The default option in WhatsApp is to backup Chats to Google Drive and also to the internal storage of your mobile device. However, it is also possible to Backup WhatsApp to the local storage on your computer.
In the case of Android Phones this can be achieved by backing up WhatsApp to the local storage of your mobile device and transferring the Backup file to SD Card.
Once the Backup of all your WhatsApp Chats is available on the SD Card, it can be easily transferred to your Laptop or Desktop computer.
With this understanding, let us go ahead and take a look at the steps to Backup WhatsApp to your mobile device, copy the backup file to SD Card and transfer the WhatsApp Backup to computer.
Step 1. Backup WhatsApp to Local Storage or SD Card
The first step is to make a manual backup of WhatsApp on the Internal Storage of your Android Phone.
1. Open WhatsApp > tap on 3-dots menu icon (top-right) and select Settings in the drop-down menu.
2. From the Settings screen, go to Chats > Chat Backup > tap on the Back Up button.
3. Patiently wait for the Backup process to be completed.
Step 2. Copy WhatsApp Backup File to SD Card
The next step is to transfer or copy the WhatsApp Backup File to SD Card.
1. Open My File App on your Phone (Files App in case of iPhone).
2. On My Files screen, select the SD Card option, located under “Local Storage” section.
3. From the next screen, go to WhatsApp > Databases Folder.
4. In the Databases Folder, copy the latest WhatsApp Backup File (msgstore.db.crypt12) that you just created (File without date).
Note: You can copy Crypt12 files with dates, if you are interested in saving older WhatsApp Backups to your computer.
5. Navigate to outside WhatsApp Databases Folder and paste msgstore.db.crypt12 File.
Note: Paste the Backup File to the Root of SD Card or Device Storage.
Step 3. Transfer WhatsApp Backup from SD Card to Computer
The final step is to transfer the Backup File from SD Card to your Laptop or Desktop computer.
1. Connect your Android Phone to computer.
2. On your computer, navigate to Phone > Card/Device and copy msgstore.db.crypt12 file to Desktop.
3. The above file (msgstore.db.crypt12) contains the latest Backup of your WhatsApp Chats in encrypted Format.
Since, the Backup File is in an encrypted format, it cannot be used to view or read your WhatsApp Messages.
However, the Backup File can be used to Restore WhatsApp Chats on your Phone by transferring the File to Phone (Storage or SD Card) and reinstalling WhatsApp on it.