How to Back Up GB WhatsApp Chats (Local Backup Guide)

This is an unofficial, third-party client, so it is not tied into the official WhatsApp backup system in the way the Google Play app is. Accounts using unofficial clients may also be restricted by WhatsApp, and a restriction can leave you locked out of your chat history. A backup you hold yourself is your safety net against that, against a lost phone and against a failed update.

Menu names vary slightly between releases, but the flow is usually the same.

1. Check that your phone has enough free storage. Chats with lots of media need considerably more space than text-only chats.
2. Open the app, tap the three-dot menu, and go to Settings.
3. Choose Chats, then Chat backup (the wording may differ slightly in your build).
4. Look for an option to back up to local storage, or simply tap the backup button. Wait until the progress indicator finishes.
5. Note the time and size shown for the last backup so you can compare it later.

If you also want to include videos, switch that option on before starting. Videos make backups larger and slower, which is worth knowing if storage is tight. The current package is about 78 MB on its own, before any chat data is added.

A backup sitting only on the phone disappears with the phone. Once the backup finishes, copy it elsewhere.

Find the folder

Open your file manager and look for the app's folder. The exact location depends on your Android version and build, and newer Android versions restrict access to some app folders, so you may need to use the file manager built into your phone. If you cannot find it, search for folders that contain the app's name.

Copy it

• To a computer: connect by USB, allow file transfer on the phone, and copy the whole folder rather than individual files.
• To cloud storage: upload the folder through a drive app you already use. This is just a file copy, not the app's own cloud backup.
• To an SD card: copy it there if your phone has one, though keep a second copy elsewhere.

A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a backup. The simplest test is to confirm the files exist and have a sensible size: if the last backup showed several hundred megabytes and the folder holds a few kilobytes, something went wrong.

A fuller test uses a spare phone or an uninstall and reinstall of the app. Before you wipe anything, make sure you hold a verified copy off the phone. Then follow the steps in how to restore chats from a backup, which explains the number-verification and folder placement requirements.

• Back up before every update, uninstall or phone change. Updating is covered in how to update the app.
• Keep at least two copies in different places.
• Make the backup before experimenting with new installers or themes.
• Avoid using a number you cannot afford to lose; if the account is restricted, your backup may be the only record.
• Understand that moving history between this app and the official one is not guaranteed; see moving chats between messaging apps.

Some builds include their own backup helper tools. These can be convenient, but check them like any other feature, and read what the features overview says about availability varying by release. For general platform behavior around storage and permissions, the Android Help pages are a reliable reference.