SMS Database Android - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
I'm trying to create a desktop (java based) application that extracts SMS from an android device and prints the SMS onto a relational database. I just have a few questions......
/*Answer Found*/
After research I found out that the SMS are stored in a database. I've been pointed in various directions, but the most common is directory is com.android.provider.telephony.SMS although I can't actually find it on my phone. My phone is rooted and I'm looking for the file using a "File manager" app from the Play store.
So my first question would be "Where is the SMS database stored"? I'm assuming it's the same place for all phones as long as it's android based. Please correct me if I'm wrong......
I'm aware the database will be encrypted. Does anyone know what type of encryption is on the database, and if so - is it easy to crack?
Thanks in advance,
Wazza
Update: OK - So it turns out the file explorer I was using was a bit......naff. I've downloaded another and am now able to see the relevant DB.
My idea was to run the developers USB debugging mode onto the computer and extract the DB like that - However, the folders / files being shown when it's plugged into the PC are those on the SDCARD. (I believe this is the level above root?).

Update 2: Seems as if I jumped the gun posting this topic. A few more hours research and I've got to where I need to be.
For those who don't know - this is how I did it.
Plugging your phone into the PC and selecting USB Debugging mode temporarily disables the "SDCARD" on your phone so you can't tamper with it whilst uploading files via the PC.
I downloaded a file manager that allows the user to view root access files / folders. I then found the mmssms.db, copied it and pasted it into a folder on the "SDCARD". I was then able to plug the phone into USB Debugging mode and transfer the database file from the phone onto my desktop.
My next challenge is viewing the database. As started in the OP, I'm aware the database is most likely encrypted. How would I go about breaking this encryption and viewing it on a database.
:good:

If you want to make backup of SMS, just use SMS Backup & Restore. It will export your database to xml file.

przemcio510 said:
If you want to make backup of SMS, just use SMS Backup & Restore. It will export your database to xml file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks przemcio but I'm doing it as a project. I don't want the easy way around

Related

[Q] How to play/ save talkbox message?

Hello,
well i'm trying to save talkbox message in to a normal file type cus i wanna send it to my friend. i found out where the files are but they are. ilbc and i have no idea how to play/convert it.
Any suggestions?
Sent from my X10 using XDA App
Bump.....
Sent from my X10 using XDA App
TalkBox - how to get voice messages from iphone to pc
In order to copy voice messages created by talkbox app from your iOS device all you have to do is to gain access to your device file system with any free software (I used iExplorer ). acess your device and you will see at the root file system the directory User->Applications and there all you application data is stored - one of them is TalkBox (you will recognize it by enter every folder and check for the folder that finish with '.app' or see the icon of the application inside it). all the messages are in [talkbox-folder-id]->Documents->Audio at caf files (Core Audio Format). export it easily with your software to your pc. Cheers and Good Luck !
help
white-bear said:
In order to copy voice messages created by talkbox app from your iOS device all you have to do is to gain access to your device file system with any free software (I used iExplorer ). acess your device and you will see at the root file system the directory User->Applications and there all you application data is stored - one of them is TalkBox (you will recognize it by enter every folder and check for the folder that finish with '.app' or see the icon of the application inside it). all the messages are in [talkbox-folder-id]->Documents->Audio at caf files (Core Audio Format). export it easily with your software to your pc. Cheers and Good Luck !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
This all sounds really good as i have a deceased friend and wanting desperately to switch / access / back up talk box voice messages between my devices.
All was stored on my samsung galaxy s3 and now i have an s5 things are proving a little tricky so could you please brake down these instructions for me so i can successfully access them from the root.
I can access them in the device but only in the .ilbc format..
Thanks in advance

[Q] Windows Phone 8.1 WhatsApp backup/restore

I've seen some threads about accessing the WhatsApp messages backup database files on iPhone, Android and older Windows Phone versions (7.x). However, none of the methods seem to be compatible with the WhatsApp messages backup database file found on Windows Phone 8.1. I am looking for a way to either extract/decrypt or restore an older messages backup database. Tried so far:
- Place messages.db file on SD card and reinstall WhatsApp. WhatsApp does NOT find the backup on installation. It only restores the most recent chats (not the ones from the backup file)
- Tried available tools for iPhone/Android (Python scripts with crypto 5/7/8). Database format is incompatible
- Tried opening the database file directly in Microsoft Access, SQLite Browser. Unrecognized file format
- Tried the Zune/WP Device Manager approach. Seems to work only with Windows Phone 7.x, Windows Phone 8 is not seen by the tool
- Tried Windows Phone Power Tools to access Isolated Storage for the WhatsApp app, but access to an apps isolated storage is not possible in Windows Phone 8 anymore.
- Tried the WhatsApp Xtractor, but it contains the same iPhone/Android python scripts that don't work with the Windows Phone version
- Even tried asking WhatsApp support directly, but they have not given any response yet
Can any WhatsApp / encryption wizard please help me out. I am more than willing to reward/tip you for it if the solution works!
i have the same problem ,pls pls pls tell me about the solution thx
Given that you already enabled full FS access on your phone or have control over an app wich has the ID_CAP_OEMPUBLICDIRECTORY capability, you can extract the unencrypted sqlite database from C:\Data\SharedData\OEM\Public\WhatsApp.
The structure of the database is quite complex (I suppose it grew over the years), but not too hard to understand.
However, I have no experience in using this mechanism as a backup/restore solution.
Source: blackhat . com/docs/ldn-15/materials/london-15-DeFulgentis-Witchcraft-For-Windows-Phone-Breakers.pdf page 68f
Sorry for broken link, I'm a new member.
I realize this is a pity, I want the Microsoft support seriously and updating applications
If you do not want to unlock / flash your phone in order to enable the full FS unlock, you can try the hack as shown in the Blackhat slides posted above.
It works by replacing an apps' core files with your own, but keeping the capability restrictions of the original app. (Use http://forum.xda-developers.com/win...p-customwpsystem-patch-xaps-wpsystem-t2975419 for example)
So just target an app with ID_CAP_OEMPUBLICDIRECTORY, deploy your custom payload and use it to copy the WhatsApp files somewhere.
Given the full FS access, is there any way to access the Whatsapp key file like on Android. That's what you would need to access the backup files instead of the unencrypted current message database, which is easily opened as SQLite database?
Hello ... I'm new here ... just wondering if there is any answer to this question ... I know it's not a recent discussion, but I really need some help from you guys. I have a wp where whatsapp is installed, but it's asking for verification and I dont have no more the sim card related to that account ... I saw chats, but then I made a huge mistake (opened whatsapp while I was online) and now I cannot access to those anymore ... I have messages.db but I'm unable to retrieve the key to decrypt that ... there are tons of posts about similar issue on android or IOS, but I need the same for WP ... is it something someone can drive me through? Thanks a lot in advance
If your phone has the Full-FS-Unlock enabled you can get the unencrypted databases at C:\Data\Users\DefApps\APPDATA\Local\Packages\5319275A.WhatsApp_cv1g1gvanyjgm\LocalState (or similar package name).
Or you can get unencrypted backups from C:\Data\SharedData\OEM\Public\WhatsApp
Or you can use a interop-unlocked File Manager App
jumpz said:
If your phone has the Full-FS-Unlock enabled you can get the unencrypted databases at C:\Data\Users\DefApps\APPDATA\Local\Packages\5319275A.WhatsApp_cv1g1gvanyjgm\LocalState (or similar package name).
Or you can get unencrypted backups from C:\Data\SharedData\OEM\Public\WhatsApp
Or you can use a interop-unlocked File Manager App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The files in C:\Data\SharedData\OEM\Public\WhatsApp seem to be encrypted as well … Or can you just not open them with a standard SQLite viewer?
weaselmc said:
The files in C:\Data\SharedData\OEM\Public\WhatsApp seem to be encrypted as well … Or can you just not open them with a standard SQLite viewer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, these files are indeed encrypted.
The winwazzapmigrator software did a good job migrating my database to a new android phone.
Tool to access file system on Windows 8.1 mobile
jumpz said:
If your phone has the Full-FS-Unlock enabled you can get the unencrypted databases at C:\Data\Users\DefApps\APPDATA\Local\Packages\5319275A.WhatsApp_cv1g1gvanyjgm\LocalState (or similar package name).
Or you can get unencrypted backups from C:\Data\SharedData\OEM\Public\WhatsApp
Or you can use a interop-unlocked File Manager App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can anyone help me with a tool to access the file system where app files are stored on a windows 8.1 mobile?
me too
PritiM said:
Can anyone help me with a tool to access the file system where app files are stored on a windows 8.1 mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have the same request...

