Reinstalling WhatsApp on Samsung: how to save chats and media files

Reinstallation WhatsApp on smartphones Samsung is often required when the messenger malfunctions, after updating Android or when switching to a new account. However, standard deletion of the application via Settings → Applications leads to the loss of all correspondence if you do not save a backup copy in advance. In this article we will look at three reliable ways reinstall WhatsApp without data loss - from automatic recovery via Google Drive to manual transfer of the chat database using a file manager.

A feature of devices Samsung (series Galaxy S23, A54, Z Fold5 etc.) is the use of a proprietary shell One UI, which can affect the location of backup folders. We will take these nuances into account and provide instructions adapted to the latest version WhatsApp (2.26.x) and Android 14/15. If you have not previously created backups or are not sure of their relevance, do not worry: the article contains a method for restoring even from “forgotten” local copies.

Why reinstalling WhatsApp can lead to data loss

When deleted WhatsApp in the standard way from a smartphone Samsung erased:

• 📂 Local database (msgstore.db.crypt14—stores all correspondence, including deleted messages (if they have not been cleared).
• 📷 Media files —photos, videos and voice messages from folders WhatsApp/Media (if automatic saving to the Gallery is not enabled).
• ⚙️ Account settings - theme, notifications, linked devices.

The problem is that WhatsApp by default creates backups only to Google Drive, but:

• 🔄 Copies are created not more than once a day (unless configured otherwise).
• ☁️ Restoration requires the same Google accountas when creating a backup.
• ⏳ The last copy may be outdated (for example, if you have not opened the messenger for several days).

⚠️ Attention: If you deleted WhatsApp before creating a backup copy, you can restore chats only through local files (msgstore.db.crypt14), which are stored in the device memory no more 7 days after uninstallation.

Method 1: Reinstallation with recovery from Google Drive

This is the simplest method, but it only works if three conditions are met:

1. On a smartphone Samsung linked Google accountused for backups.
2. The WhatsApp function was enabled Backup to Google Drive (checked in Settings → Chat → Backup).
3. No more than has passed since the last backup 150 days (storage period for copies in a free Google account).

If the conditions are met, follow the instructions:

1. Delete WhatsApp via Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Uninstall.
2. Reboot your smartphone (this will clear the cache and speed up installation).
3. Install WhatsApp again from Galaxy Store or Google Play.
4. When you first start, enter the same phone numberas before.
5. On the recovery screen, tap Restore and select the latest copy from Google Drive.
6. Wait for the process to complete (it can take up to 30 minutes if there is a large volume of chats).

⚠️ Attention: If after restoring the chats are not completely displayed (for example, there are no messages for the last days), check the date the backup was created in Google Drive. The latest copy may not include the latest data.

Check your Google account linking in Settings → Accounts

Make sure there is free space on the device (at least 1 GB)

Connect to Wi-Fi (restoration “eats up” a lot of traffic)

Charge the phone at least 50%-->

Method 2: Manually saving a local backup

If there is no backup in Google Drive or is outdated, you can restore chats from local copy, which is created automatically every day at 2:00 am. The copy file is stored in the folder:

/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14

Action algorithm:

1. Open any file manager (for example, My Files from Samsung or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the path Internal memory → WhatsApp → Databases.
3. Find the file msgstore.db.crypt14 (this is the last copy) and copy it to a safe place (for example, on a computer or in the cloud).
4. Uninstall WhatsApp and install it again.
5. When you first start, enter the phone number, but do not click "Restore" on the Google Drive screen - close the application instead.
6. Return the copied file msgstore.db.crypt14 back to the folder Databases (replacing a new empty file).
7. Open WhatsApp —the messenger will automatically detect the local copy and offer to restore chats.

If the folder Databases has several files with dates (for example, msgstore-2026-05-10.db.crypt14), select the most recent one. For reliability, you can save all options.

What to do if the msgstore.db.crypt14 file is damaged?

If the error “Backup file is damaged” appears during recovery, try:

1. Rename the file to msgstore.db.crypt12 (sometimes helps with encryption failures).

2. Use the utility WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor (requires root access).

3. Restore an older copy from the folder Databases (for example, last month).

Backup type	Where it is stored	Storage period	Max. size
Local (auto)	/WhatsApp/Databases/	7 days after deletion	Unlimited
Google Drive	Google Cloud	150 days (free account)	15 GB (total limit)
Manual (via export)	Any folder	Unlimited	Unlimited

Method 3: Transferring chats via Samsung Smart Switch (for new devices)

If you reinstall WhatsApp to new Samsung smartphone (for example, when replacing Galaxy S22 with S24), use the proprietary utility Samsung Smart Switch. It allows you to transfer not only chats, but also media files, maintaining the folder structure.

