WhatsApp is definitely the most popular instant messaging app on Android and the fact that around 500 million people have already downloaded it proves how insanely popular the instant messaging app is.
On an average ground 1 billion messages are exchanged between WhatsApp users everyday and the count is ever increasing. WhatsApp can be downloaded for free, however the app is only free for the first year and after that you will have to pay $0.99 ( Rs.55 ) per year in order to continue using it. Well, that’s a very negligible fee for keeping you connected with your friends throughout the year.
However unlike other instant messengers, WhatsApp does not store your conversations and chats online. Your chats are stored on your phone and if you are going to format your phone, all your chats will be deleted too. Similarly if you switch to a new phone and install WhatsApp on it, you won’t be able to view your old messages.
The good thing is, WhatsApp automatically performs a backup of all your chats, photos and videos everyday and stores it on your phone’s memory. If you want to backup your WhatsApp messages, you can copy the backup file to your PC and later use it restore your messages on another phone.
For those who are planning to format your phone or switch to a newer phone, here’s how you can backup all your chats from WhatsApp and restore it later.
How to Backup Whatsapp Messages
Step 1: Go to the Settings on WhatsApp.
Step 2: Tap on ” Chat settings “.
Step 3: Tap on ” Backup Conversations “.
Step 4: Next you will have to connect your phone to your PC.
Step 5: Browse your phone’s memory though your PC and locate the WhatsApp folder.
Step 5: Copy the WhatsApp folder and store it on your PC. The WhatsApp folder will contain all the WhatsApp chats backups, photos, videos and audio files.
Note: If you only want to backup the chats, you will only have to copy the latest WhatsApp backup located in the Database folder.
How to Restore WhatsApp Messages
Step 1: Copy the WhatsApp folder to your new Phone memory’s root location.
Step 2: Install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store and once it is installed open it.
Step 4: Tap on ” Agree and Continue “.
Step 5: Enter your old phone number.
Step 6: WhatsApp will automatically check for existing backups and prompt you to restore your messages. Tap on Restore to restore all the messages, photos and videos.
Step 7: Once the messages, photos and backups are restored you will be notified with a congratulations message.
That’s it, now all the WhatsApp chats, photos, videos and audio files should be restored on your new phone. This process should be same for mobile Os such as iOS and blackberry, however the WhatsApp folder location might differ.
If you have any queries/feedback, please write it in comments section below OR mail me here : Snehal[at]Techproceed[dot]com
Happy Whatsapping :-)