Moving Pics to new phone while preserving the dates?

Hi all!
An oldie but a goldie!
I've changed from S6 32g, to S6Eedge 64g since I was running out of space.
Now I need to transfer 4000 photos (sorted by date) to the new phone. A direct copy/move from PC converts all the created dates to the current date (ie when transfer was done) which as you can imagine screws everything up royally!
Ive tried and failed in many many many ways including:
FTP
Syncing programs from pc to phone
ADB push
WEBdav
Hail marys, and praying to every god out there
They all bugger up the dates...........
The ONLY ONLY way Ive found out that works is by zipping up the original files, transferring to new phone, and unzipping locally with Total Commander. ONLY Total Commander seems to be able to unzip and preserve the dates, all the other file managers and extracting programs (I tried 10-15) out there can NOT manage this. Total Commander probably works cuz im rooted, and it can use this.
HOWEVER this only worked with smaller directories, but my main pics folder is an 8 gig compressed zip, and when I try the same way Total Commander only manages to unzip some 700 files and stops (anyone else come across this limitation?). So the only way I can manage is to zip up the original files in 7-8 different zip files and unzip locally individually, which is a big hassle.
Ive googled many threads on this problem, most of them were unresolved and some solutions refer to previous android versions or software and dont work anymore.
I'm hoping that you all dont spend four days setting up a new phone everytime ( home screen and app settings is a whole different drama! Thank you Titanium backup! iOS really has the jump on Andoird when it comes to changing phones...)
The only thing I can think of which I havent tried yet is USB OTG, since I dont have the cable. Anyone can confirm whether this method keeps the dates unchnaged?
So in your experience, whats the best way of doing this? How do you guys do it?
Why you need to store such a large amount of photos in your phone.
Did you try to sync to flickr or google photos?
Sent from my MI 5 using Tapatalk
I want to have immediate access, cant rely on patchy internet connection, areas without coverage (inside a lot of buildings, or basements) and can you imagine how much it would cost when roaming?
Everybody is talking about cloud cloud cloud, without taking account that its not a solution for all sitautions..
Update and for future help for people who will come across this issue.
I managed it!
I used Total Commander on the phone through the LAN plugin function, to access my backup folder on the pc, select all files and copy to local phone directory.
You need to initiate the copy from the PHONE on Total Commander, ie pull the files onto the phone, dont copy them by drag and drop from PC.
It took a while but it was done!
Dates and timestamps all preserved and correct!
k.aalai said:
Update and for future help for people who will come across this issue.
I managed it!
I used Total Commander on the phone through the LAN plugin function, to access my backup folder on the pc, select all files and copy to local phone directory.
You need to initiate the copy from the PHONE on Total Commander, ie pull the files onto the phone, dont copy them by drag and drop from PC.
It took a while but it was done!
Dates and timestamps all preserved and correct!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been trying to tackle this same problem over the last few days with no luck. I just tried total commander and it was unsuccessful. Was there anything special you did? Like you mentioned the entire copy process was initiated on the phone via total commander. However, I'm not rooted so I'm wondering if that's the issue...
k.aalai said:
Update and for future help for people who will come across this issue.
I managed it!
I used Total Commander on the phone through the LAN plugin function, to access my backup folder on the pc, select all files and copy to local phone directory.
You need to initiate the copy from the PHONE on Total Commander, ie pull the files onto the phone, dont copy them by drag and drop from PC.
It took a while but it was done!
Dates and timestamps all preserved and correct!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
I'm facing the same problem\task as yours and I want to know how did you transfer photos TO the PC with the file creation dates saved?
Has any of you tried compressing the images on your device to a zip file and then unzipping them on the PC?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Am The Egg Man,
They Are The Egg Men.
I Am The Walrus!
Coo Coo Cachoo!
I DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT VIA PM UNLESS ASKED/REQUESTED BY MYSELF.
PLEASE KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE
Hello its me, the OP.
Re your question about moving files from phone to PC, I used the usual way of plugging the phone into pc by USB, and simply copying from windows explorer. Things were ok for me like that.
Or as Ibuporfen said, try zipping the pics folder on the phone, transfer the zip file, and decompress on the pc.
I think the confusion here is the difference between CREATED and MODIFIED dates.
Try copying a file locally in windows ie from PC to PC, you see it always gets the current CREATED date and not the original date. I use the MODIFIED dates as my preferred sort method, which is the common sort option in many apps, so MODIFIED date is the one that matters to me.
Are you by any chance on the pc trying to sort by CREATED date instead of the MODIFIED? If proper sorting is what you are trying to achieve, is the created date critical for you? And if for some reason MODIFIED date column is not showing up, you can always add that column in the windows file explorer.
As a general update, my procedure now, for repeated use which I do about once a week, to have a current backup of the photos on the phone is as below:
1- Get "FTP server" (by olivetreesoftware, or any other ftp Server for android)
2- Get goodsync https://www.goodsync.com/ for pc
3- Setup a sync job from phone to pc over FTP (this was the only way I cold reliably get access to the phone and its files, cuz now the USB conncection is all about MTP, music files and that kinda of rubbish, which makes it really difficult to accesses it just as a disc.
4- This way I easily copy the files from my phone, to a backup folder on a pc so i have an uptodate backup, and every week or so when I run the program, the backup folder gets updated with all the deletions and additions that have happened on the phone! For copying BACK from pc TO phone, I still use the TotalCommander method, and I think to preserve dates, phone needs to rooted....
I had to this many times recently, since for some strange reason, there was a time that some system app (Samsung S6 Edge, never found which app or why) would suddenly change ALLLLLLLL the dates of ALLLLLL my pictures to the present moment, so you can imagine how that messed up all the sorting of the pics! I had to update my ROM and thankfully this bug has not appeared again. I still get some random changes when the seconds field is set to zero, but as long as the year/day/hours/minutes are not messed up, I can live with that.
Hope this helps!
PS Cant wait to upgrade my phone, to one with an SD card, so I don't have to go through all this rubbish!
k.aalai said:
Update and for future help for people who will come across this issue.
I managed it!
I used Total Commander on the phone through the LAN plugin function, to access my backup folder on the pc, select all files and copy to local phone directory.
You need to initiate the copy from the PHONE on Total Commander, ie pull the files onto the phone, dont copy them by drag and drop from PC.
It took a while but it was done!
Dates and timestamps all preserved and correct!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey where do you stay mate? Because Im about to come over to your place and KISS YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE! ITS FINALLY WORKING! AFTER 3 DAYS OF GRINDING TO FIND A SOLUTION. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I have around 9000 plus photos that I keep with me at all times (from older iPhones, just jumped into the android bandwagon, which is why I had to do this), and its my only photo journal, and I need to access them based on the date and organization of the gallery. Its still transferring as I type this, but I know its working since I checked the gallery and the pictures that usually pop up in "today"'s folder, shows up in the right date.
Once again man, THANK YOU.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE STUCK:
Get Total commander
Get the lan plugin for Total commander:
Click on LAN, add in the static IP address, user name and password of the PC that contains the pictures you want to transfer.
Copy paste FROM THE APP itself! (Make SURE the folder that contains the pictures have the SHARE feature on in Windows.
I cant post links here yet so search for these on youtube:
'How to access files on Windows PC from Android"- by Busy Ping (I know its not Total Commander in the video, but it's the exact same process)
"Total Commander able to work around most SD write limitations in KitKat (tested on Note 3)" - By Android Police
Hope this works for you guys! Good luck!
You are welcome Vangelis!
A question though, are you on OREO, and if not are you rooted?
Cause the method/drama above is needed on pre Oreo phones, and works only on rooted devices (as I found out after lots of trial and error). The problem is/was lack of write permissions on non rooted devices, ie apps were not allowed to update the dates on files if not rooted.
I just came back to this thread to update it and add whats below, and I saw your post!
On my new S8 which I got in January, I couldn't be bothered with rooting etc, so I didn't have my pics on the new phone for a couple of months and just waited for OREO.
As I posted on an Oreo update thread elsewhere, this is now fixed on Oreo:
YEY! Finally got the XEU update!
And miracle of miracles, Google finally fixed the file write permissions, which means even when non-rooted you can copy files to the phone, and the file dates don't change. Which means that you can copy your pics etc from a PC to the phone and the file dates stay intact, so the sort order isn't screwed up! Only been waiting 4 years for this, since most phones removed the external SD card option! Now we have the SD card back, but for other apps like whataspp etc that still use the internal memory, this is finally fixed!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However, some apps (filemanagers, filesync apps etc eg Airdroid) still dont do this properly, but totalcommander works perfectly. I still havent tried a direct copy from pc to phone (by usb cable) so no idea if this simplest method works now.
