Smartphone owners Samsung Galaxy often face a situation where the internal memory of the device quickly fills up. One of the main reasons for this phenomenon is the automatic creation of copies of chats in the messenger WhatsApp. By default, the application is configured to save the history of correspondence, media files and voice messages on a daily basis, which over time can take up gigabytes of valuable space.
Disabling this function requires a careful approach, since the process affects not only the settings of the application itself, but also integration with cloud services such as Google Drive. Users need to understand the difference between a local backup, which is stored directly in the phone’s memory, and a cloud backup, which duplicates data on remote servers. Incorrect configuration can lead to the fact that the space is only partially freed up, and the data download process continues in the background.
In this guide, we will examine in detail each stage of disabling backup on devices running an operating system Android with a proprietary shell One UI. You will learn how to completely stop the creation of new archives, how to delete existing files to free up space, and what consequences this step will have for the security of your data. The instructions have been compiled taking into account the latest updates to the messenger interface and changes in the data storage policy.
Differences between local and cloud storage
Before making changes to the messenger configuration, it is important to clearly understand where exactly your data is saved. The backup system WhatsApp on the platform Android uses a double information protection mechanism. The first level is local storage, located in a hidden section of the internal memory of your smartphone Samsung. The second level is a cloud service Google Drivewhich is synchronized with the account linked to the device.
Local copies are created automatically every night, usually at 02:00 local time. These files have the extension .crypt14 or later, depending on the version of the application, and are stored in the folder Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. Even if you turn off cloud synchronization, these files will continue to take up disk space unless you change the settings within the application itself. Their main purpose is to restore data when reinstalling the messenger without access to the Internet.
Cloud copying works differently. It requires an active Internet connection and free space in your account Google. If you run out of quota Google Drive, the creation of new cloud backups will stop, but local files will still be generated. This often misleads users: they see a synchronization error message and think that copying has stopped, although the phone’s memory continues to fill up with local archives.
⚠️ Attention: Completely disabling both types of backup means that if the smartphone is lost, stolen or broken. Samsung you will lose your entire correspondence history without the possibility of recovery.
Understanding this architecture is critical for proper memory optimization. Many users mistakenly believe that simply deleting the application Google Drive or revoking permissions is enough to stop the process. However, as practice shows, the most effective method is to directly manage the settings inside the interface WhatsApp, where you can independently control the frequency and type of archives created.
Before disabling functions manually, copy important media files to a separate folder or computer, since after clearing the database they will be restored impossible.
Disabling automatic creation of copies in the application settings
The most direct and effective way to stop the backup process is to change the settings inside the messenger itself. The settings interface in the latest versions WhatsApp has become more intuitive, however, some items may be hidden in submenus. First, you need to open the application and go to the main menu by clicking on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the device screen Samsung.
Next, select the item Settings, and then go to the section Chats. This is where all the parameters related to storing message history are concentrated. Find the line with the name Chats backup and click on it. You will see a detailed menu for managing archives, which displays the date of the last save, its size and the current frequency of creating new copies.
The key control element is the item Backup to Google Drive. The default here is often set to Daily or Weekly. You need to tap on this field and select the option Neverin the list that opens. This action will completely stop uploading data to the cloud storage Google. However, remember that this does not affect local files that will continue to be created on the device.
- 📱 Go to
Settings→Chat→Backup chats. - ☁️ In the “Backup to Google Drive” item, select the value Never.
- 🔒 If necessary, disable the “Add video” option to exclude heavy files from future archives.
- 💾 Check the status of the latest copy, to make sure that the automatic process is no longer active.
After completing these steps, the system will stop initiating the cloud saving procedure. However, to completely stop the process on the device Samsung it is also recommended to check the local copy settings. In some versions of the software, it is possible to disable the creation of local files, although this is more difficult to do using standard interface tools than managing cloud synchronization.
Managing access rights and Google Drive synchronization
Even after changing the settings inside the messenger, it is recommended to check access rights at the operating system level Android. This will create an additional barrier to unauthorized or erroneous synchronization. On smartphones, permissions are managed through the system settings menu, which ensures that the application does not have technical access to your cloud storage. Open the system system of your phone and find the section. In the list of installed apps, select Samsung Permissions are managed through the system settings menu, which helps ensure that the application does not have technical access to your cloud storage.
Open system Settings your phone and find the section Applications. From the list of installed apps, select WhatsApp. Go to the subsection Permissions or, depending on the version One UI, find the item related to accounts. Here you will see a list of services to which the messenger has access. Find the one related to Googleand make sure that synchronization is disabled for this application.
It is also worth checking the settings of the application itself Google Drive. Go to the Drive application menu, click on the profile icon and select Account management. In the section Connected applications find WhatsApp. If there is an active connection there, you can revoke access. This action will break the connection between the messenger and the cloud, making any data transfer impossible, even if the settings inside WhatsApp are accidentally reset.
| Access type | Where to disable | Consequences of disabling |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive synchronization | Whatsapp settings → Chats | Data stops uploading to the cloud |
| Account access | Android Settings → Applications → WhatsApp | The application does not see the Google account |
| File permission | Android Settings → Permissions | It is not possible to save media to the gallery |
It is important to consider that system settings interfaces may vary slightly on different models Samsung Galaxy S or A. If you do not find the item you need, use the settings search by entering the query “permissions” or “accounts”. Correctly setting access rights is a fundamental step in ensuring privacy and control over your device traffic.
What happens when access to a Google Account is revoked?
If you revoke WhatsApp's access to your Google account through system settings, the application will throw an authorization error when you try to create a backup. This is a reliable way to block cloud sync, but it will also prevent you from restoring chats from the cloud in the future, even if you want to turn the feature back on. You will have to go through the authorization procedure again.
