How to open WhatsApp data?

How to open WhatsApp data - briefly?

To access WhatsApp data, you can use the built-in backup feature in WhatsApp settings or utilize a file manager app to locate and view the data files on your device's storage.

How to open WhatsApp data - in detail?

To access and open WhatsApp data, you need to follow a series of detailed steps that vary depending on the type of data you are interested in—whether it is chat history, media files, or backup data. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide on how to open WhatsApp data effectively:

1. Accessing Chat History:

   • On Android: Navigate to your file manager and locate the "WhatsApp" folder in the internal storage of your device. Inside this folder, you will find subfolders such as "Databases," which contain SQLite database files named msgstore.db.crypt12 (or similar). To read these files, you need to decrypt them using specialized software like WhatsApp Xtract or DB Browser for SQLite.
   • On iPhone: For iPhones, WhatsApp data is stored in an encrypted format within the device's backup on iCloud. You can access this data by creating a backup of your iPhone via iTunes or Finder and then using third-party software to decrypt the backup file.

2. Viewing Media Files:

   • Both Android and iPhone devices store WhatsApp media (photos, videos, documents) in specific folders.
     • On Android: Go to File Manager > Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media. Here you will find subfolders like "WhatsApp Images," "WhatsApp Video," and "WhatsApp Documents."
     • On iPhone: Connect your device to a computer, open iTunes or Finder, and select your iPhone. Click on the 'Manage Backups' button (for macOS Catalina or later) or the 'This Computer' option (for Windows or earlier macOS versions). From here, you can access the backup files and extract media files using third-party tools.

3. Opening WhatsApp Backup Data:

   • Local Backups: WhatsApp creates local backups automatically. To find these on Android, navigate to File Manager > Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Backups. The backup file is named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt12 (where YYYY-MM-DD represents the date). On iPhone, backups are stored in iCloud and can be accessed as described above.
   • Google Drive or iCloud Backups: WhatsApp also allows you to backup your data to cloud services. To access these:
     • For Google Drive: Sign in to your Google Drive account, locate the WhatsApp folder, and download the backup file.
     • For iCloud: Use third-party software to download and decrypt the backup from your iCloud account.

4. Decrypting WhatsApp Data:

   • To read or open the encrypted database files, you will need specialized tools like WhatsApp Xtract, DB Browser for SQLite, or other decryption software available online. These tools help you decipher the crypt12 (or similar) format and extract readable data from the backup files.

5. Using Official Methods:

   • WhatsApp provides official methods to access your data through their in-app features:
     • Export Chat: You can export individual chats by going to Settings > Chats > Chat History > Export Chat. This will create a text file of the chat history.
     • Request Account Info: WhatsApp allows you to request a report of your account information and settings, including basic profile info and group names. To do this, go to Settings > Account > Request Account Info.