WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. Many people rely on WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family and to communicate with coworkers and clients. WhatsApp allows users to backup their chat history, media, and settings to Google Drive or iCloud. This can be extremely useful if you ever lose your phone or need to restore your chats on a new device. But what if you want direct access to your WhatsApp backup files? Extracting the backup data allows you to view chat histories, photos, videos and other files outside of the WhatsApp app. This guide will show you how to easily extract and view your WhatsApp backup data on both Android and iPhone.
Why Extract WhatsApp Backup Data?
There are several reasons you may want to extract your WhatsApp backup data:
- View chat history – Read through your chat messages outside of the WhatsApp app.
- Access media – View photos, videos and other files sent in chats.
- Data portability – Migrate chats to a new platform or device.
- Recover deleted data – Retrieve accidentally deleted messages and media.
- Investigations – Law enforcement and employers may need to review WhatsApp data.
Having direct access to backup files allows closer inspection and sharing of WhatsApp data compared to just using the app.
What Data is Backed Up?
WhatsApp backups contain a variety of data including:
- Chat messages – All text messages are backed up.
- Media files – Photos, videos and other files shared in chats.
- Contact info – Phone numbers and names of your contacts.
- Call history – Records of calls made through WhatsApp.
- Settings – Your app settings and preferences.
Encryption keys are also backed up to restore encrypted chat history when restoring on a new device. Note that messages marked for deletion by a user are not included in the backup.
How Often is WhatsApp Data Backed Up?
WhatsApp data is backed up on a regular schedule depending on your device and settings:
- Android – Daily backups to Google Drive, unless backup is disabled.
- iPhone – Backups to iCloud occur daily when device is charging and connected to WiFi.
- Manual backups – You can initiate a backup at any time in WhatsApp settings.
- New chats – New chats are backed up immediately when created.
So your WhatsApp backup contains data from at most 24 hours ago on Android, and from the last time your iPhone backed up on iCloud. Media files may be limited by your Google Drive or iCloud storage quota.
How to Extract WhatsApp Backup on Android
To view and extract your WhatsApp backup on Android:
- Open WhatsApp, and go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Note the Google Drive backup account displayed here. You need to sign in to this Google Account to access WhatsApp backups.
- On your Android device or computer, visit drive.google.com and sign in to the Google Account used for WhatsApp backups.
- Look for the WhatsApp folder in the Google Drive storage. Open the folder.
- Here you will find multiple backup files for different dates. Open the latest .crypt12 or .crypt14 file to access the extracted backup.
- The file contents can be viewed in a text editor. Media files like photos and videos are also accessible.
Alternatively, you can use special extraction tools created by third-party developers to easily browse and export your WhatsApp backup files from Google Drive to your computer.
How to Extract WhatsApp Backup on iPhone
To view your WhatsApp backup on an iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Under ‘Backup’, note the iCloud backup account displayed here. Sign in to this same Apple ID on your computer.
- On your Mac or PC, open iCloud Drive and look for the WhatsApp folder.
- Open the latest database file ending in .crypt12 or .crypt14.
- You can view the chat data in a text editor. Media files like photos or videos can also be extracted.
Alternatively, you can use a third party iOS data extraction tool to easily export WhatsApp backups from iCloud to your computer.
WhatsApp Backup File Contents
Here’s an overview of the different file types you’ll find inside a WhatsApp backup:
| File name | Description |
|---|---|
| chat.txt | Plain text file containing your most recent WhatsApp chats |
| .crypt12 or .crypt14 | Encrypted database file containing chat history and other data |
| msgstore.db.crypt12 or msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14 | Previous encrypted chat history databases |
| Media folders | Contain images, videos and other media files from WhatsApp chats |
The key files for extracting chats are the .crypt12/.crypt14 files which contain all your WhatsApp data in encrypted format. The msgstore databases are older chat history.
Viewing WhatsApp Backups Without Extraction
On Android, you can view WhatsApp chat backups from Google Drive without fully extracting them using these methods:
- Google Drive preview – Open backup file and preview available texts and media.
- Use Google Takeout – Download your Google data and browse WhatsApp folders.
- Third-party tools – Some apps can access Drive backups for easier viewing.
For iPhone backups on iCloud Drive, options include:
- iCloud web interface – Limited preview of files and texts available.
- iMazing app – Browse iCloud Drive backups without fully restoring.
But full extraction is required for complete access to your chat history outside WhatsApp.
How to Restore WhatsApp Backup
To restore your extracted WhatsApp backup and chat history:
- On Android – Copy the crypt12/crypt14 file back into your Google Drive WhatsApp folder.
- On iPhone – Copy the database file back into iCloud Drive WhatsApp folder.
- Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap Restore.
- Log in to the same Google or iCloud account used for backups.
- WhatsApp will find the backup and restore your chats & data.
Media files like photos or videos should also be copied back to your device or cloud drive.
Third Party WhatsApp Backup Extractors
Here are some top third party apps for extracting and viewing WhatsApp backups:
Android
- WAMR (WhatsApp Messages Recovery)
- BackupTrans Android WhatsApp Transfer
- ChatViewer for WhatsApp
iPhone
- iMyFone iTransor for WhatsApp
- FonePaw iOS Data Recovery
- iBackup Viewer
These tools provide convenient user interfaces and added functionality compared to manual extraction methods. But be cautious of apps requesting unnecessary permissions or access.
Limitations of Accessing WhatsApp Backups
Here are some important limitations to keep in mind:
- End-to-end encrypted chats can’t be decrypted – Their content can’t be viewed without the encryption key.
- Deleted messages don’t get backed up – So they cannot be recovered after deletion.
- No access to live WhatsApp data – Backups only contain data from time of last backup.
- Media files over 100MB are not backed up – Large videos won’t be included.
- Backups may be incomplete – Network issues can disrupt backup process.
Also, modifying and restoring altered backups is not officially supported by WhatsApp and can cause issues.
Is It Legal to Extract WhatsApp Backups?
In most countries, it is legal for an individual to extract their own WhatsApp backup for personal use. However, you should not share or distribute private chats without consent of other parties in the chat. Employers and law enforcement may be able extract backups from company-owned or seized devices with proper authorization. Unauthorized access or sharing of other people’s backups raises privacy concerns and may violate laws in some jurisdictions. Consult local regulations for guidance.
Key Takeaways
- View chat history, media files and settings by extracting your WhatsApp backups from Google Drive or iCloud.
- Use manual methods or third party tools to access the encrypted .crypt12/.crypt14 files.
- Preview limited data without full extraction using some workarounds.
- Restore your WhatsApp chats by copying backup files back to the cloud drive.
- Extracted WhatsApp data should only be accessed and shared with proper authorization.
Conclusion
WhatsApp backup files provide a valuable archive of your chat history and media. While end-to-end encrypted chats are protected from unauthorized access, much can still be gleaned from WhatsApp backups. Exercise caution when handling backups that contain private data. Only use reputable tools for extraction and never tamper with backups belonging to other users without permission. Responsible data access allows you to safely benefit from the convenience of WhatsApp backup extraction.