WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It’s common for people to export their WhatsApp chats to keep a record of conversations or transfer them to a new device. A common question is whether exported chats can be restored if needed.
The short answer is yes, exported WhatsApp chats can be restored, as long as you still have the exported file. When you export a WhatsApp chat, it is saved as a text file with the .txt extension on Android or .xml on iOS. As long as you don’t delete this file, you can always import it back into WhatsApp later and restore the messages.
In this article, we’ll look at how to properly export your WhatsApp chats, where the files are saved, and the steps to re-import an exported chat history. We’ll also cover what happens when you restore an old chat and some potential issues to be aware of.
Exporting WhatsApp Chats
Exporting your WhatsApp chat history creates a backup that can be useful for various reasons. Here are some common scenarios when you may want to export chats:
– Switching to a new phone and transferring your chat history
– Keeping a record of important conversations
– Backing up your messages to external storage or the cloud
– Providing chat records to authorities if required
It’s easy to export your chats on both Android and iOS devices. Here are the steps:
On Android:
1. Open the WhatsApp app and tap the 3-dot menu icon in the top right.
2. Select Settings > Chats > Chat history.
3. Tap Export chat. You can choose whether to Include media or just Export without media.
4. Select the conversations you want to export or tap Select all to export all chats.
5. Tap Export and your chats will be exported and saved as .txt files on your phone’s internal storage.
On iPhone:
1. Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
2. Tap the contact or group name to open the chat.
3. Tap Export Chat.
4. Choose whether to Include Attachments or not.
5. Select Export Without Media to only export text.
6. Your chat will be exported and saved as a .xml file to Files > On My iPhone > WhatsApp.
The process is quick and easy, just a few taps to create a digital record of your chats. But where exactly are the files saved?
Where Exported Chats are Saved
When you export WhatsApp chats, the files are saved in specific folders on your device’s storage. Knowing the export location makes it easy to find the files later if you need to re-import them.
On Android:
– Exported chats are saved in the WhatsApp folder on your phone’s internal storage or SD card.
– The path is usually WhatsApp/Databases on internal storage.
– Individual chats are saved as .txt files with a random name like _gKv31jknv35116074603.txt.
On iPhone:
– Exported chats are saved to the On My iPhone folder in the Files app.
– The path is Files > On My iPhone > WhatsApp.
– Chats are saved as .xml files, named with the contact/group name and date, like John Doe 20-10-2017.txt.
Knowing where your exported files are located makes the restoration process easier. As long as you don’t delete these files, you can always import the chats back into WhatsApp.
How to Restore Exported WhatsApp Chats
If you ever need to retrieve your old exported WhatsApp conversations, it’s a simple process to import them back into the app. Here are the steps:
On Android:
1. Install WhatsApp on the new device first if needed.
2. Open WhatsApp and select the 3-dot menu > Settings > Chats > Chat history > Import.
3. Navigate to the folder where your exported files are saved.
4. Select all the .txt files you want to import.
5. Tap OK to import chats back into WhatsApp.
On iPhone:
1. Install WhatsApp if needed and verify your number.
2. Open the exported .xml file in the Files app.
3. Tap on the share icon in the top right corner.
4. Select Copy to WhatsApp from the share menu.
5. Confirm importing when prompted and the chat will be restored.
As long as you have the exported files, you can follow these steps to successfully restore your chat history on both Android and iPhone devices. The chats will be imported back into WhatsApp as they were at the time of export.
What Happens When You Restore an Exported Chat
When you import an exported WhatsApp chat, it essentially reverts that conversation back to the state it was in at the time of export.
Here are some key things to note:
– Only the messages up until the date of export will be restored. Any newer messages will not be included.
– Media and files will be restored if you had exported them along with the chat.
– The chat will be restored with the original timestamp of each message.
– Names of the participants will return to whatever they were at the time. Any name changes after export will not appear.
– Messages you deleted after the point of export will reappear when restored.
– Messages other participants deleted will not reappear in your restored chat.
– Restoring a group chat adds all participants from the time of export, not current members.
So in essence, restoring an exported WhatsApp chat brings back a snapshot of that conversation as it existed when you had exported it. Newer messages or changes after that won’t appear when you import the chat.
Potential Issues to Be Aware Of
While WhatsApp’s export and restore features are reliable, some issues can occur:
– Exported files may be corrupted or fail to import if your phone ran out of storage when exporting initially.
– Chats may fail to restore completely if the export was abruptly interrupted before completion.
– Extremely large chats may hit file size limits when exporting or take a long time to process.
– Media files may not import correctly if WhatsApp can’t find them in their original exported location.
– Encrypted backup files are not cross-compatible between Android and iOS for security reasons.
– Chats saved to cloud drives may need to be downloaded back to a device first before importing.
As long as exports complete without issues, restored chats should return intact with messages, media, and details preserved as they were on the export date. Test exports with non-essential chats first to be safe.
Conclusion
Exporting WhatsApp chats provides a useful way to create backups that you can restore later if needed. As we covered in this article:
– Exported chats are saved as .txt files on Android and .xml on iOS.
– You can re-import exported chats by following the restoration steps outlined.
– Restored chats revert to the state on the date of export.
– Be aware of potential size limits and compatibility issues between platforms.
Overall, while not a foolproof backup solution, exporting chats does enable recovering your conversations if you lose your phone or need to transfer history to a new device. Save your exports somewhere secure, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your WhatsApp memories are available if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WhatsApp save exported chats?
No, WhatsApp does not automatically save or store your exported chat files. They are exported as .txt or .xml files and saved directly to your phone’s local storage. It is up to you to keep these files secure either on your device, computer, or in the cloud. WhatsApp cannot restore exported chats if you lose the files.
Can I export my WhatsApp chats to Google Drive?
Yes, after exporting your chats you can transfer the files to Google Drive or any other cloud storage platform for safekeeping. Just remember to download the files back to your phone first before importing into WhatsApp, as the app cannot directly import chats from cloud storage.
Do exported chats keep media files?
When you export a WhatsApp chat you have the option to include or exclude media files. Including media will export any photos, videos, or files exchanged in the chat. These media items can also be restored when you import the chat back into WhatsApp as long as you keep them stored with the .txt or .xml files.
Can I export WhatsApp chats on desktop?
No, exporting chat history is only available on the mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. WhatsApp’s desktop and web apps do not currently have export or backup capabilities. You’ll need to export chats from your mobile device.
Will restored chats have updated profile photos?
No, when restoring an exported chat it will retrieve the profile photos as they existed at the time of export. Any profile photo changes made after that will not appear in the restored chat. Profile photos will revert to how they looked when first exported.
Summary
– Exported WhatsApp chats are saved as .txt or .xml files that can be imported back into the app to restore messages.
– Know where WhatsApp saves exports on your device to easily locate files later.
– Follow the chat restoration steps to import your file back into WhatsApp.
– Restored chats will look like a snapshot from the export date with original timestamps and details.
– Be aware of size limits and compatibility issues between Android and iOS.
– Keep exported chats somewhere secure like external storage or the cloud for safekeeping.