Cleaning accumulated backup files
Disabling the function of creating new copies does not delete those gigabytes of data that have already been saved previously. To really free up space on your smartphone Samsung, you need to manually delete old archives. These files often remain in memory for months, taking up space that could be used for photos or new applications.
To delete local copies, you will need a file manager. Devices Samsung have a pre-installed application My filesthat is ideal for this task. Open it and go to the Internal memorysection. The path to the database folder may look different depending on the Android version. On new versions (Android 11 and higher), the path is usually as follows: Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases.
Inside the folder Databases you will see files with names like msgstore.db.crypt14 and files with dates in the title, for example msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14. The file without a date in the name is the most current database used by the application right now. The remaining files with dates are old backups. You can safely delete all files except the most recent one (no date), if you want to retain the ability to restore the current correspondence, or delete everything if you do not need any archives.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting a file
msgstore.db.crypt...without a date will result in the loss of the ability to restore the last correspondence when reinstalling the application. Delete only files with dates in the name if you want to maintain the current status.
Also, do not forget to check your cloud storage. Go to the application Google Drive, click on the menu (three bars) and select Backups. If there is a file WhatsApp [Your number], click on the three dots next to it and select Delete backup. This action will free up space in your cloud account, which could be critical for the operation of other services.
☑️ Checking memory clearing
Alternative methods to save memory without completely shutting it down
Completely disabling backup is a radical measure that is not suitable everyone. If your goal is simply to save space, but at the same time maintain the ability to restore important data in the event of a failure, there are more flexible settings. WhatsApp allows you to fine-tune the archiving parameters, excluding the most “heavy” elements from it.
In the menu Backup of chats there is a switch Add video. Video files take up the lion's share of memory space. By disabling this option, you will save your chat history and photos, but the videos will not be archived. This can reduce the backup size by 5-10 times. In addition, in the chat settings, you can set the frequency of copying not “Daily”, but “Weekly” or “Monthly”.
Another effective method is to use the “Manage Storage” function inside the application itself. Go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. Here you will see a list of chats that take up the most space. You can delete old media from specific conversations without deleting the conversation itself. This reduces the size of the current database and, accordingly, the size of future backups.
- 🎥 Disable the option
Add videoin the backup settings. - 📅 Change the frequency to Weekly instead of creating daily archives.
- 🗑️ Use the built-in tool
Storage managementto delete heavy files. - 📸 Set up automatic downloading of media only via Wi-Fi to avoid wasting bandwidth and space.
This compromise approach allows you to balance between data security and available disk space. For most smartphone users Samsung it is enough to disable video downloading and increase the interval between copies so that the problem of lack of memory is solved without the risk of complete loss of information.
Disabling video downloading to a backup saves up to 80% of space in the cloud and internal memory, while preserving the text history of correspondence.
Data recovery in the absence of backups
If you decide to completely disable backups, you should be prepared for a scenario where you have to restore data manually. In the absence of files .crypt and cloud archives, the standard recovery procedure during reinstallation WhatsApp will not work. The application will offer to find a copy, but, not finding it, will begin a clean installation with an empty list of chats.
The only way to save information in this case is to manually export important dialogs. You can go to a specific chat, click on the contact's name at the top, scroll down and select Export chat. You will be asked to send your chat history without or with media files by email or save it to a file manager. This will create a text file .txtthat can be read on any device, but cannot be imported back into WhatsApp to continue the conversation.
For users who store important business information or personal archives in the messenger, it is recommended to periodically make manual copies of critical dialogues to an external drive or computer. Connecting your smartphone to a PC via a USB cable allows you to copy the entire folder. Storing such a copy on your computer's hard drive is a reliable insurance policy, independent of your phone settings. Samsung to PC via USB cable allows you to copy the entire folder WhatsApp entirely. Storing such a copy on your computer's hard drive is a reliable insurance policy that does not depend on your phone settings.
⚠️ Warning: Chat export files (.txt) are read-only. You won't be able to upload them back to WhatsApp to restore conversations in the app. This is just a way to save information in archival form.
Losing access to cloud backups also means that when you change the device to a new one, transferring message history will become impossible by standard means. You will have to start communication from scratch or use third-party paid utilities to transfer data, which work through a direct connection between two phones, but their effectiveness is not guaranteed by the messenger developers.
Is it possible to restore a deleted backup from Google Drive?
Unfortunately, Google Drive does not have a recycle bin for application backups. You deleted the WhatsApp backup file from the Backups section in Google Drive, it cannot be restored. The only chance is if you have a local copy saved on the phone itself, which you have not yet deleted.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will my chat history be deleted if I disable backup?
No, disabling the backup function does not delete the current chat history from applications. Your chats, photos and videos will remain on your phone in full. This setting only prevents the creation of new archive files for future recovery.
Does a disabled backup take up space on Google Drive?
If you select the “Never” option in the settings, new data will not be downloaded. However, the old backup created earlier will take up space in your cloud storage until you manually delete it through the Google Drive application in the “Backups” section.
Can I enable copying back later?
Yes, you can return to the settings at any time Chats → Backup of chats and change the setting to “Daily” or “Weekly”. The application will create a new archive, but data that was received during the period when copying was disabled will not go into this new archive, unless they were written to a local file.
Where are local copies stored on Samsung Galaxy?
On modern versions of Android, the path to local copies is: Internal memory → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases. On older versions of the system, the folder WhatsApp could be located in the root of the internal memory.
Does disabling copying affect the operation of the messenger?
No, the messenger works as usual (sending and receiving messages, calls) does not depend in any way on the backup function. This is a purely service function for saving data, and disabling it will not affect the speed or stability of the connection.