Changing a smartphone or the need to free up space in the device’s internal memory often confronts the user with the question of saving important data. Messenger WhatsApp stores huge amounts of information: from correspondence with business partners to family photo archives. The loss of this data can become a critical problem, so creating a backup copy is a mandatory procedure before any manipulations with the device.
There are several proven ways to save the entire correspondence history on your computer’s hard drive. You can use cloud storage Google Drive to automatically synchronize or manually copy local database files. The choice of method depends on your goals: do you need a full backup for recovery on a new device or do you just want to save media files for an archive.
In this guide, we will analyze both methods in detail, paying special attention to the nuances of working with the file system Android. We will also look at common errors that users encounter when trying to extract data and suggest ways to solve them. Completing each step correctly ensures the integrity of your digital history.
⚠️ Warning: The process of manually copying system files requires caution. Deleting or damaging files in system folders can lead to incorrect operation of the messenger.
Preparation of the smartphone and workplace
Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure that your device is ready to transfer data. First of all, check the battery charge level - it should be at least 50% to avoid sudden shutdown at a critical moment. Also make sure that your computer has a stable connection to the Internet, especially if you plan to use cloud services.
You will need a high-quality USB cable, preferably original or certified by the device manufacturer. Cheap cables often only support charging mode and do not transmit data, which will result in a connection error. Connect your smartphone to your PC and select the file transfer mode MTP in the notification on the phone screen.
Don't forget to free up enough space on your computer's hard drive. The history of correspondence over several years with attached media files can occupy tens of gigabytes. It is recommended to have at least 20-30 GB free so as not to interrupt the process halfway.
☑️ Check before copying
- 🔌 Check the integrity of the USB cable and connection port.
- 💾 Free up space on your computer disk for the archive.
- 📱 Unlock your smartphone screen when connected.
- 🌐 Make sure your Internet connection is stable.
Creating a local backup in the application
Before transferring data to your computer, you need to create an up-to-date snapshot of the state of your chats directly in the application. Open WhatsApp, go to the settings menu and select section Chats, and then Chats backup. Here you will see information about the last copy and a button to create a new one.
Click the button Backup and wait for the process to complete. The application will collect all messages, statuses and media files into a single archive. The execution time depends on the amount of accumulated data and the operating speed of your smartphone.
It is important to note that by default Android creates a local copy every night at 02:00. However, to ensure that the most recent messages are retained before migration, it is best to initiate this process manually. This will eliminate the risk of losing data received over the last few hours.
If you have a dual-SIM smartphone, make sure that you create a backup copy for the correct phone number if there are several accounts.
After the backup is completed, the system will show the time and size of the archive. Write down these parameters to later make sure that the file on your computer has a similar weight, which will become an indicator of successful copying.
Manual copying method via USB cable
This method is the most reliable for creating a physical archive on your hard drive. It does not depend on Internet speed and cloud storage. After connecting the smartphone to the PC in file transfer mode, open Windows Explorer and find your device in the list of available drives.
On modern versions Android (11 and higher), the path to backup files has changed due to increased security policies. You need to go to the following path:
Internal memory → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → DatabasesIn older versions of the operating system, the folder may be located in the root of the internal memory:
Internal memory → WhatsApp → DatabasesIn this directory you will find files with names like msgstore-2023.10.25.1.db.crypt14 and the main file msgstore.db.crypt14. The number in the file extension indicates the encryption version. Copy all files from this folder to a previously created directory on your computer.
⚠️ Attention: Database files are encrypted. You will not be able to open them and read the text without using special decryption software or without restoring them on your smartphone.
Why do the files have different dates?
A new copy is created every day, and old files are renamed with the date. A file without a date in the name is the latest current version.
- 📂 Copy the entire folder
Databasesentirely. - 💿 Save the archive on an external hard drive for reliability.
- 🔢 Pay attention to the encryption version (crypt14, crypt15).
