The number of users using WhatsApp it is very big, and this in Spain is even more evident. Therefore, those who use this messaging application generate a large number of conversations in a matter of weeks. Therefore, being able to save these is an excellent option to know.
In this way, you can be sure that those that are most interesting to users, whether for professional or sentimental content, will be at your fingertips. good care. And so, if the device is lost or broken (whether due to a force of nature, such as an uncontrolled toddler), there won't be a problem.
The steps to follow to be able to make a backup of the conversations are really simple, and in our guide for make a backup of WhatsApp the process is detailed, although it is not very well known.
In this way, you can be sure that those that are most interesting to users, whether for professional or sentimental content, will be at your fingertips. good care. And so, if the device is lost or broken (whether due to a force of nature, such as an uncontrolled toddler), there won't be a problem.
Now you must choose Chat Settings and, on the screen that appears, the next one to select is Save conversations. It must be said that WhatsApp automatically makes a backup of the chat (you can even see the date and time when this was done), but the option we are discussing generates a file that can be transferred to keep it safe, this is the key.
Automatic cloud backups and why they are essential
WhatsApp does not have one Recycle Bin, and it doesn't save your chat history on its servers either. Truly protecting your chats depends on enabling backups: Google Drive on Android y iCloud on iPhoneFrom Settings > Chats > Backup, you can schedule the frequency (daily, weekly, or monthly), decide whether to include videos, and confirm the associated account. If you're concerned about space, learn how to backup. Avoid running out of space due to WhatsApp backupsIt is essential to preserve the same number and, on Android, the same google account to restore.
If you delete important information, the standard restore consists of uninstalling the app, reinstalling it, verifying your number and accepting the option to Restore when WhatsApp detects an available copy. Remember: you can only recover what was saved on the last copy; what is received later cannot be recovered.
Local Copies: Where They Are and How to Save Them Manually
The next thing to do is connect the terminal to the computer using a USB cable and then access the folder WhatsApp / Databases. At that point, all the files that have been backed up appear—and there may be many. You should choose the one with the most recent date, which is the one you just created. To save them, simply copy them to your computer, a USB flash drive, or the cloud. This is your choice. If you prefer not to use Google Drive, follow the Guide to backing up without Google Drive.
On Android, the system saves local copies daily and retains them for several days. The files are usually named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.cryptXX (dated). To “freeze” a specific backup, copy it to your PC or the cloud before the system rotates it. If you need to recover older backups, see how restore a previous backup. You can too export a chat individual with “Send chat by email”, useful for keeping a specific conversation with or without files.
Restore, something very simple
If at any time you need to have the conversations you saved again, the restoration process is the most simple. Simply select the corresponding file and copy it to the terminal folder indicated above (WhatsApp/Databases), which must be connected to the computer. If you change your phone, learn how to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Android. Restart this to make sure all conversations are read, and that's it!
For cloud restores, make sure the device is linked to the cloud. correct account, arrest sufficient free space and a stable connection. On iPhone, check that iCloud Drive is active; on Android, check Drive. If there is no cloud backup, WhatsApp will attempt to restore the local copy available. If you're having trouble, check out our guide on when WhatsApp backup fails.
An advanced method is to use a specific local copy: uninstall WhatsApp, place the desired local file in the Databases folder, and reinstall the app so that it detects it when verifying the number. This is useful when you want to recover messages that existed just before a specific date, although you could losing intermediate messages after that copy.
Deleted messages: what you can and can't do
Officially, WhatsApp doesn't allow you to recover deleted messages natively. On Android, there's an indirect way: notifications. If you didn't have the app open when the message arrived (and therefore a notification was generated), apps like WAMR o WhatsRemoved + can record content and display it even if it is later deleted. This method has limits: it only records up to the first 100 characters, does not always capture media and may fail if the chat was in the foreground.
Using these apps involves privacy risks because they access the content of your notifications (names, numbers, message fragments). Use them with caution. Some phones include a notification history of the system that allows you to view old notifications without third-party apps; it's not available on all models or versions, and browsing it can be awkward.
Notification history on Android (without apps)
On certain devices you can add a Settings widget and open the Notification log to check texts that arrived as a notification. This feature is useless if the message was received with WhatsApp open, it only shows text (no multimedia) and the log is renew over time, so it is advisable to review it soon.
Free up space: empty chats without losing control
If your goal is to clean, WhatsApp allows empty chats individual or all chats from Settings > Chats > Chat history. You can decide whether to also delete the multimedia files to recover more space. Before cleaning, make sure you have a recent backup if you don't want to lose information.
As an additional note, WhatsApp periodically adds features in development to improve the experience (for example, camera improvements, customization or support channels within the app). Although they do not affect the copy process, it is advisable to keep the application updated to ensure compatibility and security. You can also Add an email to WhatsApp to strengthen security.
The best strategy combines scheduled cloud backups, punctual local saves for key moments and maintenance habits. Being clear that restores only return what was in the last backup, and knowing the Android alternatives for notifications, will allow you to protect your chats without surprises.
