While the default auto-backup setting in WhatsApp is to Back up to Google Drive Account linked to your Android device, it also keeps a Backup of your messages on its Local or Internal storage.
In-fact, WhatsApp creates a Local Backup daily and keeps up to 7 days of encrypted local backups on the internal storage location of your Android phone.
In the case of both automated and manual Backups to Google Drive, the Backup File gets overwritten and only the most recently made WhatsApp Backup File is stored in an unencrypted form.
Backup WhatsApp Locally on Android Phone
When WhatsApp is setup to Back up its data to Google Drive, it will automatically Backup to both Google Drive and also to the internal storage location of your Android phone.
This happens, both during auto-backups and also when you initiate a manual backup of WhatsApp on your Android phone or tablet.
However, WhatsApp also provides the option to prevent backups from being stored on Google Drive and store them only on the local storage of your Android device.
1. Backup WhatsApp Only to Local Storage on Android Phone
You can follow the steps below to setup WhatsApp to Backup, only to the Local or Internal storage of your Android phone or Tablet.
1. Open WhatsApp > tap on the 3-dot icon and select Settings in the drop-down menu.
2. From the Settings screen, go to Chats > Chat backup and tap on Back up to Google Drive option.
3. On the pop-up, select the Never option.
After this, WhatsApp will only be able to Back up to the Local Storage of your Android phone. If your phone has an SD Card, the WhatsApp Backup File will be saved to SD Card.
2. Manually Backup WhatsApp to Local Storage on Android Phone
At any time, you can manually Backup WhatsApp to the Local storage of your Android phone by using these steps.
1. Open WhatsApp > tap on the 3-dot icon and select Settings in the drop-down menu.
2. From the Settings screen, go to Chats > Chat backup.
3. On the next screen, tap on the Back Up button to start the process of manually backing up WhatsApp to the Local storage of your Android phone.
Note: You check Include videos option (on the same screen), only if you have enough storage space on your Android phone to accommodate WhatsApp videos.
3. Access WhatsApp Local Backup on Android Phone
WhatsApp Local Backups are located at Device Storage > WhatsApp > Databases Folder. If you are using SD Card, WhatsApp Local Backups can be found at SD Card > WhatsApp > Databases Folder.
Depending on the manufacturer, you can access WhatsApp Local Backups using My Files or File Manger App on your Android Phone.
1. Open My Files App on your Android Phone.
2. On the next screen, select Device Storage or SD Card (if your phone has an SD Card).
3. From the next screen, navigate to WhatsApp > Databases Folder.
4. In the Databases Folder, you will find WhatsApp Backup Files, including the most recent WhatsApp Backup that you just created.
The most recent Backup of WhatsApp will be without date, while earlier Backups will have the Date of Backup included in their Names.