As a suggestions(same as in my previous post, Im still doing it since it works very well), this is my current setup for regular backup of all my phone pics to a pc :
Put an ftp server on your android, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theolivetree.ftpserver&hl=en
Get this app for your pc, https://www.goodsync.com/
On the goodsync app, add the directories on the phone you need backed up, plus the backup storage directory, and any additional options
Whenever you want to backup your phone pics, just launch the ftp app on phone, and through goodsync, backup all the new and changed pics etc to a pc hard drive through the WIFI (don't need to plug in the phone). Works great!
PS I copied my pics to the now OREO phone, first with the totalcommander through wifi (to check that it works now!), and then using a USB stick with the OTG adapter (since it was 13gigs, and then using totalcomamnder to copy from usb to internal memory). And it worked fine, so this is another method. You could also try putting a zip file on the phone and unzipping them there, which hopefully due to the fixed permissions should work also!
Hi there,
I have similar problem on my Huawei Mate 10 PRO, which runs on Android 8.0.0, with the security updates from 01.01.2018., kernel 4.4.23+. This phone has only the internal storage, no sd card. And when I am trying to copy/move files from external storage (i.e. with usb drive on OTG), then the files have the current date, the original is gone. I tried to change the date of file in the internal storage with total commander, and I get the error with no priveleges. Do you think, that this
And miracle of miracles, Google finally fixed the file write permissions, which means even when non-rooted you can copy files to the phone, and the file dates don't change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have to be implemented in update for my phone and only this can solve my problem?
Hello there!
I have no experience with Huawei, so cant give you a perfect answer. As far as I found out the write privilege option was implemented in Oreo, so I assume that means from the first versions of Oreo.
I can suggest a couple of things though.
1- Zip your pics on the pc, and then put the zip file on the usb card, and try unzipping to the phone (using totalcommander) . If it doesn't work, try copying the zip file first on to the phone memory and unzip from there
2- Use totalcommander to copy the files on to the phone using the network method as mentioned previously.
PS on further thoughts, try copying a file ALREADY on the phone, to a different directory, and see what the date is on the copied file. If I remember correctly, before the Oreo update, when I copied a file (instead of move) it always got a new current date, but now when I copy it still retains the original date. By checking this, you can find out if your Huawei, will or will not let an app set the date when performing a copy/move operation.
worked like a charm thanks!
Setting up sync job is confusing
k.aalai said:
Hello its me, the OP.
Re your question about moving files from phone to PC, I used the usual way of plugging the phone into pc by USB, and simply copying from windows explorer. Things were ok for me like that.
Or as Ibuporfen said, try zipping the pics folder on the phone, transfer the zip file, and decompress on the pc.
I think the confusion here is the difference between CREATED and MODIFIED dates.
Try copying a file locally in windows ie from PC to PC, you see it always gets the current CREATED date and not the original date. I use the MODIFIED dates as my preferred sort method, which is the common sort option in many apps, so MODIFIED date is the one that matters to me.
Are you by any chance on the pc trying to sort by CREATED date instead of the MODIFIED? If proper sorting is what you are trying to achieve, is the created date critical for you? And if for some reason MODIFIED date column is not showing up, you can always add that column in the windows file explorer.
As a general update, my procedure now, for repeated use which I do about once a week, to have a current backup of the photos on the phone is as below:
1- Get "FTP server" (by olivetreesoftware, or any other ftp Server for android)
2- Get goodsync https://www.goodsync.com/ for pc
3- Setup a sync job from phone to pc over FTP (this was the only way I cold reliably get access to the phone and its files, cuz now the USB conncection is all about MTP, music files and that kinda of rubbish, which makes it really difficult to accesses it just as a disc.
4- This way I easily copy the files from my phone, to a backup folder on a pc so i have an uptodate backup, and every week or so when I run the program, the backup folder gets updated with all the deletions and additions that have happened on the phone! For copying BACK from pc TO phone, I still use the TotalCommander method, and I think to preserve dates, phone needs to rooted....
I had to this many times recently, since for some strange reason, there was a time that some system app (Samsung S6 Edge, never found which app or why) would suddenly change ALLLLLLLL the dates of ALLLLLL my pictures to the present moment, so you can imagine how that messed up all the sorting of the pics! I had to update my ROM and thankfully this bug has not appeared again. I still get some random changes when the seconds field is set to zero, but as long as the year/day/hours/minutes are not messed up, I can live with that.
Hope this helps!
PS Cant wait to upgrade my phone, to one with an SD card, so I don't have to go through all this rubbish!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even after setting up right and left folders i keep getting errors. Can u kindly give me a link or guide me how to set it up ?
will this lan method also work for normal files ? i.e. non pic files such as .m4a voice recorded files, pdf files, word, excel files etc...
thank you
Maybe a quick update from me: after switching phones I installed Whatsapp and it reloaded all media (animated gif, pics and video) from it's own backup store. And all the dates were 31 May 2018. I copied these Whatsapp folders to my linux pc over wifi using Ghost Commander and the SMB plugin. Works similar to TC, no root required.
Now the neat trick: because the date (and sometimes the time) is in the filename, I could reset dates to the original with a oneliner using touch.
After that, copied the folders back with Ghost Commander (replace always) and all was set
---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------
[email protected] said:
will this lan method also work for normal files ? i.e. non pic files such as .m4a voice recorded files, pdf files, word, excel files etc...
thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely (with Ghost Commander, but TC will be the same I expect). I have copied MP3 and M4A files, .epub files, etc....
have been tryin to get my 4000+ photos to my iphone since last week. just figured out this easiest way to do this. Using the Documents app wont show the correct date and time the photos were taken. Using a .zip file wont work either. If u have the correct dates n time on the files u have on ur pc, download SHAREit to ur pc and iphone. Connect both to same wifi and probably i dont have to tell u guys how to do a file transfer.
If the dates are wrong on the files on the pc, download File Date Corrector n fix the dates.
Cheers!
We're all trying to do the same thing! It's amazing an easier solution doesn't exist off-the-shelf.
So I've just been through the same process coming here late in the game. Like you guys I've been trying to copy images from my OnePlus 3 to my new OnePlus 6 without changing date information. And here's what worked for me :
I installed RAR on both phones from the Play store. I connected an external USB memory stick using an OTG cable. As I am using Oreo I had to enable OTG from the top menu on both phones (I added the OTG option using the top menu editor) before the phones would see the external memory.
Then the process was really straightforward and extremely fast: I created RAR archives for groups of folders from the source phone directly on the memory stick - I had to give it permission to access the external drive - then I moved the memory stick to the new phone, copied the RAR archives to a temporary folder on the phone and finally expanded the contents directly back to their correct positions in the file system.
I can't believe how fast it has been compared, for example, with trying to use SuperBeam over WiFi which also changed file dates and seemed to remove exif data from images making it impossible to index them. Gbytes copied in seconds rather than minutes.
k.aalai said:
PS I copied my pics to the now OREO phone, first with the totalcommander through wifi (to check that it works now!), and then using a USB stick with the OTG adapter (since it was 13gigs, and then using totalcomamnder to copy from usb to internal memory). And it worked fine, so this is another method. You could also try putting a zip file on the phone and unzipping them there, which hopefully due to the fixed permissions should work also!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely works with a zip file unzipped using totalcommander on oreo.
I just copied a zip file from pc to phone via normal usb cable.
Then unzipped to the right folder. All dates modified correct.
Works like a charm and very easy.
Finally!! after a long time suffering with zips i accidentally found a program that saved all my pics/videos with modified dates correctly. Fast and you can use in portable mode.
Best find of the year so far! :victory: :laugh:
Download here: fosshub.com/MyPhoneExplorer.html
1 - Connect your device via USB with debug enabled
2 - Click on the Sync icon (or F1) to find the device
3 - Go to Files and choose the folder you want to save
4 - Click on the icon Download files... and choose the destination location
5 - Enjoy!!!
PS: By default it keeps a copy of everything saved in cache folder, to delete go to Settings> Advanced 2 and mark Delete filecache on exit.

