WhatsApp has become an indispensable communication tool for billions, storing precious messages, photos, videos, and documents. Backing up this data ensures you never lose critical information due to device loss, damage, or system updates. However, accessing these backups varies across devices - Android, iPhone, and computers each have distinct methods tailored to their operating systems and built-in tools. This comprehensive guide walks you through every reliable way to access WhatsApp backups, whether you're using a mobile device or a desktop, helping you retrieve and manage your data with ease.
Android users can access WhatsApp backups through two primary channels: Google Drive (cloud-based) and local storage (device-specific). Each method serves different needs, with Google Drive ideal for cross-device access and local backups suitable for offline retrieval.
WhatsApp automatically backs up data to Google Drive for Android users who link their Google account, but the backup files are hidden from regular Drive file lists and cannot be directly viewed, you can only manage or restore them. Here's how to access and use these backups:
Step 1. Open a web browser and go to Google Drive, then sign in with the same Google account linked to your WhatsApp.
Step 2. Click "Backups" in the left sidebar, and you'll see your WhatsApp backup along with the last update time.
From the backup list, double-click the WhatsApp backup to see options. You can delete the backup permanently or turn off future backups. Note that Google Drive stores WhatsApp backups in an unreadable format, so you can't view the content directly here.
To access the backup content, you need to restore it to an Android device. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, verify your phone number, and when prompted, tap "Restore" to retrieve data from the Google Drive backup. Once restored, you can view all messages and media in the WhatsApp app.
WhatsApp creates daily local backups on Android devices, stored in internal storage or an SD card (if available). These backups can be accessed via the device's file manager and viewed or transferred without an internet connection. Here's how you can access and restore WhatsApp local backups:
Step 1. Locate the Backup Folder
Open your device's file manager app (e.g., "Files" or "My Files") and navigate to the WhatsApp backup directory:
Step 2. Identify Backup Files
In the Databases folder, you will find files named like "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt14" (the number varies depending on the encryption version). The date in the filename represents the backup date.
WhatsApp typically retains up to 7 days of local backups.
Step 3. Access or Restore Local Backups
To view the content of a local backup, you need to restore it to WhatsApp.
First, rename the backup file you wish to restore to "msgstore.db.crypt14" (matching the current encryption version).
Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your device.
When prompted, tap "Restore" to load the local backup.
iPhone users rely on Apple's ecosystem tools - iCloud (cloud backup) and iTunes (local computer backup) - to access WhatsApp backups. These methods integrate seamlessly with iOS, ensuring secure data retrieval.
WhatsApp automatically backs up to iCloud if you've enabled the feature, and you can access the backup by restoring it to your iPhone. Unlike Google Drive, iCloud backups are not directly viewable, you must restore the backup to access its contents. Here's how to restore WhatsApp from iCloud:
Step 1. Open "Settings" on your iPhone, then tap your Apple ID at the top.
Step 2. Select "iCloud" and scroll down to find WhatsApp in the list.
Step 3. Ensure the toggle next to WhatsApp is enabled, confirming that WhatsApp backups are being saved to iCloud.
If you need to restore from an iCloud backup, first uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.
Open WhatsApp, verify your phone number, and follow the on-screen prompts. When you're asked to restore, tap "Restore Chat History" to retrieve your messages and media from the backup.
iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) allows you to create local backups of your iPhone, including WhatsApp data. You can access these backups by restoring them to your iPhone. Here's how to restore WhatsApp data from an iTunes backup:
Step 1. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) installed.
Step 2. Open iTunes or Finder, and select your device when it appears.
Step 3. In iTunes, go to the "Summary" tab. In Finder, go to the "General" tab.
Step 4. Click "Restore Backup", then choose the backup file that contains your WhatsApp data. Be sure to check the backup date to confirm it's the correct one.
Step 5. Click "Restore" and wait for the process to complete.
Note: This method will overwrite all current data on your iPhone, so be sure to back up your current data before proceeding to avoid losing anything important.
To access WhatsApp backups directly on a computer, you can use dedicated tools from Coolmuster - tailored for both Android and iOS users. These tools eliminate the need to restore backups to a mobile device, enabling direct preview and management of WhatsApp data on your desktop.
For Android users, Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery allows you to directly extract WhatsApp backup data from your device and view it on your computer, without relying on cloud services or restoring it to your phone.
Key features of Android WhatsApp Recovery
How to access Android WhatsApp backup through your computer?
01Click the button below to download and install Android WhatsApp Recovery on your computer.
02Connect your Android phone to your computer using a USB cable. Select your device on the software interface and click "Next".
03Once the connection is established, the software will begin scanning your WhatsApp data, including messages, media, and attachments.
04At this moment, enable end-to-end encryption on your phone by following the on-screen instructions. This step ensures that your WhatsApp data is properly backed up. After obtaining the encryption key, the software will automatically detect it.
05After the scan is complete, all your WhatsApp data will be backed up to your computer. You can then preview and access your WhatsApp chats and media files directly from your PC, allowing you to manage and organize your WhatsApp backup more effectively.
Video guide
For iPhone users, Coolmuster iPhone WhatsApp Recovery offers an easy and efficient way to back up WhatsApp chat history and multimedia attachments from your iPhone to your computer. This tool allows you to directly extract WhatsApp data from the internal storage of iOS devices and save it on your PC. You can also view and manage your WhatsApp data directly on your computer, without the need to restore them to your device.
In addition to backing up WhatsApp data, iPhone WhatsApp Recovery can recover deleted WhatsApp data from iTunes backups without requiring you to restore the entire iPhone. This means you can selectively recover your WhatsApp data, saving you time and avoiding the hassle of restoring unnecessary data.
How to access iPhone WhatsApp backup on your computer?
01Download and install iPhone WhatsApp Recovery on your computer.
02Open the software and select "Recover from iOS Device" to begin the process.
03Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Once the connection is established, select the data types you wish to back up and click "Start Scan". (For WhatsApp chats, you may need to unlock your device and confirm the prompt.)
04Once the scan is complete, preview the WhatsApp data found on your iPhone. Select the items you wish to back up. After selecting your desired data, click "Recover to Computer" to back up WhatsApp data from your iPhone to your PC. Then, you can view them on your computer.
Video guide
Accessing WhatsApp backups can vary depending on the device, but with the right approach, you can easily retrieve and manage your data. Android users can rely on Google Drive for cloud backups or local storage for offline access, while iPhone users use iCloud or iTunes with third-party tools for selective data retrieval. For those looking to access backups directly on a computer, Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery and Coolmuster iPhone WhatsApp Recovery offer a seamless solution, enabling you to view and save WhatsApp data without the need to restore it to your phone. You can choose the method that best fits your needs.
Related Articles:
Where Is WhatsApp Backup Stored on Android/iPhone/Google Drive?
Simple Ways of How to Read WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive on PC
How to View WhatsApp Chat History on PC: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Fix No Backup Found on WhatsApp? - 9 Quick Fixes Here
Feedback
Free Download for PC 
Free Download for Mac 
