How to extract a contact from the WhatsApp archive into WhatsApp?

How to extract a contact from the WhatsApp archive into WhatsApp - briefly?

To extract a contact from a WhatsApp archive and import it back into WhatsApp, follow these steps: First, locate your WhatsApp backup file on your device or cloud storage. Then, install WhatsApp on your phone, and during the setup process, select "Restore" when prompted to restore from a backup. This will transfer all contacts from the archive into your WhatsApp account.

How to extract a contact from the WhatsApp archive into WhatsApp - in detail?

Extracting a contact from a WhatsApp archive and reimporting it back into WhatsApp can be accomplished through several steps. This process is typically required when users need to recover lost contacts or transfer data between devices. Below is a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

Firstly, ensure that you have a backup of your WhatsApp data. WhatsApp provides an option to create backups which can be stored locally or in the cloud. To create a local backup, follow these steps:

  1. Open WhatsApp on your device.
  2. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
  3. Tap on "Back Up" to create a new backup. The backup will include all your chats and media.

After creating the backup, you can extract the contact information from the archive. Here’s how:

  1. Locate the WhatsApp backup folder on your device. The path varies depending on the operating system:

    • For Android: /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases
    • For iPhone: The backup is usually stored in iCloud or iTunes backups, so you may need to use a third-party tool to extract it.
  2. Copy the database file (it has the extension .db) to your computer for further processing if necessary.
  3. Use a WhatsApp extraction tool to view and export contacts from the backup file. There are several tools available, both free and paid, such as Dr.Fone - WhatsApp Transfer or WazzapMigrator. These tools can extract contact information along with messages and media files.
  4. Install and launch the chosen extraction tool on your computer.
  5. Connect your device to the computer using a USB cable.
  6. Follow the prompts in the software to select the backup file you want to extract from.
  7. Once the file is loaded, navigate to the contacts section and select the contact(s) you wish to restore.
  8. Export the selected contacts to your device or computer in a format compatible with WhatsApp (e.g., .vcf).

Finally, import the extracted contacts back into WhatsApp:

  1. Open WhatsApp on your device.
  2. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup if you are restoring the entire backup or directly import the contacts via the Contacts app.
  3. If using a .vcf file, open the file and follow the prompts to add the contact(s) to your phone’s address book. WhatsApp will automatically sync these contacts.
  4. Alternatively, if you are restoring from a full backup, ensure that the backup is selected and tap on "Restore" to complete the process.

By following these steps, you can effectively extract and reimport contact information from a WhatsApp archive back into your WhatsApp application.