Using Google Drive for synchronization
An alternative method involves using cloud storage Google Drive. This method is convenient because the data is stored remotely and does not take up space on the computer until needed. To configure, go to Settings → Chat → Chats backup in the application.
In the section Google Drive Settings select an account, copy frequency and network type (Wi-Fi recommended). Once this feature is enabled, the app will automatically upload backups to the cloud. On your computer, you can check the availability of this data by going to the website Google Drive.
However, it is worth considering an important nuance: backup files in Google Drive are not visible to the user as regular files and do not occupy the storage quota only under certain conditions. Direct access to them through the web version interface is limited; they are intended primarily for automatic recovery.
For complete control over data, it is recommended to periodically make local copies, even if synchronization with the cloud is enabled. This will create an additional layer of protection in case your Google account is suspended or there are problems with the servers.
Saving media files and documents
Database backup saves the text of messages, but heavy media files often require a separate approach, especially if you just want to view them on your PC. Photos, videos and voice messages are stored in separate directories inside the application folder.
Path to media files on new versions Android:
Internal memory → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → MediaHere the data is structured by types:
WhatsApp Imagesfor photos,WhatsApp Videofor video recordings,WhatsApp Audiofor voice messages. You can copy only the folders you need so as not to overload the archive with unnecessary files.
| Data type | Folder | File format | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photos | WhatsApp Images | JPG, PNG | Copy completely |
| Video | WhatsApp Video | MP4, 3GP | Sort by date |
| Audio | WhatsApp Audio | OPUS, MP3 | Requires a player |
| Documents | WhatsApp Documents | PDF, DOCX | Scan for viruses |
When copying large volumes of video files, the process can take considerable time. Use Hi-Speed USB 3.0 or higher to speed up transfers. Do not remove the cable until the operation is complete.
Restoring data from a backup copy
If you need to restore data from a saved copy, the procedure will be reversed. Install WhatsApp on your device, but do not open it yet. First, copy the saved database file (for example, msgstore.db.crypt14) back to the folder Databases on your phone, renaming it, removing the date from the name, if there is one.
The first time you launch the application after installation, it will automatically detect your local backup. The system will offer to restore chat history. Agree to this offer, and all your messages will be returned.
⚠️ Attention: If you restore a local copy, data received after the date the copy was created will be lost. Always check the date of the file before restoring.
Restoring from a local copy is a priority for the application than restoring from Google Drive if both sources are available.
To restore media files, simply place the saved folders with images and videos in the appropriate directories on the new device. After this, the application will index the files, and they will become available in chats.
Frequent problems and their solutions
In the process of transferring data, users often encounter technical difficulties. One of the common problems is that the computer does not recognize the phone. In this case, try replacing the USB cable or switching the device to another port, preferably located on the rear panel of the system unit.
Another issue is an error when copying files when the system writes that the file is busy. This happens if WhatsApp is running in the background. Close the application completely through the smartphone settings before copying.
If the backup file is 0 KB in size, it means that the copy creation process was interrupted. Free up some space on your phone and try creating a copy again. Make sure that USB debugging is enabled on your device if you are using advanced copying methods via ADB.
- 🔄 Reboot both devices if there are connection errors.
- 🚫 Close WhatsApp before copying files.
- 💾 Check the disk file system for errors.
Is it possible to read a backup copy on a computer without a phone?
Direct reading is not possible, since the database is encrypted. To view the content, you need to either restore a copy on your smartphone, or use specialized decryption software that requires keys from the device.
Where is the WhatsApp backup on Android stored?
The local copy is located at /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. The cloud copy is stored on a Google Drive account and does not have a direct path in the PC file system.
What to do if the copy is not restored?
Make sure that the file is renamed correctly (msgstore.db.cryptXX) and is in the correct folder. Also check that the phone is using the same phone number and Google account as when creating the backup.
Does the backup take up space in Google Drive?
Whatsapp backups created through the app do not take up space in the Google Drive quota if they were created before a certain period or if you have a special quota. However, photos and videos in original quality can be taken into account.