How to Back Up and Restore GB WhatsApp Chats (and Move Back to WhatsApp)

By the GBWhetsUP team · Updated October 2026

Backups are the single most important habit when using a modified messaging app. GB WhatsApp cannot use Google Drive backups the way the official app does, so you need to understand local backups.

Where backups are stored

On most phones the database files live in Internal storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases for official WhatsApp. GB WhatsApp builds usually use Internal storage/GBWhatsApp/Databases or share the WhatsApp folder, depending on the build. Files are named like msgstore.db.crypt14.

Move from official WhatsApp to GB WhatsApp

1. In WhatsApp tap Settings, Chats, Chat backup, Back up.
2. Install GB WhatsApp (do not uninstall WhatsApp yet if you want to keep it).
3. If your build uses a separate GBWhatsApp folder, copy the WhatsApp folder and rename the copy to GBWhatsApp, then rename files inside that start with "WhatsApp" to "GBWhatsApp" where needed.
4. Open GB WhatsApp, verify the same number and tap Restore.

Move from GB WhatsApp back to official WhatsApp

1. In GB WhatsApp create a local backup.
2. If your backup sits in a GBWhatsApp folder, rename it to WhatsApp and move it to Android/media/com.whatsapp/.
3. Uninstall GB WhatsApp.
4. Install WhatsApp from Google Play, verify the number and tap Restore.

Copy backups off the phone

Connect your phone to a computer, or use a cloud app such as Google Drive or OneDrive manually, and copy the entire Databases folder plus Media. A backup that exists only on the same phone does not protect you if the phone is lost.

Troubleshooting

• No backup found: the folder name or location does not match what the app expects. Check the path and file names.
• Restore stuck: large backups can take several minutes on Wi-Fi. Keep the screen on and wait.
• Some chats missing: you may have restored an older file. Choose the most recent msgstore file and rename it to msgstore.db.crypt14.