How to extract a contact from the WhatsApp archive on Android?

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

To extract a contact from the WhatsApp archive on an Android device, you will need to use a file manager app that can access the internal storage of your phone. Locate the 'WhatsApp' folder within the 'Files' directory and then navigate to the 'Databases' subfolder. Here you will find the backup files containing your contacts, which you can extract using appropriate software.

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

Extracting a contact from the WhatsApp archive on an Android device involves several steps. This process can be particularly useful if you need to recover or transfer contacts that have been backed up in the past. Here is a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

1. Backup Creation: Before extracting any contact, ensure that you have previously created a backup of your WhatsApp data. This is typically done through the WhatsApp settings menu by navigating to 'Chats' > 'Chat Backup'. Follow the prompts to back up your chats, including media and messages.
2. Locate the Backup File: The backup file created by WhatsApp is stored in a specific directory on your Android device. By default, it can be found in the following location: /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. This folder contains files with names like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12 where 'YYYY-MM-DD' represents the date of the backup creation.
3. Access the Backup File: To access this file, you can use a file manager app that is capable of navigating through system directories. Some popular options include ES File Explorer or Solid Explorer. Alternatively, if you have connected your device to a computer via USB, you may need to enable file transfer mode on your Android device.
4. Decrypt the Backup File: The backup files are encrypted for security purposes. To decrypt them, you can use third-party software such as WhatsApp Transfer or Dr.Fone - WhatsApp Transfer. These tools allow you to decrypt the database file and extract the data in a readable format.
5. Extract Contacts: Once the backup file is decrypted, you will be able to view the contents, including contacts. Most extraction software provides an option to export or save specific contact information. Select the contacts you wish to recover and follow the prompts to save them in a desired format, such as CSV or vCard (.vcf).
6. Restore Contacts: After extracting the contacts, you can restore them to your Android device. This can be done through the 'Contacts' app on your phone by importing the saved file. Alternatively, if you have exported the contacts in a vCard format, you can send these files via email or any cloud storage service and then open them directly on your Android device to add the contacts to your address book.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully extract and restore contacts from your WhatsApp archive on an Android device.