[Hot] Where Are WhatsApp Messages Stored on Android/iPhone/PC?

WhatsApp, the most popular communication tool, stores a lot of our private information. "Where are WhatsApp messages stored" can be the question you may wonder when you choose to preserve the chat history. Then many mobile users want to restore the backup if they need to without security risk. Well, this page tells you where WhatsApp messages are stored and how to schedule periodic backups locally or to Google/iTunes/iCloud/PC.

Part 1: Where Are WhatsApp Messages Stored on Android

WhatsApp messages are stored locally or in Google Drive on Android. To check the locations, you have to get a file manager app and go to SD card/WhatsApp/Databases. Besides, you need to check "internal storage" or "main storage" if your messages are not stored on the card.

Where do WhatsApp messages get stored on Android?

• Launch WhatsApp on your phone and go to its "Settings".
• Click on "Chats" > "Chat backup".
• From the same window, go to "Accounts" and choose the Google account to save the data. (If accounts don't appear, check if you are logged in; if not, please sign in and tap on the "BACK UP" options. (Can't sign in to Google account on Android?)



• The app will take a backup to your Google Drive. You can choose the type of data you wish to include or exclude from the backup.
• Remember to set the backup frequency from the options offered or set a custom choice to turn on automatic backup in the future.
• To use WiFi only, tap the toggle that is next to WiFi to back up. Alternatively, you can choose backup via cellular data but beware of the costs on the data charges.

* Where are WhatsApp photos and videos stored? On Android, media files are saved in the /WhatsApp/Media folder, while on iPhone they can appear in the Photos app if auto-save is enabled.

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• How to Clone WhatsApp on Android/iPhone? 4 Tested Methods

Part 2: Where Does WhatsApp Store Data on iPhone (Using iTunes)

As a native solution for storing WhatsApp messages and other data, iTunes gives you the option to transfer and manage iOS devices. Yet, this tool tends to store items in the device rather than selecting the necessary WhatsApp chats.

Where are WhatsApp messages stored on an iPhone? (using iTunes)

• Connect your iPhone to a computer through a cable.
• Launch the latest version of iTunes on this computer.
• Tap on the 'trust computer' icon on your device and enter the passcode if prompted.
• Select the "Device" tab on iTunes' window and choose the "Summary" option.
• Click "Back Up Now" to begin storing your WhatsApp messages to your iTunes account.

Part 3: Where Is WhatsApp Chat History Stored on iPhone (Using iCloud)

Besides iTunes, another great method to store and restore WhatsApp messages on an iPhone is using iCloud. With this inbuilt feature, you can sync the account across different devices via your Apple ID. That is, if you wipe your iPhone or intend to switch over to a new one, you can use the backups to restore WhatsApp messages.

Where are WhatsApp messages stored in iPhone backup? (using iCloud)

• Make sure iCloud Drive is enabled for WhatsApp backups.
• Go to iPhone "Settings" and tap on your Apple ID.
• Press iCloud and scroll to the bottom of the page.
• Turn on the slider near WhatsApp to the green position to enable iCloud access.
• Open the WhatsApp app and tap "Settings" > "Chats"/"Chats and Calls" > "Chat Backup".
• Click "Back Up Now" to upload the data to iCloud. Or you can choose "Auto Backup" to back up the WhatsApp data automatically.

Check If You Need:

• How to Fix WhatsApp Chat Transfer Not Working? 14 Optimal Solutions

Part 4: Where Does WhatsApp Store Data on PC

WhatsApp on PC isn't like that on your mobile phone, and it does not store backups directly on your computer. What you can find are WhatsApp cache files and logs, which hold temporary data when you use it on your PC. Still, you can search your computer for them.

Where is WhatsApp chat history stored on PC?

• Open File Explorer on your PC.
• Select "This PC" on the left of the window. This will let you search your entire PC using the search bar.
• Next, enter "WhatsApp" in the search bar and press "Enter" on your keyboard.
• The search will take a while since it will search your whole computer.
• At the end of it, you will see any cache or log files available for WhatsApp.

