Where are favorites stored in WhatsApp - briefly?
The location of favorite contacts or chats in WhatsApp is determined by the device and platform you are using. On iOS devices, they are typically saved in the app's sandbox directory, while on Android, they are stored within the app's internal storage.
Where are favorites stored in WhatsApp - in detail?
Favorites in WhatsApp, often referred to as starred messages, are stored locally on the user's device. This storage mechanism ensures that favorite messages remain accessible even when offline and are not synced across multiple devices. Here is a detailed explanation of where favorites are stored:
On Android devices, favorite messages are saved in the WhatsApp database located at /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db. This SQLite database contains tables that store all messages, including those marked as favorites. The table relevant to favorites is typically named key_value_message_favorites, where each entry corresponds to a message ID that has been starred by the user.
For iOS devices, favorite messages are also stored locally in the WhatsApp data directory. Specifically, they can be found within the app's sandbox environment at /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/<app-specific-folder>/Library/MessageStore. Similar to Android, this database uses SQLite to manage message storage, with favorites marked in a comparable manner.
It is important to note that while favorite messages are stored locally on the device, they can be backed up and restored along with other WhatsApp data using the built-in backup functionality provided by WhatsApp. This allows users to retain their favorite messages even if they switch devices or reinstall the app. However, these backups are typically stored in cloud services like Google Drive for Android or iCloud for iOS, rather than on the device itself.
In summary, favorite messages in WhatsApp are stored locally within the app's database on both Android and iOS devices. This local storage ensures that favorites remain accessible offline and are preserved during device switches or reinstalls when backed up using WhatsApp's built-in backup feature.