Location of WhatsApp backup on Xiaomi Android: search and recovery

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to save important correspondence or transfer them to a new device. Backup is a critical procedure that allows you to not lose invaluable data when you change your gadget or accidentally delete an application. However, the standard file structure in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS can confuse even an experienced user, as the paths to folders changed with the release of new versions of Android.

Searching for local backups is especially relevant when Google Drive cloud storage is out of sync or a user wants to manually copy the database to a computer. Understanding where database files are physically stored gives you complete control over your personal correspondence. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the file system so that you can easily find and save your chats.

It is worth noting that depending on the version of the operating system, the location of folders may vary slightly. While on older versions of Android (before version 10) everything was extremely simple and transparent, modern security measures Google has changed access to system directories.

Structure of data storage in modern versions of Android

Starting with Android 11 and above, which is already installed on most current Xiaomi models, Google has implemented strict restrictions on access to system folders, a phenomenon known as Scoped Storage. WhatsApp folder used to be at the root of internal memory, and access to it was open to any file manager, but now all application data is moved to a secure system directory.

To find backups, you now need to follow the path Internal Memory → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases. This is where files with the.db.crypt extension are stored, which are encrypted databases of your correspondence. Xiaomi’s standard Explorer can request special permission when you first log into the Android folder, which is a normal security reaction.

It's important to understand the difference between on-premises storage and cloud storage. Files in that directory take up space on your physical drive. If you decide to clear your phone's memory without making a copy of those files on your computer or in the cloud, they'll be irretrievably lost when you delete the application. A local copy is your last line of defense before you lose information.

⚠️ Note: When you try to manually copy or rename database files, make sure that WhatsApp is completely closed. Interference with active files can cause them to be damaged and inability to restore correspondence.

Step-by-step instructions for finding a backup folder

To find the right file, you will need a file manager. Xiaomi smartphones default to “Conductor”, but for deeper work with the system often recommend using third-party solutions such as Files by Google or MT Manager.

Follow the algorithm of actions to get to the goal:

• 📂 Open the Explorer app on your Xiaomi smartphone.
• 📂 Select “Inner Memory” (sometimes referred to as “Storage” or device name).
• 📂 Find and open the Android folder, then go to media.
• 📂 Inside the list, find the directory com.whatsapp (this is the package name of the messenger).
• 📂 Consistently open the WhatsApp and Databases folders.

Inside the Databases folder, you'll see files with names like msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14 and the file msgstore.db.crypt14. The file without a date in the title is the most current backup to date. Date files are archived copies from previous days if you have 7 days of history saved enabled.

If you can’t see the Android folder or it’s empty, check if the system files are hidden in the Explorer settings. Some versions of MIUI require you to click three dots in the corner of the screen and enable the display of hidden files, although the media folder is usually visible by default.

Differences in Android Version and File Path

The path to backup is directly dependent on the version of the operating system installed on your Xiaomi device, which is a key point, as users often search for files using old instructions relevant to Android 10 and below, and can not find them.

Let’s look at the main differences in the structure of the catalogues:

As you can see from the table, starting with Android 11, the path has gotten significantly longer and more complicated, so that apps can’t randomly scan the device’s memory. If you own the new Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 flagship, you’re guaranteed to encounter a new folder structure.

In some rare cases, when using modified firmware versions or global MIUI builds, the path can lead to /Android/data/com.whatsapp/files/WhatsApp/Databases. However, for standard user devices, the path through media is relevant.

Set up automatic backup

Manual file search is good for one-off operations, but for data security to be consistent, it’s better to set up automation. WhatsApp offers built-in tools to regularly save history on Google Drive. This will save you from having to climb file directories every time.

To set up, go to the app menu: Settings → Chats → Chat backup. Here you can choose the frequency of copy creation: daily, weekly or monthly. It is also recommended to enable the option “Wi-Fi backup” to avoid wasting mobile traffic, as the size of databases with media files can be impressive.

• 🔄 Select a Google account to which the data will be stored.
• 📅 Set the desired frequency (recommended daily»).
• 📹 Decide whether to include video in your backup (this will greatly increase the file size).

It's worth remembering that backups in Google Drive don't take up space in your storage only if it's your primary account and you're using standard backup features.Enabled videos can quickly exhaust free space in the cloud.

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Save a local copy to your computer once a month. Cloud services may have storage time limits or crash, and a physical file on your hard drive will stay with you forever.

How to Recover Correspondence from a Local Copy

Situations where you need to recover correspondence from a local file occur frequently, such as when you switch to a new Xiaomi phone or after you reinstall the system. The recovery process requires accuracy, as WhatsApp always tries to recover data from the Google Drive cloud in the first place, ignoring local files if you do not perform certain actions.

To force recovery from the local file, follow the following steps:

1. Remove the WhatsApp app from the device.
2. Copy the desired backup file (e.g., msgstore-2023-10-20.1.db.crypt14) from the backups folder or other directory to the Databases folder via Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases.
3. Rename the selected file to msgstore.db.crypt14 (or the corresponding number of your version of cryptography) by removing the date from the name.
4. Install WhatsApp again and when you initially set up, when the app offers to restore a backup, it will find a local file.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t click on the “Skip” or “Do Not Restore” button at the beginning of WhatsApp’s setup. If you miss this step, it will be extremely difficult to recover correspondence from a local file without reinstalling the application again.

If you try to restore a very old backup to a new version of WhatsApp, the process may not be successful.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Even following the instructions, Xiaomi users can encounter bugs, most often with access rights or space shortages.The MIUI system is known for its aggressive battery optimization, which can interfere with WhatsApp's background and backups.

Let’s look at typical scenarios and solutions:

• ❌ Not enough space error: Clear the app cache or delete old unnecessary files from the Databases folder, leaving only the latest ones 2-3 copy.
• ❌ Backup not created: Check if background activity restriction for WhatsApp is worth in Xiaomi battery settings.Allow auto-run.
• ❌ File not visible in Explorer: Make sure you give permission to the file manager to access the Android folder.Try using Xiaomi's built-in Explorer, it has native access rights.

Another common problem is changing your phone number, so if you change your SIM card but want to keep your old WhatsApp account, use the Change Number feature in your app settings before you create a backup, which will link your email history to your new number.

Optimizing Xiaomi Storage for Backups

Xiaomi smartphones often have a lot of storage, but junk files can fill up space quickly. Regularly cleaning the Databases folder helps free up gigabytes of space. Remember, WhatsApp stores the last 7 local copies, and each one can weigh hundreds of megabytes.

To effectively manage your space, use the built-in Security → Cleanup utility that will automatically find old WhatsApp backups and prompt them to be removed. However, before agreeing to remove everything, make sure your most important chats are saved in an up-to-date file or in the cloud.

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Regularly manually checking your Databases folder once a month is the best way to avoid memory overflow and make sure your data is actually saved.

Using external drives via OTG is another great way for Xiaomi owners to support USB 3.0. You can periodically plug in a USB drive and copy the Databases folder there, creating a physically isolated archive of your correspondence that is independent of cloud services and Internet connections.