MATE 10 PRO - Files copied from PC get the current dates as date created and modified

Hi there,
For 4 weeks I am using the Huawei Mate 10 PRO. Previously I've been using a Xiaomi Mi5. I have one problem regarding the data migration. I mean - when I copy photos and videos (but it happen with all files, but I need to fix this for pictures and movies to sort them properly in Galery and other apps which allow to attach photos and videos like Whatsapp), then the files on the Internal Storage of the Mate get the current date, not the original from files. To fix this I tried use the HiSuite - import, copy with Android file transfer on Mac, robocopy on windows and the last chance was given to samba share and copy with Total Commander with Lan plugin. No of them were successful. So I have to ask you, if you know working workaround... I read a lot articles about this problem and it looks like this is not the Huawei problem, it's the Android FUSE problem. But is there any working solution for this problem? I tried to change the attributes from my PC using Exiftool, but I get an error "No privileges".
Copying files changes the file creation date. That is totally normal behaviour. Same happens when you copy files in Windows from one drive to another. And as you realized yourself it is not a Huawei issue.
The EXIF-Tool can only change embedded EXIF data in pictures but that is not changed anyway when you copy pictures from your computer to your phone or viceversa.
The problem are the apps of the phone reading the file creation date instead of the EXIF data of pictures. If there is no app to change the file creation date on the phone I think there is no way to solve this problem.
try advanced renamer for windows. if i remember right it has option to set creation date from exif info
So my tests show that only moving file from one folder to another preserve the dates. I tried to change the creation date with total commander on the phone, but i get error message Access denied! (1x).
One idea left - use the otg cable and move files from it to internal storage, but i think that this will give the same result...

