yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
no, the key remains the same. Whatsapp creates additional files for verifying the encrypted crypt15 backup:

/data/data/com.whatsapp/files/encrypted_backup.key

...and for encrypted backups using a password (instead of the 64-bit key):

/data/data/com.whatsapp/files/password_data.key
[Android Apps and Games] BlacklightMG:
I'm not sure that is the case right now, WhatsApp allows linking to 4 other devices, so that they can run without the mobile phone being online. This should also mean that the desktop has a copy of the database, and hence probably also the key (if it does allow taking backups on the PC). I'm not fully sure how the link to 4 other devices work as of now.
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
Try to run the Windows app as a standalone app. without using your mobile device during the initial start up. that's not possible. you need to have your mobile device for pairing and that's the reason why no key file is stored on your Windows desktop. BTW: the entire Whatsapp verification/encryption process would be pretty useless if you can access the key on Windows.
[Android Apps and Games] BlacklightMG:
But wouldn't that mean the messages are unencrypted in the Windows device instead of cryptdb? Previously the messages were synced through the mobile, but now the messages are sent to both devices (phone, PC) running as parallel clients. Even Signal does something similar, but yeah, the security of the keys on Windows is difficult spot either way. Also if E2EE has to work, those keys also have to be in Windows, right?

I don't think the key used for the backup db is the same as the keys used in E2EE.
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
the structure of an Android app:

the app's data is stored in an inaccessible path called /data/data/PACKAGE. only user ROOT and each app itself can access its specific directory.

when creating a backup in Whatsapp the app's data get copied into your internal storage where it's accessible for everyone. all of your chats.

to make the app's data in your internal storage inaccessible and secure, it gets encrypted (crypt14) using the key.

the E2EE of your chats has got nothing to do with that.
[Android Apps and Games] BlacklightMG:
Yeah, I know that part. I was referring to this:

In mobile, Whatsapp stores its keys in root mode, which makes it inaccessible without root. However if we had root, it would be accessible.

Similarly, desktop also seems to keep it's conversations, possibly encrypted, even without the phone being online, so it has to have it's keys stored somewhere. Signal's approach to this is that they don't care about at-rest encryption, since it should be handled by the operating system. On Windows, it means the keys are stored in plaintext. I don't know how Whatsapp went with it.

The point being, eventually the key has to be stored somewhere if the messages have to be stored encrypted there too. So it's either Whatsapp on Windows doesn't encrypt messages or it keeps the key in %APPDATA%. Am I right?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
no, Whatsapp for Windows is NOT a standalone app. it only streams your Android app version.
[Android Apps and Games] BlacklightMG:
Then how does it send messages when the phone is not connected?
[Android Apps and Games] KOHTPAKTnik:
Как прочесть файл - msgstore-2023-07-09.1.db.crypt14?

Это резервная копия чата whatsApp

Mod translation: How to read the file - msgstore-2023-07-09.1.db.crypt14?

This is a WhatsApp chat backup
[Android Apps and Games] Badger50:
Greetings, and welcome to XDA. As a friendly reminder, we ask all members to please post in English as stipulated by XDA Rule #4:

Spoiler content hidden.

Thank you for your cooperation, and enjoy your stay on XDA.

-Regards: Badger50
[Android Apps and Games] _tnt_:
I don't think that there is any streaming between the phone is ongoing. Neither between the App on Windows nor with WhatsApp Web in the browser.

I was able to use WhatsApp for 2 - 3 weeks with the Windows app without having my phone. I could send and receive messages without any problem.

What I noticed. At one point, 1st of the next month, I was logged out and saw the QR code. I also noticed that all files and the database were gone from the Windows PC. Same for WhatsApp web, I was logged out too.

Therefore, I assume that maybe WhatsApp must be used at least once a month on the phone to keep the login active.
[Android Apps and Games] JamesDerry:
This is an amazing resource and thank you to the many people who have contributed.

