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How to read whatsapp database on android


How to Read Encrypted WhatsApp Messages on Android Without Keys

by Jenefey Aaron   Updated on 2022-05-17 / Update for  WhatsApp Tips

One of the reasons why WhatsApp becomes one of the most popular messaging services is because of the strong security feature. It encrypts messages from end to end, so the only ones who can read those messages are the sender and the receiver - unless someone else can open either the sender’s or receiver’s phones.

But sometimes even the owner of the phone can’t access his/her phones due to technical glitches. If you can’t access your own phone, can you still read your encrypted WhatsApp messages?

  • Part 1. Types of WhatsApp Message Encryptions
  • Part 2. How to Decrypt WhatsApp crypt12/8 Database without Keys?
  • Bonus Tip: How to Read Deleted WhatsApp Messages on Android without Root?

Part 1. Types of WhatsApp Message Encryptions

In September 2012, WhatsApp introduced end-to-end encryption as one of its security features. This step is taken to prevent session hijacking and packet analysis which often happened before.

WhatsApp uses crypt2, crypt5, crypt7, crypt8 and crypt12 form to encrypt all data. It means that hacking the database files to read all chat messages has become almost impossible.

But there are tricks that you can use to decrypt the database without key and support files. You can use this method to access your conversations.

Part 2. How to Decrypt WhatsApp crypt12/8 Database without Keys?

The trick below works on reading encrypted WhatsApp messages Android devices. Before you start, you need to do is to create a copy of your WhatsApp database to make sure that you don’t destroy the original file.

To do that, open your Android File Explorer or File Browser. Then create a new folder or the SD card. Then navigate to this location your SD card: /WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt. Then copy the msgstore.db.crypt files into the new folder that you’ve just created.

  • Method 1. (For Rooted Devices) Decrypt WhatsApp Database crypt12 without Key on PC
  • Method 2. (For Unrooted Devices) Read WhatsApp Database crypt12 without Key on PC

Method 1. (For Rooted Devices) Decrypt WhatsApp Database crypt12 without Key on PC

Whatsapp encrypts all data into .crypt5/7/8/12 format. But on a rooted Android phone, you can easily decrypt and read these encrypt messages with Whatsapp Viewer.

  • Find your WhatsApp message backup file i.e. msgstore.db.crypt12 from Device Storage/WhatsApp/Database.

  • Find your Key file which contains the decryption key to decrypt an encrypted file from /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key.

  • Connect your phone to your PC and copy the database file with name msgstore.db.cryptX. and key file to your computer.

  • Download and install Whatsapp Viewer on your computer. Open Whatsapp Viewer and go to file > Decrypt .crypt12.

  • Now you have to load your database file and key file. Click on "..." button next to database file box to import it and do the same for Key file. After that, click OK to decrypt the database file.

  • When you see the message "Database decrypted to file msgstore.decrypted.db", the decryption is completed. You will find a file named "msgstore.decrypted.db" in the folder where you stored the database file and key file.

  • Run WhatsApp viewer again and click File>Open. Click on "..." button to import your msgstore.decrypted.db file and click OK.

  • Now you can select the mobile number at the right panel and see the chats of it at the left panel. You can export the in the format of .txt/.html/.json if you want.

Method 2. (For Unrooted Devices) Read WhatsApp Database crypt12 without Key on PC

To decrypt the database into something that understandable for the human, we can use the help from one of the decryption apps available in the Google Play Store. The recommended app that you can use is Omni-crypt . It can easily decrypt WhatsApp Database without root. Please note that to decrypt database above crypt6 version, you would need the WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor to extract the encryption key.

  • Connect your Android phone to a computer. Download and install Omni-crypt on your Android device.
  • Download WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor to your computer from github.com.

  • Open the WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor folder and find the file named WhatsAppKeyDBExtract.sh. Right click on it and select Properties.

  • From the Permissions tab, check the box before Allow executing file as program.

  • After that, running WhatsAppKeyDBExtract.sh file in Terminal on Mac.

  • When it prompts you to unlock your device and confirm the backup operation, open your Android phone and click BACK UP MY DATA.

  • Waiting for WhatsAppKeyDBExtract to restore WhatsApp and once the operation completed, press Enter to quit the Terminal.