Part 5: Use a Professional Tool to Store iPhone WhatsApp Data Flexibly

It's not a wise move for us to store Android/iPhone WhatsApp data locally or to any cloud storage. On the one hand, it will occupy part of the phone memory. On the other hand, cloud space may pose risks to your WhatsApp chats. So, most of us would like to back up WhatsApp and other data to a computer for preservation. In this regard, MobiKin WhatsApp Recovery for iOS is a desirable tool for you.

A brief introduction to MobiKin WhatsApp Recovery for iOS:

• Transfer WhatsApp data → Move WhatsApp messages and attachments from iPhone to PC for backup.
• Back up media → Save photos, videos, audio, documents, chats, and more securely.
• Preview before backup → Check and select specific WhatsApp content before exporting.
• Recover from iTunes → Retrieve lost or deleted WhatsApp data from iTunes backups without data loss.
• Broad iOS support → Compatible with iPhone 17/17 Pro/17 Pro Max/Air, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, X, 8, 7, 6, and more.
• Privacy protection → Ensures your WhatsApp data remains private.
• Flexible export formats → Save recovered WhatsApp messages and attachments in readable formats.
• User-friendly interface → Simple layout and clear steps.

Free Download:

How to move WhatsApp chats in iPhone to your computer with MobiKin WhatsApp Recovery for iOS?

Step 1. Open WhatsApp Recovery for iOS - Download and install the program on your computer. Launch it, connect your iPhone via USB, and select the Recover from iOS Device option from the sidebar.

Step 2. Scan and select WhatsApp data - Once your iPhone is detected, choose WhatsApp and WhatsApp Attachments as needed. Click Start Scan to let the tool search your device for all WhatsApp content.

Step 3. Save WhatsApp chats to computer - After scanning, a list of chats and attachments will appear. Pick the items you want to keep and click Recover to Computer to back them up securely.

Video Guide:

Tips: For Android users, you can secure your phone's WhatsApp on your computer with at least 6 easy solutions. Check out this page - 6 flexible methods to back up WhatsApp messages from Android phone.

FAQs about WhatsApp Messages

Q1: Is it possible to recover old/deleted WhatsApp chats without backup?

Yes, it's possible; check out the link - How to recover 1-year-old WhatsApp chats without backup? to learn how to do it with ease.

Q2: How long are conversations stored on WhatsApp?

Chats are held on WhatsApp servers for 30 days when they are not received after being sent. Namely, while you send a message, it is deleted from its servers once received. But if it is not received, it is stored for 30 days and automatically deleted when it's due.

Q3: What types of data aren't stored on WhatsApp servers?

WhatsApp doesn't store any messages or multimedia on its online servers to preserve the privacy of its users. Encrypted files can be kept on the phone locally or on external storage such as a hard drive on your PC or a cloud service.

Q4: Are WhatsApp messages saved automatically?

Yes, WhatsApp generates automatic local backups each night and can also perform scheduled cloud backups if you enable them in settings.

Q5: Can I access WhatsApp messages in iCloud?

Messages in iCloud aren't directly viewable; they can only be restored when reinstalling WhatsApp and verifying your number.

Q6: Can I access WhatsApp messages in Google Drive?

Google Drive backups are encrypted and hidden; you can't open them directly, but they can be restored when setting up WhatsApp again.

Q7: Are WhatsApp messages encrypted on iPhone and Android?

Yes, messages are end-to-end encrypted during transmission, and local/cloud backups are also encrypted to protect your data.

Q8: Do deleted WhatsApp messages remain stored?

Deleted chats may still exist in older backups until those backups are replaced by newer ones, meaning recovery is sometimes possible.

Q9: How do I restore WhatsApp messages on iPhone?

Reinstall WhatsApp, verify your phone number, and choose to restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup during setup.

Q10: How do I restore WhatsApp messages on Android?

Reinstall WhatsApp, verify your number, and select the option to restore from Google Drive or from the local backup file stored on your device.

Summing Up

As we mentioned in the preface, knowing "where are WhatsApp messages stored on iPhone, Android, PC" is a great way to back up important WhatsApp conversations on a device. Further, MobiKin WhatsApp Recovery for iOS is the most secure and flexible tool to help perform the iPhone WhatsApp backup and restore anytime you want. Therefore, just give this program a download before trying it out on your own.

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