Where is the WhatsApp backup on Android located on an Android phone - briefly?
On an Android phone, WhatsApp backups are stored in a specific folder within internal storage. This folder is typically named "WhatsApp" and can be found under the directory "Android/media."
Where is the WhatsApp backup on Android located on an Android phone - in detail?
The location of a WhatsApp backup on an Android phone can vary depending on the method used to create the backup. Typically, there are two primary methods for backing up WhatsApp data: Google Drive and local storage.
-
Google Drive Backup: WhatsApp allows users to back up their data to Google Drive automatically or manually. The backup includes messages, photos, videos, and other media. To find this backup on your Android phone, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Drive app on your device.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner to open the menu.
- Select "Backup" from the list of options. This will display a list of all backups associated with your Google account, including WhatsApp backups.
- Look for entries labeled "WhatsApp." These are your WhatsApp backup files.
-
Local Storage Backup: If you have chosen to back up your WhatsApp data locally on your device's internal storage or an external SD card, the backup will be stored in a specific folder. The default location for local backups is:
- Internal storage:
/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/ - External SD card:
/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases/
Within this directory, you will find files named with a format similar to "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt12." These files contain your chat history and media backups. The date in the filename indicates when the backup was created.
- Internal storage:
It is essential to note that these backups are encrypted and cannot be accessed or read without using WhatsApp itself. Additionally, regular backups can help prevent data loss, ensuring you have a recent copy of your important conversations and media.
For users concerned about their storage space, it's worth mentioning that Google Drive backups do not count against your Google Drive storage quota. However, local backups will consume space on your device's internal storage or external SD card.
In summary, locating your WhatsApp backup on an Android phone involves checking either the Google Drive app for cloud backups or navigating to the specific folder in local storage for manually created backups.