  • Now open Omni-crypt on your Android phone. Tap on ENABLE CRYPT 6-12 BACKUPS and then tap on DECRYPT WHATSAPP DATABASE.

  • Now open WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor folder and go to extracted folder. Here you can see ‘msgstore.db’ and ‘wa.db’ files. ‘msgstore.db’ stores all the messages along with attachments and ‘wa.db’ stores all the information related to the contacts.

  • Use a utility called ‘Whatsapp Viewer’ and give the path of ‘msgstore.db’ and ‘wa.db’. You will see all the chat messages, that were extracted from the database.

Bonus Tip: How to Read Deleted WhatsApp Messages on Android without Root?

That’s all about how to read encrypted WhatsApp messages. The steps are a little complicated for ordinary users. If you are looking for a way to read deleted WhatsApp messages, Tenorhare UltData for Android offers you an easy way to recover WhatsApp messages and contacts from Android without root.

  • After you have downloaded the software, you come to the main interface bellow. Click on Recover WhatsApp Data and then connect your mobile to the computer.

  • Then you need to authorize and usb debugging your Android phone to be correctly connected.

  • After the software detects your Android device, click on Start to begin the process.

  • Now it's time to scan and preview what data has been listed. Just choose what you want to recover. Finally, save the files to your computer or device successfully and take a closer look at them.

Summary

Now you have learned about how to decrypt WhatsApp database on Android phone. Even though we are not touching the original databases, there is always a possibility that our actions ruin them. It’s always better to backup your data firstly. And if you are looking for an easy way to read deleted WhatsApp messages on Android without root, Tenorhare UltData for Android is highly recommended.

  Updated on 2022-05-17 / Update for  WhatsApp Tips

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Decrypt & Read Chats from WhatsApp Backup File on Android

May 30,2021 Posted by Allen Lee to Guides

WhatsApp is probably the most used messenger App on your Android device. As you may know, all your WhatsApp chats messages are saved in an encrypted (*.db.crypt12) file on your Android device. But how to decrypt and read chat messages from WhatsApp backup file? Now Backuptrans Android iPhone WhatsApp Transfer provides an easy way to extract and import WhatsApp Messages from Whatsapp backup file into Backuptrans local database. Then you can view, export, print or transfer whatsapp messages on computer. Extracting messages from crypt14 file is also supported.

Step 1: Disconnect WhatsApp from Google Drive Backup.
1) Go to drive.google.com on your computer.
2) Click "My Drive"->"Settings"-> "Manage Apps".

3) Choose "WhatsApp Messenger", click "Options"->"Disconnect from Drive".(Skip if don't have this option)
Note:If you have a large backup on drive, it may take a few minutes to display WhatsApp Messenger in Apps list.

4) Go to WhatsApp Messenger on your Android Phone, click "Settings">"Chats">"Chat Backup">"Backup to Google Drive" and then choose "Never" option.

Step 2: Disable Two-step verification.
1) Go to WhatsApp Messenger on Android > [More Options] > Settings > Account > Two-step verification
2) Make sure it is Disable

Step 3: Backup WhatsApp Conversations on Android Phone.(Skip if done)
1) Go to WhatsApp Messenger on Android > [More Options] > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
2) Tap [BACK UP] button

Step 4: Save Android device info on storage
1): Download Backuptrans WA Sync from HERE to install on your Android Phone.
2): Run Backuptrans WA Sync, Tap "Copy Data" button. Make sure you have a "Successfully copied" message pop out on phone.

Step 5: Copy WhatsApp folder from your Android Phone.
Copy the whole WhatsApp folder from Android/media/com.whatsapp on your Android Phone to your computer.
Tip: If you have Internal Storage, the WhatsApp folder is located in your Internal Storage. If you do not have internal storage, the folder will be on your SD Card or External SD Card.

Step 6: Download Backuptrans WhatsApp Transfer from the following link to install on the computer.(Skip if done)

Free Download Free Download

Step 7: Launch Backuptrans WhatsApp transfer software on the computer.
Click "File"->"Import Android WhatsApp Backup Data" on Backuptrans WhatsApp Transfer software.
Tip: Or Right-click the local database icon and then choose "Import Android WhatsApp Backup Data" menu.

