if you are restoring a backup to a device from another version Android (for example, from old Samsung to new Pixel), compatibility errors may occur. In this case, first update WhatsApp to the latest version on both devices.

6. Frequent problems with WhatsApp backups and their solutions

Even if you found backup, errors may occur during recovery. Let's consider typical scenarios and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods helped, try alternative methods:

• 📥 Use utilities like WhatsApp Backup Extractor (to extract data from damaged backups).
• 🔧 Connect the phone to the PC and scan the memory with the app Recuva or DiskDigger (if the files have been deleted).
• ☁️ Create new backup manually: WhatsApp Settings → Chats → Backup → Create a copy.

⚠️ Attention: Some “recovery” apps (especially from unverified sources) may contain malware. Use only official utilities or tools with a proven reputation (for example, Dr.Fone from Wondershare).

7. How to transfer a WhatsApp backup to another phone

When changing a smartphone, it is important to transfer the backups correctly so as not to lose your correspondence history. The instructions depend on the type of copy:

Transferring a local backup

1. Copy the folder WhatsApp (together with Databases and Media) from the old phone to the new one (via USB, Google Drive or Bluetooth).
2. Install WhatsApp on the new device and confirm the same phone number.
3. Application will automatically find a local backup and offer to restore the data.

Transferring a backup from Google Drive

• 📱 Make sure that the same account is used on the new phone Google.
• 🔄 Install WhatsApp and wait for the offer to restore data from Google Drive.
• ⚠️ If the phone number has changed, first restore the backup on the old device, then export the chats manually (via Settings → Chats → Export chat).

Important for owners iPhone: WhatsApp does not support direct transfer backups between Android and iOS. To migrate, use the official tool Move to iOS (only for the first setup iPhone) or third-party services like Backuptrans.

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