Backup WhatsApp messages on Android with 4 methods. This guide compares the main backup routes so you can choose between Google Drive, local storage, computer backup, or email export based on what you actually need.
Way 1. Back Up WhatsApp Chats in Google Drive
One of the easiest ways to back up WhatsApp chats is through your Google account. This method stores the backup in Google Drive, which is useful when you want cloud restore later, but it still depends on the same Google account being available on restore.
- Open WhatsApp on your device and then tap on the three dots at the top right corner.
- In the options that appear, tap on “Settings”. This will open the chat settings.
- Tap on the “Chat Backup” option.
- Select “Google Drive Settings” and then tap the “Google Drive” option to open the frequency menu. Here, you can choose the backup frequency that suits you.
- Under “Back Up Over” option, you can choose if you would like to backup over Wi-Fi or not. You can also turn on “Include Videos” to make sure that all videos are also included in the backup.
- Then click “Backup Chats” to backup all your chats to Google Drive.
whatsapp backup google drive
Way 2. Backup Android WhatsApp in Local Backup
If you would rather not use Google Drive, you can keep the backup in the phone's internal storage instead. This local route is useful when you want an offline copy, but it stays on the device unless you move the backup somewhere else later.
- Open WhatsApp on your device.
- Then, tap on Settings > Chat > Chat Backup.
- If you had selected the “Backup to Google Drive”, uncheck the box and choose “Never”.
- Then tap on “Backup” to create a local backup. When the backup is complete, you will find the backup in the “WhatsApp/Databases” folder.
backup whatsapp to local storage
Way 3. Partially Backup WhatsApp from Android to Computer
If you would like to back up your WhatsApp messages to your computer, Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer is the best option. With this tool, you can easily backup all the WhatsApp messages and their attachments in a single click.
Here’s how to use Mobitrix to partially backup WhatsApp from Android to your computer:
- Download and install the program on to your computer. Connect the Android device to the computer and then select “Backup WhatsApp to Devices”.
- Click on “Back Up” and the backup process should begin immediately. You just need to wait for the process to be completed.
connect the device to pc
complete to backup whatsapp
The article recommends the computer-backup route mainly because it covers the storage and restore situations that cloud backup does not handle as well. Key points include:
- The backup service is totally FREE. No need to pay anything.
- Each backup file will be seperately kept. The previous backup file will not be overwritten.
- You can store the WhatsApp on computer, so you don’t need to purchase more storage to save more data.
- The software smoothly supports all Android and iOS device models, including the latest operating systems, Android 16 and iOS 26.
- It facilitates the transfer of WhatsApp data across different devices, whether it's from Android to iPhone, iPhone to Android, Android to Android, or iPhone to iPhone.
Way 4. Backup WhatsApp on Android through Email
The email method is only practical when you need to save or share a single conversation. The exported chat arrives as a TXT file, so it is better for record-keeping than for restoring a full WhatsApp backup later.
- Open WhatsApp and then open the chat that you would like to email. Tap on the name at the top.
- Tap “Export Chat” and choose if you would like to include media files with the backup.
- Tap “Email” and send the chats to yourself.
email export whatsapp chat android
The methods above cover different backup goals on Android: cloud restore, offline local copy, computer backup, or single-chat export. The best option depends on whether you care most about storage space, restore convenience, or keeping a readable copy outside WhatsApp.
