Step-by-Step Guide to Locally Backup WhatsApp Data Without Using Google Drive

WhatsApp on Android conveniently backs up your chats and media to Google Drive on a daily basis. However, if you seek greater control over your data and prefer not to rely on the cloud or face any Google Drive limitations, opting for a local backup is an excellent choice. This comprehensive guide will provide you with detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to effectively back up and restore your WhatsApp data locally.

Step 1: Disconnect from Google Drive and Remove Backup Data

Before proceeding, it’s advisable to disconnect your Google account from WhatsApp and delete any existing backup data. This precaution helps to prevent conflicts during the restoration process, especially if you’re transitioning to a local backup strategy. However, if you intend to maintain both Google Drive and local backups, you may skip this step but should follow an additional action during the restoration phase.

To disconnect from Google Drive, navigate to your Android settings and select Google. Tap on your account name and then go to Manage your Google Account.

Manage Google Account Settings button on Android

Next, head to Security & sign-in and tap on See all connections found under Your connections to third-party apps & services.

Select WhatsApp Messenger from the list and then choose Delete all connections you have with WhatsApp Messenger.

Disconnecting WhatsApp from Google account

To remove the saved backup file, open WhatsApp, access settings from the dots menu, and navigate to Chats → Chat backup. Tap on Manage Google Storage and locate WhatsApp under Other. You can then view and delete all existing WhatsApp backups.

Deleting Whatsapp Backup in Google Drive

Step 2: Create a Local WhatsApp Backup

To ensure that you have the most recent backup, go to Chats → Chat backup in WhatsApp settings and tap the green Back up button. You may receive a prompt indicating that you need to enable permissions for Google storage, which you can safely ignore.

Now, access your device’s file manager and navigate to Internal storage → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp. Here, press and hold on the Databases and Media folders, select them, and choose Copy to from the options menu. Place these folders somewhere secure on your device.

Both the Databases and Media folders contain vital chat and media data for your backup. Ensure they are stored securely, whether on an SD card, on a PC, or in another cloud storage solution. If your aim is solely to back up WhatsApp chats, feel free to skip the Media folder and only secure the Databases folder.

Step 3: Restoring WhatsApp Backup Data

The restoration process can be delicate; any misstep might necessitate uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp. To avoid this, follow each step carefully.

For illustrative purposes, assume you are restoring WhatsApp data on a new phone and have successfully transferred the backed-up folders to its internal storage. If you chose not to delete your Google Drive backup in the previous step, ensure to remove the associated Google account from your phone before this restoration. Failing to do so may lead WhatsApp to automatically pull the backup from Google Drive.

Step 1: Begin by installing WhatsApp and launching the application. Do not proceed further; simply allow it to run for a few seconds before closing it. This action will create the necessary WhatsApp folder structure within your phone’s storage.

Step 2: Using your file manager, navigate back to Internal storage → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp. Tap on the options menu for the Media folder and select Delete permanently.

Step 3: After deleting the media folder, transfer the backed-up Databases and Media folders back into the WhatsApp folder. Simply select and hold these folders, choose Move to, and transfer them into the designated folder.

Moving Backup Folders to WhatsApp folder

Once restored, you can customize your WhatsApp settings as desired. All your chats and media content will be reinstated, preserving the context and status of messages at the time of the backup.

While there are numerous alternatives to WhatsApp that prioritize user privacy, if you choose to continue using WhatsApp, creating local backups is a vital step to enhance your privacy. In cases where Google Drive storage may be an issue, you can explore additional methods to reduce the size of WhatsApp backup files.

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