Essential Info about WhatsApp Local Backup [Most People Don't Know]

As smartphones store cherished memories and vital communications, safeguarding WhatsApp data is imperative. Local chat backups prevent the loss of valuable messages, photos, videos, and more. Well, welcome to the most comprehensive guide on WhatsApp local backup. Now, please read on, and we're sure you'll find it rewarding.

Before proceeding, let's figure out - "What is local backup in WhatsApp?" To put it bluntly, a local backup in WhatsApp is a copy of your data (chats, media, and settings) stored directly on your device's internal storage, allowing you to restore it without relying on cloud services.

Follow the video below to learn this topic visually:

Part 1: How to Take WhatsApp Local Backup Directly

You can easily create a local backup of your WhatsApp data, similar to a separate cloud backup. When you initiate a backup locally, WhatsApp automatically generates a copy of your data and saves it to the internal storage of your Android phone. (What if Android storage space is full?)

How to create a local WhatsApp backup file directly?

• Access WhatsApp by opening the app and tapping the "menu" icon.
• Choose the "Settings" option from the menu that appears.
• Within that screen, navigate to the "Chats" section and select "Chat backup".
• Next, tap the "BACK UP" button to create a backup copy of your WhatsApp data and store it in the internal storage of your Android Phone.

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Part 2: How to Take Local Backup on WhatsApp Using Google Drive

Within the settings of Google Drive, you have the option to automatically store your Android WhatsApp media backup on the Drive, scheduled for every day at 2 am. Regardless of whether your Android phone is configured to back up WhatsApp to Google Drive, an encrypted WhatsApp backup is always saved to your device's internal storage automatically. And if your phone has an SD card, the backup can be stored there, too.

How to make a WhatsApp local backup via Google Drive?

• Launch WhatsApp and access the menu by tapping the three-dot icon.
• From there, choose "Settings" from the menu that appears.
• Navigate to "Chats" and select "Chat backup".
• Look for the option to back up to Google Drive and tap on it.
• A pop-up will appear, presenting different frequency options. Select the "Never" option.
• Finally, tap on the "Back Up" button to initiate backing up your WhatsApp data to Google Drive. (Google Drive doesn't work on Android?)

Part 3: Where Is WhatsApp Local Backup Location

Once you have completed the local backup of your WhatsApp, your current data is saved in your phone's storage. To find the backup, go to the following directory: "Device Storage" > "WhatsApp" > "Databases". If you have an SD card, it can be found at "SD Card" > "WhatsApp" > "Databases".

You can use the File Manager or My Files app to locate the backup. Here are the directions to access WhatsApp local backup:

• Access your phone's File Manager/My Files app.
• Locate the section labeled "Phone Storage". The layout and placement of the built-in file manager may vary depending on your device, but typically, it can be found at the bottom or a similar location.
• Navigate to the "All Files" directory.
• Scroll through the files until you locate a folder named "WhatsApp". It is typically positioned towards the bottom of the list, following alphabetical order. Once found, tap on it.
• Inside the WhatsApp folder, you will find various sub-folders.
• Tap the "Databases" folder, which will take you to the "WhatsApp Databases" directory, where your local backups are stored.

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Part 4: How to Restore WhatsApp Backup File Locally

After successfully creating and maintaining a local backup of your WhatsApp, you have the flexibility to restore or transfer it whenever you prefer. To do this, you should first determine the specific WhatsApp local backup location. Once identified, you can proceed to rename the backup file and reinstall WhatsApp accordingly. Here's how:

• Ensure that you have successfully created a backup using the method mentioned earlier.
• Refer to the previously provided steps to locate the latest backup file named "msgstore.db.crypt12".
• Rename the file to "msgstore_Backup.db.crypt12".



• Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your phone.
• Proceed to open WhatsApp and follow the sign-in process.
• When prompted with the option to restore, pick it. (WhatsApp restoring media files stuck?)

