Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored? [2023 Full Guide]

It is, without doubt, a smart practice to backup your WhatsApp data from time to time. Even if you don’t know how to perform this task of WhatsApp backup manually, WhatsApp automatically creates a local backup on your device daily. But, where is my WhatsApp? Where is WhatsApp backup stored? Where are WhatsApp messages stored when a backup is taken? These informations can be crucial when you accidentally delete a message on WhatsApp and need to restore it from WhatsApp backup.

Worry no more! This article contains all the information about WhatsApp backup and finding WhatsApp local backup location on iPhone, Android, and PC. No matter on which device you want to find WhatsApp messages, WhatsApp chats or WhatsApp media, this guide will tell you the answer.

• Part 1: Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored on Android?

• Part 2: Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored on iPhone?

• Part 3: Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored on PC?

• Part 4: Best & Free Method on WhatsApp Backup

• Part 5: FAQs About WhatsApp Backup Stored

Part 1: Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored on Android?

There are two locations where your WhatsApp backup is stored on Android - local storage and Google Drive. As the name implies, the local storage is your phone’s internal storage or your SD card, while Google Drive is the cloud backup platform.

1. Find WhatsApp Messages in Local Storage

On Android, your WhatsApp messages are stored on a dedicated WhatsApp folder on your phone’s SD card or internal storage.

This backup can be found in the path below:

File Manager > SD card (or Internal Storage if you don’t use an SD card) > WhatsApp > Databases.

How to Back Up WhatsApp Messages on Local Storage

Before you can find your WhatsApp messages on local storage, you need to make sure it is backed up in the first place.

You can open WhatsApp and follow the path below:

Menu button (three vertical dots) > Settings > Chats > Chat backup.

Navigate to Back up to Google Drive, click Never. Then tap on BACK UP button, and it will back up your messages to the Databases folder in the path stated above.

2. Find WhatsApp Backups in Google Drive

On Google Drive app, your WhatsApp messages are stored in the General folder for backups. Navigate to Menu (three horizontal lines at top left corner) > Backups and you will find the WhatsApp backup there.

One thing should be noted is that the Google Drive backups are encrypted and cannot be previewed. Therefore, you need an effective tool to read WhatsApp backup on Google Drive directly.

How to Backup WhatsApp Messages on Google Drive

Unlike local storage, you have to enable auto back up for your WhatsApp messages on Google Drive. You can also decide to back up your WhatsApp messages manually by yourself whenever you want.

Below are the steps to follow to do this:

Activate your Google account on your Android and ensure you install Google Play Services.

Open WhatsApp and tap the Menu button. Follow the path: Settings > Chats > Chat backup.

Under Google Drive settings, select the Back Up to Google Drive option and set your desired backup frequency.

Add the Google account you want to use for the backup. Lastly, tap the Back up over option to select your desired network for the backup.

Part 2: Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored on iPhone?

iCloud and iTunes are the two platforms where WhatsApp messages are stored on iPhone. It's easy to use them to back up and restore your WhatsApp messages when in need.

1. Store WhatsApp Backup in iCloud

The iCloud is the default cloud platform for WhatsApp backup on iPhone. For security’s sake, your WhatsApp messages are stored in a hidden folder on iCloud Drive. These files are encrypted and can neither be accessed nor read directly.

Creating a WhatsApp backup on iCloud is pretty easy and can be automated. Below is the procedure for doing this:

Open the Settings app and tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.

Select iCloud and toggle the iCloud Drive switch forward. Scroll down to the WhatsApp option and switch it on.

Open WhatsApp on your iPhone, go to Menu > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.

Tap on the Back Up Now option to carry out the backup once manually or the Auto Backup followed by specifying the backup frequency to back up your WhatsApp messages automatically.

2. Store WhatsApp Backup in iTunes

iTunes is a PC program that is used to carry out administrative tasks on Apple devices. The WhatsApp backup data is stored in folders in iTunes. Differing from iCloud, encrypted backup data is not the default option available, but you also can choose to encrypt the backup data if you want.

However, the downside of this storage is that it does not store WhatsApp backups alone. Instead, it takes the backup of the whole iPhone data, which takes a lot of time.

Below are the steps to create a backup of your WhatsApp messages on iTunes.

Connect your iPhone to your PC via a USB cable and launch iTunes.

Click on the iPhone icon at the top of the iTunes window. Now, click the Summary option on the left panel.

Select This Computer and click the Back Up Now button and wait for the process to complete.

Part 3: Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored on PC?

WhatsApp Web and the dedicated WhatsApp PC app are different from the mobile version in that they cannot store their backup in a specific location. Instead, the backups are stored on cache files and logs, which are storage locations for the temporary data WhatsApp uses to aid your experience on PC.

Below are the steps to follow to find these files:

Open File Explorer and click on This PC on the left plane.

Type WhatsApp in the search bar and press the Enter key to get started.

Wait for the process to finish, and you will be shown the cache or log files if there is any available.

Part 4: Best & Free Method on WhatsApp Backup

Now, you have already known where whatsApp messages are stored. While it is true that you can't take a backup of WhatsApp web on your PC, you can actually store all your mobile WhatsApp chats safely on PC. Fortunately, this can be easily done with the help of the WooTechy WhatsMover software, which allows to back up all your WhatsApp data for Totally Free and save tons of time.

Unlike the other storages where you can’t access or read your WhatsApp backup messages, WooTechy WhatsMover allows you to read your backup messages outside the WhatsApp platform thanks to its exportation feature. Furthermore, you also can restore this backup to any iPhone or Android device if needed. It is just the do-all backup platform you have always wished for.

WooTechy WhatsMover -- WhatsApp Backup to PC Video Guide:

How to Back Up WhatsApp Data with WhatsMover Tool:

Step 1 Make sure that WhatsMover is installed on your PC or Mac and your phone is connnected with the PC by USB cable. Launch this tool and wait for the tool to detect your device. Then tap on the Back Up WhatsApp on Devices on the left plane.

Step 2 Click the Back Up button and wait a minute until the backup process is complete.

Step 3 Tap on Done! Now you have finished your WhatsApp data backup on your PC successfully. You can further access and read the backup through restoring or exporting it.

Part 5: FAQs About WhatsApp Backup Stored

Q1. Does WhatsApp store the messages on its server?

A. No, WhatsApp messages are not stored on the WhatsApp server. As mentioned earlier, your messages are stored locally on your device and Google Drive for Android users, while you can store your messages on iCloud and iTunes as an iPhone user.

WhatsApp only stores data such as phone numbers for login purposes.

Q2. Are WhatsApp messages stored on phone or SIM?

A. No, the SIM card doesn't contain any data except for your cellular details. WhatsApp messages are store on phone or the other places referred previously.

Q. How to free up storage on WhatsApp?

A. To free up storage on WhatsApp, you can prevent auto-download of media files like audio, video, and images to help you select the useful ones. Also, you can delete some of the media files that have no long-term use to you.

Lastly, you should limit the number of your WhatsApp groups to only the necessary ones. This is because WhatsApp groups mostly contain a large amount of data.