How do I find all WhatsApp backups?

How do I find all WhatsApp backups - briefly?

To locate all your WhatsApp backups, follow these steps:

For iOS users, open the Settings app, tap on your profile name at the top, select "iCloud," and then check under "Manage Storage" for any WhatsApp backups listed. For Android users, go to the File Manager or use a cloud storage service like Google Drive to find backup files typically named as 'msgstore.db.crypt12'.

How do I find all WhatsApp backups - in detail?

To locate all WhatsApp backups, you need to follow a systematic approach depending on your operating system and the type of backup. Here’s a detailed guide for both Android and iPhone users:

For Android Users:

  1. Local Backup: WhatsApp backs up data locally on your device. To find these backups, navigate to the internal storage or SD card (if available) using a file manager app. Look for the following folder:

    /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases

    Here you will find files named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt12 which are your local backups. The dates indicate when each backup was created.

  2. Google Drive Backup: WhatsApp also allows you to back up your chats to Google Drive. To locate these:

    • Open the Google Drive app or go to drive.google.com.
    • Search for files named WhatsApp followed by a date in the format YYYY-MM-DD. These are your WhatsApp backup files stored on Google Drive.

For iPhone Users:

  1. iCloud Backup: WhatsApp backups for iPhones are stored in iCloud. To find these:

    • Go to Settings on your iPhone.
    • Tap on your name at the top, then select iCloud.
    • Scroll down and tap on Manage Storage or Storage. Here you will see a list of all your backups including WhatsApp backups. They are usually listed as WhatsApp followed by a date.

  2. Local Backup: iPhone users can also create local backups using iTunes. To locate these:

    • Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later).
    • Select your device in iTunes/Finder.
    • Click on This Computer under the Automatically Back Up section if you have chosen to back up manually. This will create a backup file on your computer which includes your WhatsApp data.

Important Notes:

  • Backup Frequency: WhatsApp automatically creates local backups daily at 2 AM and uploads them to Google Drive or iCloud once a week.
  • Data Security: Backup files are encrypted for security purposes, ensuring that your chat history remains protected.
  • Restoring Backups: When you set up a new device or reinstall WhatsApp, you can restore from these backups to retrieve your chat history.

By following these steps, you can effectively locate all WhatsApp backups and manage your data efficiently.