FIX: Whatsapp not Initializing / Whatsapp NOT Restoring Local Backup Android 12 Verified

Goal is for one Placeholder for Current Up to Date fix for those UNABLE to restore Whastapp to a new phone with Larger File Sizes. Whastapp does not seem to respond and the old options do not work.
So for those on an S22 / Android 12+ I have the up to date current solution after a few days and endless backup and restores and then proceeding to be locked out.
Set Display timer to 10 minutes and do not let your screen go blank.
Follow Exactly: 2 Options one for those media files and wanted to keep the dates and one for those that done care.
Part 1
Backup your Whatsapp folder into a .Rar / Zip File. If you have a phone with An SD card just send this copy to your SD Card. Then plug that SD card into your computer Rar the file.- Ensure when "Rar'ing" you set to Store Creation / Access time
NO SD CARD: Upload to Google Drive (it should keep the dates as what you have.- Download the file to your computer or sync your computer to Google Drive and download as a Rar.
Part 2. ONLY IF DATES ARE WRONG (Otherwise go to Part 3 )
If dates are wrong you can follow my thread here:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...le-preserving-the-dates.3423480/post-86587561
- If you backed up your Whatsapp Folder over time you can use https://www.scootersoftware.com/ Beyond Compare to VERY easily transfer the dates from your old to the new so your Whatsapp on your new phone doesnt just change all of the dates to todays.
Part 3. PREPARE TRANSFER
On your new phone Make sure you have the apps:A. RAR LabsB. MiXPlorer or Solid Explorer or any file viewerC. Backup of Whatsapp downloaded
Install Rar
Download Whatsapp
Open 1 time then Force Close Program
Open File Explorer (see Above MIX/Solid, etc)
Part 4 VERIFY Directories Created / Made
android> Media Folder
Created folder Labeled"com.whatsapp"
Sub Folder"WhatsaApp
Part 5. Extract Previous backup into New Folder
Open Rar File of Whatsap that you created
Extract Everything in the folder into:
Internal Storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/Whatsapp
Copy the files ("msgstore.db.crypt14", "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14"...)
Change the date of the backup you want to use to msgstore.db.crypt14 (If the number is different change it to what you have currently)
When done Extracting change main Folder from
com.whatsapp to com.whastappOLD
Create new folder com.whatsapp
Copy all folders inside com.whatsappOLD to new folder
The reason for this is that if you delete or make an error during this process you lose all of the data so were saving you time in case you make an error and have to start gain. I had to do this 4x to get it right
Part 6 Installation
Delete / Remove all Google accounts and Contacts folder
Put new Sim Card into your new phone
Open Whatsapp and verify your phone numer (you have to use the same number as on your old smartphone)
Once Verified Put your phone into Airplane Mode
If next part does not work for immediate backup: When it asked you to grant access to your files for Google drive, ignore the message and instead close the app (press □ and wipe Whatsapp away)
If asked for access to files / Google Drive say Yes
When asked to give access to contacts say NO
When asked to have access to files say YES
You should then see Local Backup found. If your file is LARGE you need to WAIT until it shows the file size (mine took 25 minutes). Just ensure your phone is set to a long display timer
Part 7 BACK UP Restore Options (still in Airplane Mode FYI)
A. If you see a restore button:
When you FINALLY SEE the display size (should be large and have the restore date) of your backup click Restore
Once it begins Disable Airplane Mode
Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background). It should say complete / 100% and provide you a button for next
Whatsapp will say Initializing. Give it a few minutes.
If stalled close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
B. If No Restore Button:
If no restore button shows and you have Verfiy by Code (sms/Telephon)
Close App
Re-open app
Turn on Airplane Mode
When asked for Google Drive option to view contacts / folders/ file system (all in one question). Click Yes
When asked SEPARATELY for Contact Permission: Say NO <---- VERY IMPORTANT
you should have no contacts though so it should not ask,
Storage Permission: CLICK YES
If there is no restore option you, You should now see your local backup, press "restore backup" when it SHOWS THE FULL FIlE SIZE NOT BEFORE.
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet. 9. Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background), close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
C. If neither work above for you
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet.
You will see your local storage behind the popup saying allow google drive.
Wait until it shows the full flile Size
You will need to press add account and have your fingers ready for instant tapping between add account and instant tapping restore button
For some it has been 10-30 times doing this practice, you will luckily hit restore button
When progress bar says 100% it is restored.
You will still see app asking google drive option, don't click skip (this will reset the app ,leading to nothing restored)
When the app is asking to restore from google drive AND YOU HAVE HIT 100%, close the app right away (very important)
Open the app, and the app will ask you to set name, set your name
Initializing may take awhile. If it over 5-10 min ensure that airplane mode is off. Otherwise close app and try again.
If nothing works. Uninstall Whatsapp. Make the folders manually, keep only 1 data base file in the Database directory and transfer the internal structure of com.whatsappOLD into the new directory.
It is important to have NO GOOGLE accounts nor Contact files. You can add these after.
Key thing is to let it Compute the size of the folder. If it cannot compute, it does not work. From there turn on the internet and click retry.
Shout out to Merlin Behling
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/67735037/whatsapp-cannot-detect-local-backup-
and Rahil2009
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/np2zjp
XDA for those moving pics to a new phone:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...erving-the-dates.3423480/page-3#post-86588833
My updated method as of 3-24-2022 has worked on over 30 phones for those that had issues. I will try to respond when I can but I need to stress this works on the latest S22 Ultra. I even spent more time looking at years of whatsap backups and using Beyond Compare 4 was able to get all of my photos and files updated on my new phone. If you have old photos with wrong dates I highly recommend that program
i found a slightly quicker way, this works assuming that BOTH your databases folders (original and new) have the same .crypt extensions (in my case it was .crypt14)
1) back up your ORIGINAL WhatsApp files from either
\SDCARD\WhatsApp
or
\SDCARD\Android\media\com.whatsapp\WhatsApp
not my fault if you skip this step, you been warned, always make sure to have your backup.
2) install the latest Whatsapp
3)
If asked for access to files / Google Drive say Yes
When asked to give access to contacts say YES
When asked to have access to files say YES
go ahead and send anyone a whatsapp message through whatsapp (this step cant be skipped or the db.crypt files wont be created)
4) go to Settings>Chats>ChatBackup
Select your google account
Backup using cellular <Enabled> ( this one is optional, if you are using WiFi you can use Wifi)
Include Video <Enabled>
Backup to Google Drive <Only When I tap Backup>
5 )Now COPY (not move, but COPY) ALL the contents of your original backed up WhatsAPP folder into the following directory
\SDCARD\Android\media\com.whatsapp\WhatsApp
6) this is the tricky part, you are going to have to do this quick. NOTE: I did this using a computer since it was much faster to drag over and copy the files.
With the INTERNET access enabled and working you are QUICKLY going to choose Settings>Chats>ChatBackup>"BACKCUP" as soon as you click backup you need to QUICKLY COPY both the Databases and Backups folder from your original into the \SDCARD\Android\media\com.whatsapp\WhatsApp folder
