Users of smartphones based Android often face the need to save important correspondence or transfer them to a new device. The question of where exactly messages are copied from WhatsApparises when you lose your phone, the application malfunctions, or you want to free up memory space. Understanding the data storage structure allows you not only to make manual backups, but also to restore deleted information if a cloud backup is unavailable.
The file storage system in modern versions Android has undergone major changes, which often confuses gadget owners. If earlier the path to the database was obvious and lay on the surface, then new security policies Google complicated access to system folders. However, local copies of chats are still created regularly, and knowing their location is key to keeping your data safe.
Local message storage: base paths
By default, the application backs up the database daily at a specific time, usually 2 am. These files contain your entire text message history, delivery statuses, and contact information. You can find them using any file manager with access rights to system directories.
On devices with version Android 10 and below, the path to the files was standard and intuitive. You could simply go to the root of the internal memory and find the folder with the name of the messenger. Inside it there was a subdirectory Databaseswhere files with the extension .db.crypt14 were stored (the number may vary depending on the encryption version).
However, on more modern smartphones the structure has changed due to the introduction of the mechanism Scoped Storage. Now the main path has shifted deeper into the system directories. You need to go to the address /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. This is where local backups are now saved by default on most current devices.
⚠️ Attention: On some smartphone models from manufacturers Xiaomi or Samsung the path may be duplicated. Check both the root folder
/Android/media, since the application may have changed the save directory when updating the firmware.
Changes in the folder structure on new versions of Android
Starting with Android 11, company Google tightened the rules for application access to shared memory. This was done to improve the security of user data and prevent chaotic filling of the storage. As a result, the standard folder WhatsApp at the root of the internal memory has ceased to be the main storage location for new versions of the messenger.
Now, when installing the application on a fresh operating system, files are written to a protected directory by default /Android/media/com.whatsapp. This complicates manual access to files for ordinary users who do not have root access or specialized explorers capable of working with system partitions.
If you updated the app on your old phone and then switched to a new one, your folder structure might remain hybrid. In this case, old backups can be in the root, and new ones in the system folder. To find the current database, you should focus on the date the file was modified.
- 📂 The folder
Databasescontains files with names likemsgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.cryptXX. - 📂 The file
msgstore.db.cryptXXwithout a date in the name is the most recent backup copy. - 📂 The folder
Mediastores photos, videos and voice messages, divided into subdirectories.
It is important to understand that the database files are encrypted. You can't just open them in a text editor and read the correspondence. To view the content, you need a decryption key, which is stored in a protected memory area of the application itself or linked to your account Google.
If you do not see the Android folder in the file manager, try turning on the display of hidden system files in the Explorer settings or use the "Files by Google" application.
Manual creation and management of backups
Although automatic creating backups works reliably; in critical situations it is better to initiate the process manually. This ensures that the last important messages are saved right before you transfer your data or reset your phone.
You don't have to search for files manually to create a local copy. Just go to the settings of the application itself. Go to the section Chats → Chat backup and click the button Backup. After the process is completed, the file will appear in the appropriate folder Databases.
Managing local copies allows you to save space on your device. By default WhatsApp stores the last 7 day backups. Old files are automatically deleted, but you can save them manually by renaming the file and moving it to another folder, for example, Downloads.
| File Type | Location | Contents | Encryption |
|---|---|---|---|
| msgstore.db.crypt14 | /Android/media/.../Databases | Current message database | Yes (AES) |
| msgstore-DATE.db.crypt14 | /Android/media/.../Databases | Archive for a specific date | Yes (AES) |
| wa.db | /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases | Information about account | Root required |
| axolotl.db | /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases | Encryption keys | Root required |
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the file
msgstore.db.cryptXXwithout a date if you plan to restore. This is the main file that the application uses when it is first installed. Deleting old archives with dates is safe.
Restoring messages from a local file
The process of restoring from a local copy is necessary when the cloud backup in Google Drive is missing, damaged or contains outdated data. This method requires care as it involves working with the file system.
First make sure that the required backup file is in the correct folder. If you want to recover chats from the past week, find the file with the corresponding date in the name. Rename it, removing the date, so that it becomes simply called msgstore.db.cryptXX.
Next, you need to completely remove the application WhatsApp from the device and install it again. When you launch it for the first time, the messenger will detect a local file and offer to restore your message history. If this does not happen, check the access rights of the file manager.
☑️ Algorithm for restoring from a file
It is worth considering that when restoring from a local file, all messages received after the date of creation of this backup will be lost. Therefore, it is advisable to use this method only in case of urgent need to recover deleted correspondence, and not just for synchronization.
Cloud backup to Google Drive
In addition to local storage WhatsApp actively uses cloud service Google Drive to save data. This method is more convenient for most users, as it does not require manual file management and frees up space on the phone.
Files in the cloud do not take up space in your tariff plan Googleif the backup is created through the messenger interface. However, they are tied to a specific account Gmail and phone number. It is impossible to view the contents of such a backup through the web interface of the disk - it is only available when installing the application.
You can configure automatic downloading in the chat settings menu. You can choose the frequency (daily, weekly, monthly) and network type for downloading (Wi-Fi only or mobile data too).
- ☁️ Backups in Google Drive are not end-to-end encrypted by default, unless you enable this option separately.
- ☁️ To restore from the cloud, you need the same phone number and the same account Google.
- ☁️ Local and cloud copies are independent of each other and may contain different information.
What to do if the backup in Google Drive is not visible?
Make sure you are logged into the correct Google account on your phone. Check if you have enough cloud space. Try clearing the Google Play Services app cache and rebooting your device. Also make sure that the correct account for backup is selected in the WhatsApp settings.
Transferring a database to a new smartphone
When changing a device, users often want to transfer their correspondence history without using the cloud, for example, if the new phone does not yet have the Internet or a Google account. In this case, direct transfer of the database file helps.
You will need to copy the entire folder WhatsApp (or com.whatsapp from Android/media) from the old phone to the computer, and then move it to a similar directory on the new device. It is important to keep the folder structure unchanged.
After copying the files, install WhatsApp to a new phone, but do not open it right away. First, check that the files are in the correct location. Only after this, launch the application and agree to recovery.
⚠️ Attention: The encryption versions on the old and new phones must be compatible. If the new device has a significantly newer version of Android and messenger, the old encrypted file
crypt12may not be suitable forcrypt14. In such cases, it is better to use the official chat transfer function when setting up your phone for the first time.
The most reliable transfer method is to use the built-in migration function when setting up a new device or restoring from Google Drive, since manually copying files is fraught with access rights errors.
Frequently asked questions about WhatsApp data storage
Is it possible to read the msgstore.db.crypt14 file on a computer?
No, you cannot directly read this file, since it is encrypted. The decryption key is stored inside the smartphone in a secure storage. There are third-party utilities for extracting keys, but they require root access and are difficult to use for the average user.
Why is the WhatsApp folder empty after updating Android?
Most likely, the path to the data has changed. On new versions of the system, files are moved to /Android/media/com.whatsapp. Check this directory using a file manager with extended access rights.
How much space do backups take up?
The size depends on the number of messages and media files. A text database typically weighs between 10 and 100 MB. If you include a video in a backup, the size can reach several gigabytes.
Are local copies deleted when deleting an application?
Yes, when you standardly delete an application through Android settings, the data folder in /Android/media is also deleted. To save copies, you need to move them to another folder in advance, for example, Downloads.