Part 5: How to Delete a WhatsApp Local Backup

If your phone is running out of space, your WhatsApp local backups might be taking up a significant amount of memory. To free up the limited storage, refer to the instructions on deleting WhatsApp local backups as follows:

• Unlock your device and open a file explorer app that allows you to access either the SD card or internal storage.
• Navigate to the "WhatsApp" > "Databases" folder to locate the seven most recent local backups.
• Choose the backup file you want to delete and tap the three-dot icon or the "MORE" icon.



• From the options presented, select "Delete" or the trash icon, and confirm your decision.

Part 6: How to Recover WhatsApp Messages without Backup

If you need a hassle-free solution to recover WhatsApp messages without any backup, MobiKin WhatsApp Recovery for Android is the ultimate choice. This specialized tool makes it easy for you to retrieve almost all types of WhatsApp conversations from your Android phone. What makes it even better is that you can create unlimited backups without overwriting your existing ones.

What makes MobiKin WhatsApp Recovery for Android so popular?

• Effortlessly recover WhatsApp chats directly without a backup.
• Extract and recover WhatsApp conversations from backup files.
• Easily recover various types of data from Android internal memory, SIM card, and SD card, including WhatsApp messages and WhatsApp attachments like media files, contacts, stickers, and more.
• Provide the ability to preview and selectively choose specific files before initiating the recovery process.
• Work well with almost all Android devices, including Samsung, Motorola, Sony, Google, OPPO, Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc.
• It won't let out your privacy.

How to restore WhatsApp conversations without a backup via MobiKin WhatsApp Recovery for Android?

• Install and launch the program on your computer.
• Connect your Android phone to the PC using a USB cable.
• The tool will automatically detect your device.
• Proceed to the "Recover from Android Device" mode.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to enable USB Debugging on your Android phone when prompted.
• Then, carefully follow the provided steps to activate end-to-end encryption for your WhatsApp backup.



• Once completed, the tool will start backing up WhatsApp data from your Android phone to the computer.
• After that, select the checkboxes for "WhatsApp" or "WhatsApp Attachments" to preview the WhatsApp data.
• The interface will display your previous WhatsApp messages.
• You can freely choose the specific ones you wish to recover.
• Finally, click on "Recover to Computer" to retrieve them onto the computer.

FAQs about WhatsApp Local Backup

Q1. Can I transfer a WhatsApp local backup to another phone?

Yes. You can copy the required WhatsApp backup files from the old Android phone to the appropriate WhatsApp folder on the new Android phone before verifying the same phone number.

Q2. Can I read a WhatsApp local backup directly on my computer?

No. WhatsApp local databases are encrypted and are not ordinary text files. You generally need WhatsApp itself or a compatible recovery/transfer tool to access the stored conversations. Further, you can view WhatsApp backup on Google Drive on a PC, too.

Q3. Does deleting WhatsApp delete the local backup?

It can. If the WhatsApp folder or its database files are removed during uninstallation or manual cleanup, the local backup may no longer be available. Copy important backup files elsewhere before uninstalling WhatsApp.

Q4. Why can't WhatsApp find my local backup?

Common causes include placing the database in the wrong folder, using an incompatible backup file, changing the phone number, missing the required WhatsApp folder structure, or restoring the backup after WhatsApp has already completed setup.

Q5. Will restoring a local backup recover deleted WhatsApp messages?

Only if those messages were still present when the backup was created. A local backup cannot normally restore messages that were deleted before that backup was made.

Q6. Can I use a WhatsApp local backup to move chats from Android to iPhone?

A standard Android local database is not directly restorable on iPhone. Cross-platform migration normally requires a supported WhatsApp transfer method rather than simply copying the local database.

Finish Up

On the whole, this complete tutorial on WhatsApp local backup provides you with the knowledge and tools to manage and safeguard your WhatsApp backups effectively. By following the useful tips and utilizing the recovery tool provided, you can ensure the security and availability of your WhatsApp data and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe.

Finally, thanks for embarking on this journey to master WhatsApp local backup together.

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