Lost Your Precious WhatsApp Messages? Here’s How to Back Them Up and Avoid Heartbreak
We’ve all been there – accidentally deleting a crucial message or cherished conversation on WhatsApp, leaving us with a sinking feeling. Thankfully, WhatsApp offers backup functionality, allowing you to safeguard your chat history and precious memories. This article provides a detailed guide on how to create backups on different devices, ensuring you never lose track of your WhatsApp conversations again.
Backups for Android Devices
WhatsApp for Android users enjoy the convenience of automatic daily backups. These backups are stored within your phone’s internal memory or microSD card within the WhatsApp folder. While automatic backups are a lifesaver, you can also manually create a backup whenever you feel the need.
Creating a Manual Backup on Android
- Navigate to WhatsApp Settings: Open WhatsApp, tap the menu button (three vertical dots on the top-right corner), and select Settings > Chat Settings > Backup conversations. This will initiate a backup process, saving your conversations as a file named "msgstore.db.crypt7".
- Rename Your Backup: WhatsApp recommends renaming the backup file to "msgstore.db.crypt7.current" for easier identification. You’ll find this backup file within your phone’s "/WhatsApp/Databases" folder.
Restoring Android Backups
- Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp: Begin by uninstalling the WhatsApp app.
- Find Your Backup: Locate the backup file within your WhatsApp folder. Older backups are typically named "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt7", but you can restore them by renaming them to "msgstore.db.crypt7".
- Restore Your Chats: Reinstall WhatsApp on your Android device. After verifying your phone number, WhatsApp will prompt you to restore a backup. Simply tap "Restore" and select the appropriate backup file. Your conversation history will then be restored within the app.
Backups for iPhone Devices
Unlike Android, iPhones leverage Apple’s iCloud service to back up your WhatsApp conversations. However, keep in mind that videos are not included in these backups.
Creating a Backup on iPhone
- Enable iCloud Backup: Firstly, ensure iCloud backup is enabled for your iPhone by going to Settings > iCloud > Documents & Data > On.
- Initiate a Manual Backup: Open WhatsApp and tap the Settings button (bottom-right). Navigate to Chat Settings > Chat Backup > Back Up Now.
- Schedule Automatic Backups: WhatsApp automatically schedules backups weekly by default. For enhanced security, consider changing the frequency to Daily by tapping "Auto Backup" under Chat Backup.
Restoring iPhone Backups
- Uninstall and Reinstall: Uninstall WhatsApp from your iPhone.
- Restore from iCloud: Reinstall WhatsApp and verify your phone number. Upon verification, you’ll be prompted to restore a backup. Select "Restore" to pull your conversation history from iCloud.
Backups for BlackBerry Devices
BlackBerry 10 devices automatically create daily backups of your WhatsApp conversations, while BlackBerry 7 devices require a microSD card for backup.
Creating a Backup on BlackBerry 10
- Access the Menu: Open WhatsApp and swipe down from the top of the screen to access the application menu.
- Initiate a Backup: Choose Settings > Media Settings > Backup conversations. This backup will be saved as "messageStore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt" within the "/device/misc/whatsapp/backup" folder. For organizational purposes, it’s recommended to rename the backup file to "messageStore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt.current".
Restoring a Backup on BlackBerry 10
- Uninstall WhatsApp: Remove the WhatsApp app from your BlackBerry 10 device.
- Reinstall and Restore: Reinstall WhatsApp and verify your phone number. Select "Restore" and choose the appropriate backup file.
Creating a Backup on BlackBerry 7
- Enable microSD Card Backup: Open WhatsApp and navigate to Settings > Media Settings > Message History > Media Card. This will ensure your messages are saved on the memory card.
Restoring a Backup on BlackBerry 7
- Remove and Replace Battery: Power off your BlackBerry 7 device, remove and replace the battery, and then restart your phone.
- Locate Backup File: Open your BlackBerry Media folder by pressing the BlackBerry button and selecting "Explore". Navigate to Media Card > databases > WhatsApp and locate the "messagestore.db" file.
- Rename File: Rename the "messagestore.db" file to "123messagestore.db". This will prompt WhatsApp to restore the most recent backup saved on your microSD card.
Backups for Windows Phone Devices
Windows Phone users have the option to manually create backups of their WhatsApp conversations.
Creating a Backup on Windows Phone
- Navigate to Settings: Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots at the bottom-right corner.
- Initiate a Backup: Select Settings > Chat Settings > Backup. This will create a backup of your chat history.
Restoring a Backup on Windows Phone
- Check Backup Time: If you’ve accidentally deleted your chats, don’t create a new backup. Instead, check the timestamp of the previous backup (found under the backup button).
- Uninstall and Reinstall: If the backup timestamp precedes the deletion of your chats, proceed to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Restore Chat History: After verifying your phone number, WhatsApp will ask if you want to restore a chat backup. Select "Yes" to restore your conversations.
Backups for Nokia Feature Phones
Older Nokia S60 devices utilize a manual backup system for their WhatsApp chats, while Nokia S40 phones offer no direct backup capabilities.
Creating a Backup on Nokia S60
- Initiate Backup: Open WhatsApp and select Options > Chat History > Backup chat history. Confirm by tapping "Yes".
Restoring a Backup on Nokia S60
- Uninstall and Reinstall: Uninstall WhatsApp from your Nokia S60 device.
- Restore Backup: Reinstall WhatsApp and verify your phone number. Select "Restore" to restore your chat history. Remember to use the same microSD card if you’re restoring on a different Nokia S60 device.
Emailing Conversations on Nokia S40
Unfortunately, Nokia S40 phones lack backup functionality. The best option for preserving your conversations is to email them to your personal email account. This method only works on phones with a memory card.
- Open Conversation: Access the conversation you wish to back up.
- Email Conversation: Select Options > Chat History > Email. The conversation history will be attached to your email as a .txt file.
Conclusion
Taking regular backups of your WhatsApp conversations is crucial for safeguarding your precious memories and important messages. Remember to utilize the backup methods outlined above for your specific device, ensuring you never have to worry about losing those essential chats. This comprehensive guide provides a clear path to protecting your WhatsApp conversations, providing peace of mind and ensuring that your digital memories remain safe and secure.