A quick question:

I'm trying to extract some old messages from an old but functioning Samsung GT - I19100 (S2) that's operating on Android 4.1.2. Unrooted. I've long since given up the phone number - so can't retrieve my WA messages.

There are backups under Phone/Whatsapp/Backups - which is good.

However - I don't have a folder under Phone/Android/data/ that's called com.whatsapp.

I think this is kind of critical to using the Whatsapp Key Extractor

Does anyone why this would be - and whether it's critical?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
what version is installed?

you mean the *.crypt* files?

it doesn't matter
[Android Apps and Games] billubakra:
Hi,

Few quick questions-

- Can it decrypt the .crypt14 files?

- Does it keep a backup of the deleted messages, photos/videos in the encrypted keys?

- Is there a way to make sure that no one can recover the messages, photos/videos in case the phone is stolen or something?

- Is there some similar app for Viber?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
you'll need the key file for that

there are no backups of any deleted files
[Android Apps and Games] JamesDerry:
Hi

Thanks for your reply

I've actually got two phones

One, a Samsung J3 is operating on Android 5.1.1.

This has Crypt 12 backups

WhatsApp DB extractor works brilliantly on this - and all is good

The other is a Samsung J1 operating on Android 4.4.4

This has Crypt 12 backups as well

WhatApp DB extractor doesn't work on this phone.

I therefore decided to us the J3 as a host, deleted its' crypt 12 backups and replaced them with the J1 Crypt 12 backups.

WhatsApp DB extractor worked fine again - but when I look at the chats, its extracted the original chat databases that I had removed and replaced with the J1 versions (which are off a different number)

Any idea why this would be? Or whether my cunning plan is actually cunning!
[Android Apps and Games] Adror07:
Mod edit - translated by https://www.deepl.com/translator. Oswald Boelcke.

Hello dear user,

I have a HTC Desiree HD from 2012. There is a display lock code on the phone that I no longer know.

I have the WhatsApp messages, the msgstore.db.crypt8 on my PC. Are there any programs or possibilities that I can read the messages on the PC. I mention again that I can't get into my HTC phone anymore. But I need the messages from WhatsApp

******************

Hallo lieber User,

Ich habe ein HTC Desiree HD von 2012. Auf dem Handy ist ein Display Sperrcode, den ich nicht mehr kenne.

Ich habe die WhatsApp Nachrichten, die msgstore.db.crypt8 auf meinem PC. Gibt es irgendwelche Programme oder Möglichkeiten das ich die Nachrichten auf dem PC lesen kann. Ich erwähne nochmal das ich in mein HTC Handy nicht mehr rein komme. Benötige aber die Nachrichten von WhatsApp
[Android Apps and Games] Oswald Boelcke:
Hello and good afternoon, @Adror07 Welcome to XDA! I hope you'll always get the support you require.

However, as a one-time courtesy I've translated your above post. With reference to rule no. 4 of the XDA Forum Rules, please post in English or add at least an English translation to your German posts.

Spoiler content hidden.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Regards

Oswald Boelcke

Senior Moderator
[Android Apps and Games] Danmoto:
HI everyone, Thank you for any help you can offer.

I back up my phone WhatsApp then I reset my phone but I forget my password for encrypted end to end , now I can't restore backup without password my db file:

msgstore.db.crypt15

Anyway to restore my backup ?? There is a solution ?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
do you have root? did you make a full backup of WhatsApp with root? in this case the password file is stored inside the backup. otherwise it's impossible to restore the E2EE backup of WhatsApp. An E2EE backup is a double encrypted file.

=> crypt15 = crypt14 file that is encrypted with a password/64-bit key
[Android Apps and Games] Danmoto:
Hi, I have any root. I got a Motorola edge 20.

