Finding the msgstore.db.crypt15 file
Where WhatsApp keeps the encrypted backup on Android and which file to pick.
1 min read
WhatsApp stores its encrypted local backup in this folder on your phone:
Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases/
Inside you will find:
msgstore.db.crypt15— the newest backup. Pick this one.msgstore-2026-09-05.1.db.crypt15and similar — daily copies from previous days.
Media lives next to it in Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/ (see Adding your media folder).
How to reach it
- On the phone: open web.wachatplus.com in Chrome, tap Pick file, and browse to the Databases folder with the system file picker.
- On a computer: connect the phone by USB in "File transfer" mode, or use Quick Share / AirDrop — see Transferring the file to a computer.
If you only see .crypt14 or .crypt12 files, end-to-end encrypted backup is not on yet. Turn it on with a 64-digit key and back up again; a .crypt15 file appears within a minute.
Make sure WhatsApp has finished writing the backup before you copy the file; copying mid-backup produces an incomplete file.
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