You are looking for where on Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO And Mi) is the WhatsApp folder stored with backups, photos or videos? This instruction will help you find all the messenger files - from chat databases (.db.crypt14) We'll look at the standard paths to loaded stickers. MIUI, features of storage on a memory card and internal drive, as well as ways to access hidden folders.
On Xiaomi smartphones, the location of the WhatsApp folder depends on the version of Android, shell MIUI and the settings of the messenger itself. MIUI 14 on Android 13 may be different. MIUI 12 on Android 10. In addition, some files (such as backups) can be hidden or protected by the system. We will analyze all options from simple search through Files to use. ADB access to system partitions.
Standard location of WhatsApp folder on Xiaomi
By default, WhatsApp creates its folder in the root directory of internal memory or on the Internet. SD-The map (if it's installed) looks like this:
/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Or for a memory card:
/storage/XXXX-XXXX/WhatsApp/Where XXXX-XXXX — Your microSD ID is unique, and inside the WhatsApp folder you will find the following subdirectories:
- 📁 Databases – here are stored backup copies of chats (msgstore.db.crypt14).
- 📷 Media – all uploaded photos, videos, audio and documents (broken into WhatsApp Images, WhatsApp Video, etc. folders.).
- 🎵 Voice Notes - Voice Messages.
- 📦 Stickers - downloaded stickers.
- 🔄 Backups – backups of settings (in older versions).
If you can’t see the WhatsApp folder on the specified path, check:
- Do you use your internal memory or SD-Map for storing messenger data (setting up in WhatsApp) → ⚙️ → chat → Backup copy → Save to Google Drive/Locally).
- Is the file hidden by the system (in) MIUI Some directories are hidden by default).
- Did you manually remove it or through Security Garbage Cleanup?
How to find a WhatsApp folder through a standard file manager
The easiest way is to use Xiaomi’s built-in File Manager app. Open it and follow the following steps:
- On the home screen, select the Device tab (for internal memory) or SD-Card (if you use an external storage device).
- Scroll down to the WhatsApp folder (it’s usually in the root directory).
- If the folder is not, click on three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Show hidden files.
- For convenience, you can use the search (magnifying glass icon) and enter WhatsApp.
If the folder doesn’t show up even after you have enabled hidden files, try updating the data:
Settings → Applications → Application Management → Files → Storage → Clear cache☑️ Checking the visibility of the WhatsApp folder
On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) the folder can be called WhatsApp Business if you use the business version of the messenger, in which case the path remains the same, but the directory name changes.
Searching through PC: Connecting Xiaomi to a computer
If you can not find a folder on your phone, connect Xiaomi to the PC through USB-Cable and use Windows Explorer or macOS Finder:
- Connect your phone to your computer and select File Transfer Mode (MTP) in the notice on Xiaomi.
- On Windows, open this computer and find the device (usually Redmi or Windows). POCO).
- Go to the internal memory folder or SD-map and look for WhatsApp.
If the folder is not visible, check:
- 🔌 Is the connection mode correctly selected (not Charging or Charging Only).
- 🔐 Have you allowed access to files on your phone (sometimes you need to confirm your phone’s identity) MIUI).
- 🛠️ Are Xiaomi drivers installed on the PC (you can download on the official website).
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If your computer can’t see the WhatsApp folder, try using alternative file managers, such as Total Commander or the WhatsApp folder. ES Conductor (with root rights).
Macs may require Android File Transfer (the official software from Google for working with Android devices) to be installed from android.com.
Where backup copies of chats (files) are stored msgstore.db.crypt14)
Backups of WhatsApp chats are saved in the Databases folder inside the messenger's main directory.
/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14In this folder you will find several files:
| File. | Description | Size |
|---|---|---|
| msgstore.db.crypt14 | The latest local backup of chats | From 10MB to several GB |
| msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14 | Old backup copy (dated) | Depends on the volume of chats. |
| wa.db | Contact and settings database | ~1-5 MB |
| backup.key | Key to decrypting backups (in older versions) | ~1 KB |
These files are encrypted and you can't just open them. msgstore.db.crypt14 necessary:
- Install WhatsApp on your new phone.
- At the first start, the messenger will offer to restore chats from a local copy.
- Confirm the recovery (the file must be in the Databases folder).
What if WhatsApp doesn’t see a backup?
If you want to move chats to another phone, copy the entire Databases folder to the new device in a similar location. Importantly, the phone number must match the one from which the backup was made.
Features of storing media files in WhatsApp on Xiaomi
All media files (photos, videos, audio, documents) are stored in the Media folder inside the main WhatsApp directory.
/storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media/
├── WhatsApp Images/
├── WhatsApp Video/
├── WhatsApp Audio/
├── WhatsApp Documents/
├── WhatsApp Animated Gifs/
└── WhatsApp Voice Notes/WhatsApp saves all incoming media to these folders by default, but you can change the settings:
- 📥 Autoboot Media: WhatsApp → ⚙️ → Warehouse and data → Autoload media. You can turn off the automatic photo/video saving to the gallery here.
- 🗑️ Cache Clearing: There is an option on the same menu to manage storage where you can delete unnecessary files.
- 📁 Transfer to SD-Map: In some versions MIUI You can transfer the WhatsApp folder to an external drive through Settings → Warehouse → Data portability.
On Xiaomi, media files from WhatsApp automatically appear in the standard gallery (Photos or Google Photos).
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 13/14 There's a bug that might prevent WhatsApp photos from showing up in the gallery. → Annexes → Permits → Files and Media and Enable Gallery Access to WhatsApp folder.
What to do if the WhatsApp folder is lost or damaged
Sometimes the WhatsApp folder can go missing or get corrupted, and let's look at the main reasons and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The folder is not visible in the Files. | Hidden by the system or removed | Enable the display of hidden files or restore via DiskDigger |
| Files.crypt14 damaged | Incorrect termination of WhatsApp | Restore backup from Google Drive or use WhatsApp Key DB Extractor |
| Media files are not saved | Autoboot is disabled or there is not enough space | Check the settings on WhatsApp → Warehouse and release memory |
| Folder on SD-card-less | The card is damaged or formatted | Connect the card to the PC and check for errors (chkdsk in Windows) |
If the folder has been deleted, try to restore it with the help of specialized utilities:
- 🔍 DiskDigger (for Android) – scans internal memory for deleted files.
- 💾 Recuva (for PC) – if you connect Xiaomi as a drive.
- 📱 GT Recovery – works without root rights, but with restrictions.
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If the WhatsApp folder disappeared after resetting the phone to factory settings, you can restore chats only if you have a backup in Google Drive or a local backup on another device.
If you suspect that files have been deleted by a virus or system cleanup, check your phone for malware using Google Play Protection or Malwarebytes.
How to Transfer WhatsApp to Another Xiaomi Phone
When you switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone (for example, from Redmi Note 9 to Xiaomi 13), you can transfer all chats and media files.
- Copy WhatsApp folder from old phone to new (via PC, OTG-cable).
- Install WhatsApp on your new device and confirm the number (should match the old one).
- When a restoration request appears, select Restore from a local copy.
Important nuances:
- 🔢 The phone number should be the same as the old device.
- 📱 The new phone must have the same or newer version of WhatsApp.
- 🔄 If you use Google Drive, make sure the backup there is up to date (check the date in Settings). → chat → Backup copy).
If the transfer fails, try:
⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F4 GT) When you transfer your WhatsApp folder over Mi Mover, you may experience errors, in which case you’d better use a PC or cloud storage.