Step 8: Select WhatsApp encrypted backup file.
Locate to the WhatsApp folder you saved from Android Phone in step 4 on your computer. Select the WhatsApp backup database file(msgstore.db.crypt12) and then click "OK" to continue.

Step 9: Verify your phone number to load WhatsApp chats.
Enter your phone number and then click the "Next" button. When you receive a text message with a 6-digit code, simply enter the 6-digit code to start loading WhatsApp chats from Android.
Note: Please make sure the phone number you enter is the same as the one used for the WhatsApp backup.

Step 10: Imported successfully!
All WhatsApp chat messages in your backup file have been imported and saved in Backuptrans local database. Now you can manage the messages such as export messages to PDF, print messages, or transfer the messages to iPhone.

With Backuptrans Android iPhone WhatsApp Transfer, you can manage your WhataApp Chat History on your computer easily. If you are using Mac, please download Android iPhone WhatsApp Transfer for Mac to use.

Free Download Free Download

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How to read encrypted WhatsApp messages on Android without keys

One of the reasons WhatsApp is becoming one of the most popular messaging services is because of its powerful security feature. It encrypts messages end to end, so the only people who can read those messages are the sender and the recipient - unless someone else can open the sender's or recipient's phones.

But sometimes even the phone owner cannot access their phones due to technical failures. If you can't access your own phone, can you still read encrypted WhatsApp messages?

  • WhatsApp message encryption types
  • How to decrypt whatsapp crypt12/8 database without keys?
  • Whatsapp data backup

WhatsApp message encryption types

In September 2012, WhatsApp introduced data encryption as a security feature. This step is taken to prevent session hijacking and packet sniffing that often happened in the past. And WhatsApp uses the forms crypt2, crypt5, crypt7 and crypt8 to encrypt all data. This means that hacking the database files to read all chat messages has become almost impossible.

But there are tricks you can use to decrypt the database without keys and supporting files. You can use this method to access your conversations.

How to decrypt whatsapp crypt12/8 database without keys?

Before we start, please note that this trick works on Android devices.

  • The first thing you need to do is create a copy of the WhatsApp database to make sure you don't destroy the original file. To do this, open Android File Explorer or File Browser. Then create a new folder or SD card.
  • Then go to this location of your SD card: /WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt . Then copy the msgstore.db.crypt files to the new folder you just created.

  • The next step is to decrypt the database into something human readable. To do this, we can take the help of one of the decryption apps available on the Google Play Store.

    The recommended app that you can use is Omni-crypt because it is not only easy to use but also usable without having to root the device first. Note that if the encryption file is higher than crypt6, you will need an encryption key that can only be found on the rooted device.

  • To find out the version of your crypt database, simply look at the end of the filename. There will be a number indicating the version of the crypt. For example, crypt6 means that the crypt database is in version 6.

  • After downloading the application, open it in the same way as you would normally open other applications.

    You will see an application interface with several options.

    If your database is crypt5 or lower, select the first option to decrypt it. If your database is version 6 or higher, choose the third option. Your phone must also be linked to this third option.

  • After the database is decrypted, we need to extract it into a human readable format. To do this, go to WhatCrypt.com and download the files there, then click "Process/Download Zip" to continue.

    Loaded result - readable conversation.

Whatsapp data backup

Even though we don't touch the original databases, there is always a chance that our actions will destroy them. Therefore, it is always better to have a second and third (or more) backup of your data.

To help you backup and restore all your WhatsApp data, you can use the help of UltData for Android. This WhatsApp recovery app will help you backup and restore WhatsApp messages and contacts from Android devices.

  • Step 1 After you have downloaded the software, you go to the main interface below:

  • Step 2 Then you need to login and debug usb on your android phone to connect properly.

  • Step 3Now it's time to scan and see what data has been listed. Just choose what you want to recover.

  • Step 4 Finally, successfully save the files to your computer or device and take a look at them.

How to read encrypted Whatsapp messages on Android without keys

One of the reasons WhatsApp is becoming one of the most popular messaging services is its strong security feature. It encrypts messages end to end, so the only people who can read those messages are the sender and the recipient. But sometimes even the phone owner cannot access their phones due to technical glitches. Is it possible to read deleted messages in WhatsApp? How to read encrypted WhatsApp messages on Android without keys? Let's see.