it will ask you if you want to overwrite, just hurry and click yes. it should overwrite the files, i did this in about 2 seconds roughly.
whatsapp will start backing up and let it finish to 100%. once done exit out of whatsapp
7) now COMPLETELY uninstall whatsapp (this is to make sure the cache/data is gone and all related files). Once unisntalled then install it again. this should take you to the setup process again. Click yes to everything and when it asks you to restore choose from your google account choose your google account and it should start restoring. that it, now everything should be restored.
dpoverlord said:
Goal is for one Placeholder for Current Up to Date fix for those UNABLE to restore Whastapp to a new phone with Larger File Sizes. Whastapp does not seem to respond and the old options do not work.
So for those on an S22 / Android 12+ I have the up to date current solution after a few days and endless backup and restores and then proceeding to be locked out.
Set Display timer to 10 minutes and do not let your screen go blank.
Follow Exactly: 2 Options one for those media files and wanted to keep the dates and one for those that done care.
Part 1
Backup your Whatsapp folder into a .Rar / Zip File. If you have a phone with An SD card just send this copy to your SD Card. Then plug that SD card into your computer Rar the file.- Ensure when "Rar'ing" you set to Store Creation / Access time
NO SD CARD: Upload to Google Drive (it should keep the dates as what you have.- Download the file to your computer or sync your computer to Google Drive and download as a Rar.
Part 2. ONLY IF DATES ARE WRONG (Otherwise go to Part 3 )
If dates are wrong you can follow my thread here:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...le-preserving-the-dates.3423480/post-86587561
- If you backed up your Whatsapp Folder over time you can use https://www.scootersoftware.com/ Beyond Compare to VERY easily transfer the dates from your old to the new so your Whatsapp on your new phone doesnt just change all of the dates to todays.
Part 3. PREPARE TRANSFER
On your new phone Make sure you have the apps:A. RAR LabsB. MiXPlorer or Solid Explorer or any file viewerC. Backup of Whatsapp downloaded
Install Rar
Download Whatsapp
Open 1 time then Force Close Program
Open File Explorer (see Above MIX/Solid, etc)
Part 4 VERIFY Directories Created / Made
android> Media Folder
Created folder Labeled"com.whatsapp"
Sub Folder"WhatsaApp
Part 5. Extract Previous backup into New Folder
Open Rar File of Whatsap that you created
Extract Everything in the folder into:
Internal Storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/Whatsapp
Copy the files ("msgstore.db.crypt14", "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14"...)
Change the date of the backup you want to use to msgstore.db.crypt14 (If the number is different change it to what you have currently)
When done Extracting change main Folder from
com.whatsapp to com.whastappOLD
Create new folder com.whatsapp
Copy all folders inside com.whatsappOLD to new folder
The reason for this is that if you delete or make an error during this process you lose all of the data so were saving you time in case you make an error and have to start gain. I had to do this 4x to get it right
Part 6 Installation
Delete / Remove all Google accounts and Contacts folder
Put new Sim Card into your new phone
Open Whatsapp and verify your phone numer (you have to use the same number as on your old smartphone)
Once Verified Put your phone into Airplane Mode
If next part does not work for immediate backup: When it asked you to grant access to your files for Google drive, ignore the message and instead close the app (press □ and wipe Whatsapp away)
If asked for access to files / Google Drive say Yes
When asked to give access to contacts say NO
When asked to have access to files say YES
You should then see Local Backup found. If your file is LARGE you need to WAIT until it shows the file size (mine took 25 minutes). Just ensure your phone is set to a long display timer
Part 7 BACK UP Restore Options (still in Airplane Mode FYI)
A. If you see a restore button:
When you FINALLY SEE the display size (should be large and have the restore date) of your backup click Restore
Once it begins Disable Airplane Mode
Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background). It should say complete / 100% and provide you a button for next
Whatsapp will say Initializing. Give it a few minutes.
If stalled close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
B. If No Restore Button:
If no restore button shows and you have Verfiy by Code (sms/Telephon)
Close App
Re-open app
Turn on Airplane Mode
When asked for Google Drive option to view contacts / folders/ file system (all in one question). Click Yes
When asked SEPARATELY for Contact Permission: Say NO <---- VERY IMPORTANT
you should have no contacts though so it should not ask,
Storage Permission: CLICK YES
If there is no restore option you, You should now see your local backup, press "restore backup" when it SHOWS THE FULL FIlE SIZE NOT BEFORE.
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet. 9. Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background), close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
C. If neither work above for you
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet.
You will see your local storage behind the popup saying allow google drive.
Wait until it shows the full flile Size
You will need to press add account and have your fingers ready for instant tapping between add account and instant tapping restore button
For some it has been 10-30 times doing this practice, you will luckily hit restore button
When progress bar says 100% it is restored.
You will still see app asking google drive option, don't click skip (this will reset the app ,leading to nothing restored)
When the app is asking to restore from google drive AND YOU HAVE HIT 100%, close the app right away (very important)
Open the app, and the app will ask you to set name, set your name
Initializing may take awhile. If it over 5-10 min ensure that airplane mode is off. Otherwise close app and try again.
If nothing works. Uninstall Whatsapp. Make the folders manually, keep only 1 data base file in the Database directory and transfer the internal structure of com.whatsappOLD into the new directory.
It is important to have NO GOOGLE accounts nor Contact files. You can add these after.
Key thing is to let it Compute the size of the folder. If it cannot compute, it does not work. From there turn on the internet and click retry.
Shout out to Merlin Behling
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/67735037/whatsapp-cannot-detect-local-backup-
and Rahil2009
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/np2zjp
XDA for those moving pics to a new phone:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...erving-the-dates.3423480/page-3#post-86588833
My updated method as of 3-24-2022 has worked on over 30 phones for those that had issues. I will try to respond when I can but I need to stress this works on the latest S22 Ultra. I even spent more time looking at years of whatsap backups and using Beyond Compare 4 was able to get all of my photos and files updated on my new phone. If you have old photos with wrong dates I highly recommend that program
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sir, thank you very much. This method works with some shortcuts as I have beeen migrating from Androis 7.1.1 to LineAge 19.1 android 12 on my poor Xperia Z5. I really underestimated the amount of jump from 7.1.1 to 12 and the complications it would bring together. Anyhow, I followed your steps with some small modifications such as I did not make .zip as my old whatsapp folder was already in the same device but at /internal storage/Whatsapp tree. So, I just followed parts 1,3,4,5 and 6 and 7A. Sony camera is still laggy and out of focus , very difficult to signin whatsapp web with QR code.
XeoNoX said:
i found a slightly quicker way, this works assuming that BOTH your databases folders (original and new) have the same .crypt extensions (in my case it was .crypt14)
1) back up your ORIGINAL WhatsApp files from either
\SDCARD\WhatsApp
or
\SDCARD\Android\media\com.whatsapp\WhatsApp
not my fault if you skip this step, you been warned, always make sure to have your backup.
2) install the latest Whatsapp
3)
If asked for access to files / Google Drive say Yes