How can I root it?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
it doesn't help to root your phone now since you have resetted all the files needed. they are gone.
[Android Apps and Games] mvernon:
Hello, can anybody help me with the step process of the whasap-key-DB-Extractor to obtain file key (unrooted samsung device). My specific question is if I run the application, will it change anything on the pc connected mobile pone (i.e. change phone whatsapp version or similar)?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
the core activity of this tool is to temporarily change the version of WhatsApp to obtain the key and other app's files. after this the tool will reinstall the current app's version.
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
the steps are:

1. change the version by installing an older APK of WhatsApp with ADB backup enabled

2. do an ADB backup

3. reinstall the previous (current) installed version
[Android Apps and Games] giurti:
Hello.

I try this tool, but it shows Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_USER_RESTRICTED: Install canceled by user]

I use WhatsApp version 2.11.431 apk from this link:

https://androidapksfree.com/whatsap...ld/whatsapp-messenger-apk-v2-11-431-download/

Can you help me?

This is the log:

Please connect your Android device with USB Debugging enabled:

* daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *

* daemon started successfully *

WhatsApp 2.23.24.82 installed

Found legacy WhatsApp 2.11.431 in local folder

Backing up WhatsApp 2.23.24.82

remote object 'package:=' does not exist

Backup complete

Removing WhatsApp 2.23.24.82 skipping data

Success

Removal complete

Installing legacy WhatsApp 2.11.431

2311 KB/s (18329558 bytes in 7.744s)

Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_USER_RESTRICTED: Install canceled by user]

Install complete

Now unlock your device and confirm the backup operation.

Please enter your backup password (leave blank for none) and press Enter:

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException

at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)

at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)

at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)

at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)

at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.jarinjarloader.JarRsrcLoader.main(JarRsrcLoader.java:58)

Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Don't know how to process version 5

at org.nick.abe.AndroidBackup.extractAsTar(AndroidBackup.java:420)

at org.nick.abe.Main.main(Main.java:128)

... 5 more

Caused by: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Don't know how to process version 5

at org.nick.abe.AndroidBackup.extractAsTar(AndroidBackup.java:282)

... 6 more

bin\tar.exe: Cannot open tmp\whatsapp.tar: No such file or directory

bin\tar.exe: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

bin\tar.exe: Cannot open tmp\whatsapp.tar: No such file or directory

bin\tar.exe: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

bin\tar.exe: Cannot open tmp\whatsapp.tar: No such file or directory

bin\tar.exe: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

bin\tar.exe: Cannot open tmp\whatsapp.tar: No such file or directory

bin\tar.exe: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

bin\tar.exe: Cannot open tmp\whatsapp.tar: No such file or directory

bin\tar.exe: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

Cleaning up temporary files ...

File eliminato - C:\BUTTA\WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor-master\tmp\whatsapp.ab

File eliminato - C:\BUTTA\WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor-master\tmp\waplen.txt

File eliminato - C:\BUTTA\WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor-master\tmp\sdpath.txt

File eliminato - C:\BUTTA\WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor-master\tmp\wapath.txt

File eliminato - C:\BUTTA\WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor-master\tmp\wapver.txt

File eliminato - C:\BUTTA\WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor-master\tmp\sdkver.txt

Done

Downloading WhatsApp 2.23.24.82 to local folder

% Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current

Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0

Operation complete
[Android Apps and Games] zartex:
I'm having the same issue... Java exception..

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've got 10 years of messages to comb through for a divorce issue and it'll be a heck of a lot easier to do if I can extract it into different format
[Android Apps and Games] zartex:
anyone have a solution to this?? it's been posted a few times, but I haven't seen a working solution
[Android Apps and Games] Nanairo123:
Hi, is there any way to decrypt if the number is registered again? thanks
[Android Apps and Games] billubakra:
And accessing that key is possible only after rooting the phone?

Looking fpor your views about these

- Is there a way to make sure that no one can recover the messages, photos/videos in case the phone is stolen or something?

- Is there some similar app for Viber?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
this thread is all about how to extract the key and decrypt a Whatsapp database using a NON-ROOT method
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
yes, use a lock screen
[Android Apps and Games] c3lly:
Everything seemed to work but in the end, NOTHING is in the extract folder.
[Android Apps and Games] Gatze99:
Same issue here..