  • Part 1: WhatsApp message encryption types
  • Part 2. How to read encrypted Whatsapp messages without keys?
  • Bonus tip: How to read a deleted Whatsapp message on Android without root?

Part 1: WhatsApp Message Encryption Types

In September 2012, WhatsApp implemented end-to-end encryption as one of its security features. This step is taken to prevent session hijacking and packet sniffing, which often happened in the past.

WhatsApp uses the form crypt 2, crypt5, crypt7, crypt8 and crypt 12 to encrypt all data. This means that hacking the database files to read all chat messages has become almost impossible.

But there are tricks you can use to decrypt the database without keys and support files. You can use this method to access your conversations.

Part 2. How to read deleted Whatsapp messages without keys?

The trick below works when reading encrypted WhatsApp messages on Android devices. Before you start, you need to create a copy of the WhatsApp database to make sure you don't destroy the original file.

To do this, open the Android File Explorer or File Browser. Then create a new folder or SD card. Then navigate to this location on your SD card: /WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt. Then copy the msgstore.db.crypt files to the new folder you just created.

  • Method 1. Decrypt WhatsApp crypt 12 database without key on PC(C Root)
  • Method 2. Read WhatsApp Database crypt12 without key on PC(No Root)

Method 1. Decrypt WhatsApp crypt 12 database without key on PC(C Root)

Whatsapp encrypts all data in .crypt format 5/7/8/12. But on a rooted Android phone, you can easily decrypt and read these encrypted messages with Whatsapp Viewer.

  • Locate the backup file of your WhatsApp message, such as msgstore.db.crypt 12, in Device Storage/WhatsApp/Database.

  • Find your key file containing the decryption key to decrypt the encrypted file from /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key.

  • Connect your phone to your computer and copy the Database file named msgstore.db.crypt. and the key file to your computer.

  • Download and install Whatsapp Viewer on your computer. Open Whatsapp Viewer and go to File > Decrypt .crypt12.

  • Now you need to download the Database file and the key file. Click on the "..." button next to the Database file field to import it and do the same for the key file. Then click OK to decrypt the Database.

  • When you see the message "Database is decrypted to msgstore.decrypted.db", decryption is complete. You will find a file named "msgstore.decrypted.db" in the folder where you stored the Database file and the key file.

  • Launch WhatsApp viewer again and click File > Open. Click on the "..." button to import your msgstore.decrypted.db file and click OK.

  • You can now select a mobile phone number in the right panel and view its chats in the left panel. You can export it in .text / .html / .json format if you like.

Method 2. Read WhatsApp Database crypt12 without key on PC(No Root)

To decrypt Database into something human readable, we can use one of the decryption apps available on the Google Play Store. The recommended application that you can use is Omni-crypt. It can easily decrypt Database WhatsApp without root. Please note that in order to decrypt Database above crypt6 version, you will need WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor to extract the encryption key.

  • Connect your Android phone to your computer. Download and install Omni-crypt on your Android device.
  • Download WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor to your computer from github.com.

  • Open the WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor folder and find the file named WhatsAppKeyDBExtract.sh. Right click on it and select "Properties".

  • On the Permissions tab, check the box before allowing the file to run as a program.

  • After that, by running WhatsAppKeyDBExtract.sh file in terminal on Mac.

  • When prompted to unlock your device and confirm the backup operation, open your Android phone and tap BACK UP MY DATA.

  • Wait for WhatsAppKeyDBExtract to restore WhatsApp and press Enter when finished to exit the terminal.

  • Now open Omni-crypt on your Android phone. Click ENABLE CRYPT 6-12 BACKUPS and then click DECRYPT WHATSAPP DATABASE.

  • Now open the Whatsapp-Key-DB-Extractor folder and navigate to the extracted folder. Here you can see "msgstore.db" and "wa.db" files. "msgstore.db" stores all messages along with attachments, while "wa.db" stores all information related to contacts.

  • Use a utility called "Whatsapp Viewer" and specify the path to "msgstore.db" and "wa.db". You will see all chat messages that have been retrieved from the database.

Bonus tip: How to read a deleted Whatsapp message on Android without root?

This is all about how to read encrypted whatsapp messages. But the steps are a bit complicated for normal users. If you want to know how to read deleted WhatsApp messages, Tenorhare UltData for Android offers you an easy way to recover and read deleted WhatsApp messages from Android without root.