How to find the previous backup copy of WhatsApp - briefly?
To locate the previous backup copy of WhatsApp, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp on your device.
- Go to "Settings" > "Chats" > "Chat Backup". Here you will find a list of recent backups, including the previous one.
How to find the previous backup copy of WhatsApp - in detail?
To locate the previous backup copy of WhatsApp, users can follow these detailed steps based on their operating system and backup method:
For Android Users:
- Google Drive Backup: WhatsApp backups on Android are typically saved to Google Drive. To find the previous backup, open Google Drive on your computer or mobile device. Navigate to the "Backup" folder within the "WhatsApp" folder. Here you will see multiple folders named with timestamps (e.g., "2023-10-01"). These folders contain different backups.
- Local Backup: WhatsApp also creates local backups on your device's internal storage. To access these, connect your Android phone to a computer using a USB cable. Enable file transfer mode if prompted. Navigate to the "WhatsApp" folder located in the "Internal Storage" directory. Inside this folder, you will find backup files named with timestamps (e.g., "msgstore-2023-10-01.db.crypt12").
For iPhone Users:
- iCloud Backup: WhatsApp backups on iPhones are stored in iCloud. To find the previous backup, go to your iPhone's Settings app. Tap on your name at the top, then select "iCloud" and tap on "Manage Storage". Here you will see a list of apps that use iCloud storage. Find WhatsApp in this list and check the details for different backups.
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Local Backup: iPhone users can also create local backups using iTunes or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later). To access these, connect your iPhone to a computer using a USB cable. Open iTunes or Finder and select your device. Click on "This Computer" under the "Backups" section and then click "Backup Now". After backing up, you can find the backup file on your computer in the following locations:
- Mac:
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup
- Windows (iTunes):
C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
- Mac:
For Both Android and iPhone Users:
- WhatsApp Settings: Open WhatsApp on your device. Go to "Settings" > "Chats" > "Chat Backup". Here you can see the details of your latest backup, including the date and time. However, this option does not show previous backups directly.
- Third-Party Apps: There are third-party apps available that can help manage and find WhatsApp backups. These apps can be found on both Google Play Store (for Android) and Apple App Store (for iPhone). Examples include "WhatsApp Backup Extractor" and "WazzapMigrator".
By following these steps, users can successfully locate their previous backup copies of WhatsApp. It's essential to regularly check and manage your backups to avoid losing important data.