When asked to give access to contacts say YES
When asked to have access to files say YES
go ahead and send anyone a whatsapp message through whatsapp (this step cant be skipped or the db.crypt files wont be created)
4) go to Settings>Chats>ChatBackup
Select your google account
Backup using cellular <Enabled> ( this one is optional, if you are using WiFi you can use Wifi)
Include Video <Enabled>
Backup to Google Drive <Only When I tap Backup>
5 )Now COPY (not move, but COPY) ALL the contents of your original backed up WhatsAPP folder into the following directory
\SDCARD\Android\media\com.whatsapp\WhatsApp
6) this is the tricky part, you are going to have to do this quick. NOTE: I did this using a computer since it was much faster to drag over and copy the files.
With the INTERNET access enabled and working you are QUICKLY going to choose Settings>Chats>ChatBackup>"BACKCUP" as soon as you click backup you need to QUICKLY COPY both the Databases and Backups folder from your original into the \SDCARD\Android\media\com.whatsapp\WhatsApp folder
it will ask you if you want to overwrite, just hurry and click yes. it should overwrite the files, i did this in about 2 seconds roughly.
whatsapp will start backing up and let it finish to 100%. once done exit out of whatsapp
7) now COMPLETELY uninstall whatsapp (this is to make sure the cache/data is gone and all related files). Once unisntalled then install it again. this should take you to the setup process again. Click yes to everything and when it asks you to restore choose from your google account choose your google account and it should start restoring. that it, now everything should be restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi XeoNoX,
May I know your methods work on old phone number or new phone number? Ahh.. I guess it's for a new number.
dpoverlord said:
Goal is for one Placeholder for Current Up to Date fix for those UNABLE to restore Whastapp to a new phone with Larger File Sizes. Whastapp does not seem to respond and the old options do not work.
So for those on an S22 / Android 12+ I have the up to date current solution after a few days and endless backup and restores and then proceeding to be locked out.
Set Display timer to 10 minutes and do not let your screen go blank.
Follow Exactly: 2 Options one for those media files and wanted to keep the dates and one for those that done care.
Part 1
Backup your Whatsapp folder into a .Rar / Zip File. If you have a phone with An SD card just send this copy to your SD Card. Then plug that SD card into your computer Rar the file.- Ensure when "Rar'ing" you set to Store Creation / Access time
NO SD CARD: Upload to Google Drive (it should keep the dates as what you have.- Download the file to your computer or sync your computer to Google Drive and download as a Rar.
Part 2. ONLY IF DATES ARE WRONG (Otherwise go to Part 3 )
If dates are wrong you can follow my thread here:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...le-preserving-the-dates.3423480/post-86587561
- If you backed up your Whatsapp Folder over time you can use https://www.scootersoftware.com/ Beyond Compare to VERY easily transfer the dates from your old to the new so your Whatsapp on your new phone doesnt just change all of the dates to todays.
Part 3. PREPARE TRANSFER
On your new phone Make sure you have the apps:A. RAR LabsB. MiXPlorer or Solid Explorer or any file viewerC. Backup of Whatsapp downloaded
Install Rar
Download Whatsapp
Open 1 time then Force Close Program
Open File Explorer (see Above MIX/Solid, etc)
Part 4 VERIFY Directories Created / Made
android> Media Folder
Created folder Labeled"com.whatsapp"
Sub Folder"WhatsaApp
Part 5. Extract Previous backup into New Folder
Open Rar File of Whatsap that you created
Extract Everything in the folder into:
Internal Storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/Whatsapp
Copy the files ("msgstore.db.crypt14", "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14"...)
Change the date of the backup you want to use to msgstore.db.crypt14 (If the number is different change it to what you have currently)
When done Extracting change main Folder from
com.whatsapp to com.whastappOLD
Create new folder com.whatsapp
Copy all folders inside com.whatsappOLD to new folder
The reason for this is that if you delete or make an error during this process you lose all of the data so were saving you time in case you make an error and have to start gain. I had to do this 4x to get it right
Part 6 Installation
Delete / Remove all Google accounts and Contacts folder
Put new Sim Card into your new phone
Open Whatsapp and verify your phone numer (you have to use the same number as on your old smartphone)
Once Verified Put your phone into Airplane Mode
If next part does not work for immediate backup: When it asked you to grant access to your files for Google drive, ignore the message and instead close the app (press □ and wipe Whatsapp away)
If asked for access to files / Google Drive say Yes
When asked to give access to contacts say NO
When asked to have access to files say YES
You should then see Local Backup found. If your file is LARGE you need to WAIT until it shows the file size (mine took 25 minutes). Just ensure your phone is set to a long display timer
Part 7 BACK UP Restore Options (still in Airplane Mode FYI)
A. If you see a restore button:
When you FINALLY SEE the display size (should be large and have the restore date) of your backup click Restore
Once it begins Disable Airplane Mode
Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background). It should say complete / 100% and provide you a button for next
Whatsapp will say Initializing. Give it a few minutes.
If stalled close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
B. If No Restore Button:
If no restore button shows and you have Verfiy by Code (sms/Telephon)
Close App
Re-open app
Turn on Airplane Mode
When asked for Google Drive option to view contacts / folders/ file system (all in one question). Click Yes
When asked SEPARATELY for Contact Permission: Say NO <---- VERY IMPORTANT
you should have no contacts though so it should not ask,
Storage Permission: CLICK YES
If there is no restore option you, You should now see your local backup, press "restore backup" when it SHOWS THE FULL FIlE SIZE NOT BEFORE.
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet. 9. Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background), close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
C. If neither work above for you
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet.
You will see your local storage behind the popup saying allow google drive.
Wait until it shows the full flile Size
You will need to press add account and have your fingers ready for instant tapping between add account and instant tapping restore button
For some it has been 10-30 times doing this practice, you will luckily hit restore button
When progress bar says 100% it is restored.
You will still see app asking google drive option, don't click skip (this will reset the app ,leading to nothing restored)
When the app is asking to restore from google drive AND YOU HAVE HIT 100%, close the app right away (very important)
Open the app, and the app will ask you to set name, set your name
Initializing may take awhile. If it over 5-10 min ensure that airplane mode is off. Otherwise close app and try again.
If nothing works. Uninstall Whatsapp. Make the folders manually, keep only 1 data base file in the Database directory and transfer the internal structure of com.whatsappOLD into the new directory.
It is important to have NO GOOGLE accounts nor Contact files. You can add these after.
Key thing is to let it Compute the size of the folder. If it cannot compute, it does not work. From there turn on the internet and click retry.
Shout out to Merlin Behling
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/67735037/whatsapp-cannot-detect-local-backup-
and Rahil2009
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/np2zjp
XDA for those moving pics to a new phone:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...erving-the-dates.3423480/page-3#post-86588833
