How can I extract an archive from WhatsApp on Android?

How can I extract an archive from WhatsApp on Android - briefly?

To extract an archive from WhatsApp on Android, follow these steps:

  1. Open the File Manager app on your device.
  2. Locate the WhatsApp folder in the Internal Storage or SD Card, open it, and you will find the archived files there.

How can I extract an archive from WhatsApp on Android - in detail?

Extracting an archive from WhatsApp on Android involves several steps, as WhatsApp saves chat backups in a proprietary format that needs to be converted before extraction. Here's a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

  1. Create a WhatsApp Backup:

    • Open WhatsApp on your Android device.
    • Go to Settings > Chats.
    • Tap on Chat backup.
    • Choose the Google Drive account where you want to save the backup and select the frequency of backups (daily, weekly, monthly).
    • Tap on Back Up to create a new backup. This process will upload your chat history to Google Drive.

  2. Download the Backup from Google Drive:

    • Open the Google Drive app or go to drive.google.com on your computer.
    • Find the WhatsApp folder (it might be named WhatsApp or WhatsApp Backups).
    • Download the backup file to your device or computer. The file will have a .crypt12 extension and is encrypted.

  3. Decrypt the Backup File:

    • To decrypt the file, you'll need a third-party app like WhatsApp Extractor. This app can extract text messages, photos, videos, and other data from the backup file.
    • Download and install the WhatsApp Extractor app on your Android device or computer.
    • Open the app and locate the downloaded backup file.
    • Select the file and choose the extraction method (text only, text with media, etc.).
    • Wait for the extraction process to complete. The extracted data will be saved in a new folder on your device or computer.

  4. Access the Extracted Data:

    • Once the extraction is done, you can open the new folder and access all the extracted data.
    • Text messages will be saved as .txt files, while photos, videos, and other media will be organized in separate folders.

  5. Viewing and Managing Extracted Data:

    • To view the text messages, open the .txt files using any text editor or note-taking app.
    • For media files, you can use your device's gallery or any photo/video viewing app to browse through them.