Instructions:

1. On the old phone, open Smart Switch (download from Galaxy Storeif missing).
2. Connect both devices via cable USB-C or Wi-Fi (select Send data on the old phone and Receive data on the new).
3. In the list of data to transfer, mark WhatsApp and Media.
4. Wait for copying to complete (the time depends on the amount of data).
5. On the new phone, install WhatsApp and confirm the number - chats will be restored automatically from the transferred local copy.

⚠️ Attention: Smart Switch transfers only the latest local copy WhatsApp. If the backup on your old phone is outdated, first update it manually via Settings → Chat → Backup → Create a copy.

Once a week

Once a month

Only before reinstallation

I never do-->

How to save media files before reinstallation

Chats are only text history. It is much more important not to lose photos, videos and voice messageswhich are stored in the folder WhatsApp/Media. Default WhatsApp does not save media to the Gallery Samsung, so if you delete the application, all files will disappear.

Methods for saving media:

• 📁 Manual transfer: Copy the folder WhatsApp/Media to a computer or to the cloud (Google Drive, Samsung Cloud).
• ☁️ Autosave: Enable the option in Settings → Data storage → Save to Gallery (before reinstalling!).
• 🔄 Synchronization: Use Samsung Gallery to automatically synchronize with Samsung Cloud (available on devices with One UI 5.0+).

If media files have already been deleted, try to restore them using utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva (requires connecting the phone to the PC). Please note that the chances of recovery drop after writing new data to the device.

What to do if the reinstallation did not help: alternative solutions

If after reinstallation WhatsApp it continues to work incorrectly (for example, messages are not sent or crashes when opening chats), the problem may go deeper:

Symptom	Possible cause	Solution
The application crashes when opening	Damaged cache	Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Memory → Clear cache
Notifications are not coming	Battery limits	Add WhatsApp to optimization exceptions in Settings → Device care → Battery
Media files are not sent	Mobile data restrictions	Enable Background transfer data for WhatsApp in network settings

If none of the methods helped, try:

1. Install the beta version WhatsApp (sometimes fixes bugs in the current build).
2. Reset network settings in Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings.
3. Contact support WhatsApp via the feedback form in the application (section Settings → Help → Contact us).

⚠️ Attention: On devices Samsung with One UI 6.0+ the function Automatic optimizationmay be triggered, which forcefully closes WhatsApp in the background. Disable it in Settings → Device care → Automation → Optimization.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about reinstalling WhatsApp on Samsung

Is it possible to restore chats if I deleted WhatsApp a month back?

Local backups (msgstore.db.crypt14) are stored on the device maximum 7 days after deleting the application. If more time has passed, chats can only be restored from Google Drive (provided that a backup was created) or via third-party utilities (for example Dr.Fone), but success is not guaranteed.

Why WhatsApp doesn’t see the backup in Google Disk?

The reasons may be the following:

• You are logged in another Google accountthan the one under which the backup was created.
• On the device not enough memory for recovery (you need at least 1.5–2 GB of free space).
• The copy was created on another phone with a different number (recovery is only possible to the same number).
• Google Services (Play Market, Google Drive) not updated or blocked by a firewall.

Solution: check your Google account, update services and make sure there is enough space on your phone.

How to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Samsung without losing data?

Officially WhatsApp does not support cross-platform transfer of chats between iOS and AndroidHowever, since 2023 Samsung offers a solution through the utility. Smart Switch (requires cable Lightning-to-USB-C i iPhone with iOS 15+). An alternative is to use paid services like Backuptrans or iCareFone Transfer.

Is it possible to recover deleted messages from a chat after reinstallation?

If messages were deleted before creating a backup copy, it is impossible to restore them. If deletion occurred after backup, but before reinstallation, restore the chat from a copy (see Method 2 in the article For the future: enable archiving chats V Settings → Chat → Archiving all chats.

Why are some photos not displayed after restoration?

This is due to the fact that WhatsApp stores media files separately from the chat database If you have restored only msgstore.db.crypt14, but did not copy the folder WhatsApp/Media, photos and videos will be displayed as empty previews. Solution: transfer the media manually (see section "How to save media files").

💡

Before reinstalling WhatsApp to Samsung always check for a fresh backup copy in Settings → Chat → Backup. Local copies are more reliable than cloud copies, but require manual control.