[edit] I'm not an expert, but when looking the bat file, the download links for the older version of whatsapp (which is needed I guess to get the key) is not working any more if I put them directly in the adress bar of the browser.

So I downloaded the needed version from here:

https://aapks.com/apk/whatsapp/version/7518022/

https://aapks.com/dl.php?apkid=apps/com-whatsapp-450146-7518022-73fa47a3870d0b9ee6e29d843118e09b.apk

and put it in the tmp file after rename it LegacyWhatsApp.apk but it's still not working, have to look a bit deeper into it.
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
Hi, I just came across this tutorial but there are some pictures on my galaxy A70 which were previously imported using windows 10 explorer's "import pictures and videos" and after some months, I logged out of whatsapp for several more months and now when I log back into whatsapp, those pictures and videos are not found in the chats anymore, not even thumbnails in the chats. What could this indicate ?
[Android Apps and Games] Gatze99:
I don't know what happened precisely, but If you connect your phone to the computer and browse the files, Picures and video should be at Android\media\com.whatsapp\Whatsapp\Media\WhatsApp Images

And:

Android\media\com.whatsapp\Whatsapp\Media\WhatsApp Video

They are not encrypted
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
Thats where I checked some of them were missing
[Android Apps and Games] Gatze99:
I don't know whats going on......
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
in that case I think whatsapp on my galaxy s8 is buggy or there is an faulty software code somewhere in android 9
[Android Apps and Games] userwithname:
Sorry for waking up an old thread.

Adb fails to install an older WhatsApp (even with -d) citing the version downgrade error... Was there a specific way to get around this?

It seems that only debugable apps can be installed this way :/
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
you need to restart your device before installing the old version
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
How did you manage to install the legacy version of whatsapp ? which version of legacy whatsapp did you use ? is your android phone rooted ?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
deinstall the current version and do a reboot. then install v2.11.431. no root required
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
Why am I getting this error when I downloaded the lowest version of whatsapp that is compatible with this database extractor ? What should I do about this ?
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
Do you to uninstall the current newer whatsapp version ? if i do that then everything gets deleted including media and databases
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
are you trying to get your photos back??
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
I am trying to get the old chat history back
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
from an encrypted backup?
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
no its unencrypted without any passwords so its i think .crypt14 which is unencrypted. For some reason it works with my dad’s galaxy A70 but it doesn’t work with my brothers galaxy s21
[Android Apps and Games] Gatze99:
Can you explain what your exact goal is ?

What I did when I migrated to a new phone is to make a local backup of your chats in whatsapp app and then copy the files from Android\media\com.whatsapp\Whatsapp to a new phone with exactly the same directory name's.

After that, installing whatsapp and it should reckognize the files (local backup) again.

But I guess it only works when you have the same phone number on your new phone.

And BTW you are using a different script then used in this forum thread.
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
My goal is to extract the whatsapp database history from the galaxy s21 using this method: https://github.com/YuvrajRaghuvanshiS/WhatsApp-Key-Database-Extractor

and then view the resulting database with whatsapp viewer

I am okay with using the same phone number for the same whatsapp account. But, to make a local backup, does it save all the timestamp information for photos/videos ? where is the local whatsapp backup saved ?
[Android Apps and Games] Gatze99:
If you go to Settings->Chats->Chat backup and choose Frequency->never and tap Backup then it should make a local backup.

The whole local backup should be at:

Internal Storage\Android\media\com.whatsapp\Whatsapp

Like I said, when you migrate to a new phone, you can copy this directory to a new phone and if you install whatsapp, it should reckognize the local backup (with the same phone number)

The chathistory should be at the Databases directory. You can check the timestamp of your msgstore.db.crypt14 file (this is an encrypted file) if the local backup succeeded:

As for as I know Whatsapp doesn't change timestamps of picture's and such, it uses links in the app to view picture's/video's. I guess the location I mention is in use all the time by Whatsapp, it needs a location to save picture and so on.

