How setup backup and restore conversations on WhatsApp

WhatsApp has become a universal communication app: several billion messages are sent every day through its services. After a short time, you can easily accumulate a ton of archived sentimental messages that you�ll either want to make sure to keep and save. However, with phones being lost, stolen, breaking, or some random freak of nature causing WhatsApp to lose your messages, it is advisable to make sure you back up on your own every so often. We�ll show you how.

1. Backup your WhatsApp conversations

• Open WhatsApp from your App drawer
• Press on the 3-dot menu icon on the top right
• Tap on Settings, this will open the WhatsApp settings
• Tap on Chat settings
• Now, tap on Backup conversations to backup all the present messages
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Extract WhatsApp backup database file for future restore

• Connect your device to PC via USB cable
• Open the device�s storage
• In the root of the device�s storage, you will find a folder labelled WhatsApp, double click it open.
• Now, go to the Databases folder
• You will find all the backup database (db) files
• Find the one with the latest date i.e today�s date when you have backed up
• Copy that file, as in my case it is msgstore-2014-03-24.1.db.crypt5 to a secure location on your PC
• You can now disconnect the device
• Now, if unfortunately you lose your messages and also your database file from your storage, you can put back the saved database file into WhatsApp > Databases folder. Re-install the App and you will again be allowed to restore your messages.