My updated method as of 3-24-2022 has worked on over 30 phones for those that had issues. I will try to respond when I can but I need to stress this works on the latest S22 Ultra. I even spent more time looking at years of whatsap backups and using Beyond Compare 4 was able to get all of my photos and files updated on my new phone. If you have old photos with wrong dates I highly recommend that program
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very very much, I've been frustrated with How BADLY Whatsapp handling migrating to new s22. As I need those chats for work and I have 4 GB of data (those images and document that I'm to lazy to organize aka delete), so I need to locally restore while Whatsapp give me no choice but restore from Google Drive (zzzzzz).
I specially register to write this thank you messages. That's how much helpful your post is.
As for me to counter DATE being wrong. I use 'My Files' inside old Galaxy phones to compress Whatsapp Folder to 7zip, then copy those to S22 using 'Nearby Shares'. All the DATE is intact after extracting.
dpoverlord said:
Goal is for one Placeholder for Current Up to Date fix for those UNABLE to restore Whastapp to a new phone with Larger File Sizes. Whastapp does not seem to respond and the old options do not work.
So for those on an S22 / Android 12+ I have the up to date current solution after a few days and endless backup and restores and then proceeding to be locked out.
Set Display timer to 10 minutes and do not let your screen go blank.
Follow Exactly: 2 Options one for those media files and wanted to keep the dates and one for those that done care.
Part 1
Backup your Whatsapp folder into a .Rar / Zip File. If you have a phone with An SD card just send this copy to your SD Card. Then plug that SD card into your computer Rar the file.- Ensure when "Rar'ing" you set to Store Creation / Access time
NO SD CARD: Upload to Google Drive (it should keep the dates as what you have.- Download the file to your computer or sync your computer to Google Drive and download as a Rar.
Part 2. ONLY IF DATES ARE WRONG (Otherwise go to Part 3 )
If dates are wrong you can follow my thread here:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...le-preserving-the-dates.3423480/post-86587561
- If you backed up your Whatsapp Folder over time you can use https://www.scootersoftware.com/ Beyond Compare to VERY easily transfer the dates from your old to the new so your Whatsapp on your new phone doesnt just change all of the dates to todays.
Part 3. PREPARE TRANSFER
On your new phone Make sure you have the apps:A. RAR LabsB. MiXPlorer or Solid Explorer or any file viewerC. Backup of Whatsapp downloaded
Install Rar
Download Whatsapp
Open 1 time then Force Close Program
Open File Explorer (see Above MIX/Solid, etc)
Part 4 VERIFY Directories Created / Made
android> Media Folder
Created folder Labeled"com.whatsapp"
Sub Folder"WhatsaApp
Part 5. Extract Previous backup into New Folder
Open Rar File of Whatsap that you created
Extract Everything in the folder into:
Internal Storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/Whatsapp
Copy the files ("msgstore.db.crypt14", "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14"...)
Change the date of the backup you want to use to msgstore.db.crypt14 (If the number is different change it to what you have currently)
When done Extracting change main Folder from
com.whatsapp to com.whastappOLD
Create new folder com.whatsapp
Copy all folders inside com.whatsappOLD to new folder
The reason for this is that if you delete or make an error during this process you lose all of the data so were saving you time in case you make an error and have to start gain. I had to do this 4x to get it right
Part 6 Installation
Delete / Remove all Google accounts and Contacts folder
Put new Sim Card into your new phone
Open Whatsapp and verify your phone numer (you have to use the same number as on your old smartphone)
Once Verified Put your phone into Airplane Mode
If next part does not work for immediate backup: When it asked you to grant access to your files for Google drive, ignore the message and instead close the app (press □ and wipe Whatsapp away)
If asked for access to files / Google Drive say Yes
When asked to give access to contacts say NO
When asked to have access to files say YES
You should then see Local Backup found. If your file is LARGE you need to WAIT until it shows the file size (mine took 25 minutes). Just ensure your phone is set to a long display timer
Part 7 BACK UP Restore Options (still in Airplane Mode FYI)
A. If you see a restore button:
When you FINALLY SEE the display size (should be large and have the restore date) of your backup click Restore
Once it begins Disable Airplane Mode
Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background). It should say complete / 100% and provide you a button for next
Whatsapp will say Initializing. Give it a few minutes.
If stalled close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
B. If No Restore Button:
If no restore button shows and you have Verfiy by Code (sms/Telephon)
Close App
Re-open app
Turn on Airplane Mode
When asked for Google Drive option to view contacts / folders/ file system (all in one question). Click Yes
When asked SEPARATELY for Contact Permission: Say NO <---- VERY IMPORTANT
you should have no contacts though so it should not ask,
Storage Permission: CLICK YES
If there is no restore option you, You should now see your local backup, press "restore backup" when it SHOWS THE FULL FIlE SIZE NOT BEFORE.
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet. 9. Ignore the message regarding Google Drive and, when your backup has been restored (look at the progress bar at the bottom in the background), close the app
Open Whatsapp again and you should see now your old and new messages alltogether!
C. If neither work above for you
Disable airplane mode and activate Wifi / mobile internet.
You will see your local storage behind the popup saying allow google drive.
Wait until it shows the full flile Size
You will need to press add account and have your fingers ready for instant tapping between add account and instant tapping restore button
For some it has been 10-30 times doing this practice, you will luckily hit restore button
When progress bar says 100% it is restored.
You will still see app asking google drive option, don't click skip (this will reset the app ,leading to nothing restored)
When the app is asking to restore from google drive AND YOU HAVE HIT 100%, close the app right away (very important)
Open the app, and the app will ask you to set name, set your name
Initializing may take awhile. If it over 5-10 min ensure that airplane mode is off. Otherwise close app and try again.
If nothing works. Uninstall Whatsapp. Make the folders manually, keep only 1 data base file in the Database directory and transfer the internal structure of com.whatsappOLD into the new directory.
It is important to have NO GOOGLE accounts nor Contact files. You can add these after.
Key thing is to let it Compute the size of the folder. If it cannot compute, it does not work. From there turn on the internet and click retry.
Shout out to Merlin Behling
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/67735037/whatsapp-cannot-detect-local-backup-
and Rahil2009
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/np2zjp
XDA for those moving pics to a new phone:https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...erving-the-dates.3423480/page-3#post-86588833
My updated method as of 3-24-2022 has worked on over 30 phones for those that had issues. I will try to respond when I can but I need to stress this works on the latest S22 Ultra. I even spent more time looking at years of whatsap backups and using Beyond Compare 4 was able to get all of my photos and files updated on my new phone. If you have old photos with wrong dates I highly recommend that program
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hi,
i just found this forum and thread.
your post seems helpful.
however, I got stuck on part 6,
"If next part does not work for immediate backup: When it asked you to grant access to your files for Google drive, ignore the message and instead close the app (press □ and wipe Whatsapp away" ->
what is the button you refer to? in this step, i choose button 3 horizontal line, then wipe it all running application, then open again, it show same message, then I tap back button, then it just ask profile name.
what I missed
thanks in advance

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