In the Media directory you can find all the picture's/video's/audio used by whatsapp in your chats.

The method you mention I don't have experience with it, only with the .bat file from the first post.
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
does doing your method work on getting the chat history with the galaxy s21 ?
[Android Apps and Games] Gatze99:
It's not my method, somebody else made the .bat file. But yes, if it's on your phone. But you can look directly in the directory I mention (Databases) if there is a chat backup, but these are encrypted. With the method mentioned in the first post you can get the encryption key and the current in use database.

And also look at this post:

[Tool] WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor | CRYPT6-12 | NON-ROOT | UPDATED OCTOBER 2016

** Version 4.7 Updated October 2016 - Supports Android 4.0-7.0 ** SUMMARY: Allows WhatsApp users to extract their cipher key and databases on non-rooted Android devices. UPDATE: This tool was last updated on October 12th 2016. and confirmed...

xdaforums.com

It uses the same manner by installing an old version of whatsapp.
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
Ok lets try it out
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
I am getting this error:
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
that is not an error. read the last line and do it
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
it says that the version dont match
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
try this one

[Tool] WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor | CRYPT6-12 | NON-ROOT | UPDATED OCTOBER 2016

** Version 4.7 Updated October 2016 - Supports Android 4.0-7.0 ** SUMMARY: Allows WhatsApp users to extract their cipher key and databases on non-rooted Android devices. UPDATE: This tool was last updated on October 12th 2016. and confirmed...

xdaforums.com
[Android Apps and Games] sachin garia:
Can someone tell me if the msgstore.db.crypt14 only contains chats or does it also contain media like photos or videos because my .crypt14 file is 17GB and i only want decrypt if it does have my old media
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
msgstore.db.crypt14 does not contain any media
[Android Apps and Games] sachin garia:
But how can it be 17gigs then just messages really
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
IDK msgstore.db.crypt14 is only an encrypted backup of the msgstore.db stored in /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases

media is stored in internal/Android/media/com.whatsapp
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
There is no way to get the media as a backup from older whatsapp chats ?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
no, media and chats are seperated. media is NOT included in msgstore.db.crypt14
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
How can we access old media and where is it stored in any of the backup database files ?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
the media files of WA are stored on your device at

/internal_storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media

If you have deleted that folder your media files are gone!

if you restore of a Google Drive backup all your media will also be restored by that.
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
How far back in time can google drive backup restore media files ?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
only the last backup. that's all
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
lets say I made a backup in 2019 and i make a backup today … will I loose all chat history from 2019 as well ? will it get overwritten with recent chat history ?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
yes
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
omg what BS is this … is there a local backup i can do without overwriting the google drive backup ?
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
is this for a rooted phone or un-rooted? My galaxy s21 is not rooted
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
for non-root
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
ok and can non rooted device get access to the key file in data/data using adb shell and super user ?
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
I still go an error after restarting:

I should probably add that the galaxy S21 is on android 14 (maybe this has something to do with the sdk downgrade error) ?
[Android Apps and Games] WoKoschekk:
unfortunately you're right. it's not possibel to install a 32-Bit version of any app. you'd need a 64-Bit version (ARMv8) which does not exist:

WhatsApp - apkmirror.com

therefore, this method won't work for your device.
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
actually i did manage to fix that depreciated SDK version error by adding --bypass-low-target-sdk-block by opening WhatsAppKeyDBExtract_reboot as a readme file

The only issue now is that I get an error about Java Runtime only recognizes class file 52.0 instead of class 55.0 error
[Android Apps and Games] kssxs:
I'm stuck at the same spot... hopefully someone has a solution for this soon...
[Android Apps and Games] anmac1789@gmail.com:
yes me as well..I've downgraded to java runtime SE version 8 but still doesn't work. I dont know what java runtime 52.0 means