How to find out the backup account of WhatsApp?

How to find out the backup account of WhatsApp - briefly?

To discover your WhatsApp backup account, you need to check your Google Drive or iCloud storage depending on whether you're using an Android or iOS device respectively. This information can be found in the settings of these cloud services under the relevant WhatsApp backup section.

How to find out the backup account of WhatsApp - in detail?

Finding out the backup account associated with your WhatsApp can be crucial for data recovery or transferring chats between devices. Here’s a detailed guide on how to locate and manage your WhatsApp backups:

1. Understanding WhatsApp Backup:

   WhatsApp provides two primary methods for backing up your chat history—using Google Drive (for Android users) and iCloud (for iOS users). Understanding which method is used depends on the type of device you are using.

2. Locating Backups on Android:

   • Google Drive: WhatsApp backups on Android devices are stored in your Google Drive account. To find out if a backup exists, follow these steps:

     1. Open the Google Drive app or go to drive.google.com.
     2. Tap on the three horizontal lines (menu) at the top left corner.
     3. Select "Backup" from the menu. If you see WhatsApp listed under backups, it means there is a backup associated with your account.
   • Local Storage: Additionally, WhatsApp creates local backups on your device’s internal storage or SD card. These are typically located in the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases directory. The backup files are named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt12.

3. Locating Backups on iOS:

   • iCloud: WhatsApp backups for iOS devices are stored in your iCloud account. To check if there is a backup:

     1. Go to the "Settings" app on your iPhone.
     2. Tap on your name at the top of the screen.
     3. Select "iCloud."
     4. Scroll down and tap on "Manage Storage."
     5. If you see WhatsApp listed under the apps using iCloud, it indicates that there is a backup associated with your account.
   • Local Storage: For local backups, iOS devices store them in a similar manner to Android, typically found in /var/mobile/Library/Application Support/WhatsApp/Databases.

4. Transferring Backups Between Devices:

   • When switching between devices or platforms, it is important to note that WhatsApp backups are not directly transferable from one type of storage (Google Drive) to another (iCloud). However, you can manually export chats and then import them on the new device.
     1. Export Chat: On your current device, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Tap "Export Chat" and choose the chat you want to save.
     2. Import Chat: On the new device, go through the initial setup process of WhatsApp. When prompted to restore from backup, select "Cancel." Then go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and tap "Import Chat" to locate and import your exported chat files.

5. Regularly Checking Your Backups:

   It is a good practice to periodically check the status of your backups to ensure that they are up-to-date and functioning correctly. This can be done by following the steps mentioned above for both Google Drive and iCloud.

By understanding how WhatsApp handles backups and where they are stored, you can effectively manage and retrieve your chat history as needed.