WhatsApp Messenger, the popular Android messaging application, creates a CRYPT12 file, which is an encrypted database storing messages sent and received through the app using a 256-bit AES secured database.
WhatsApp utilizes an encrypted database file (.DB) with a .crypt12 extension to back up user messages. WhatsApp has employed various encryption techniques to safeguard user messages, resulting in .CRYPT7, .CRYPT8, .CRYPT10, or .crypt12 files as encrypted message backups.
To view the message history in a CRYPT12 database, you need to identify your WhatsApp key file, holding the encryption key for the CRYPT12 file, located at /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key.
The data for the CRYPT12 database is stored on the SD card of Android devices running WhatsApp Messenger, usually found at /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. The filenames of CRYPT12 database files in the Databases directory may include YYYY-MM-DD dates, indicating the time of their creation.
Old backup files can be deleted to free up space on the SD card without affecting WhatsApp communications. However, it’s advisable to keep at least one or two CRYPT12 files if you ever need to restore your WhatsApp conversation history.
Crypt12 files are specific to the Android version of WhatsApp Messenger and are not created in the iOS or desktop versions. WhatsApp Messenger uses the DB.CRYPT12 file to store user information, constituting an encrypted conversation history database. The .CRYPT12 file extension is added to the .DB file by WhatsApp to secure the Android user’s message database, with the encryption technique specified by the DB file extension (.CRYPT6, .CRYPT7, or .CRYPT8), which changes with each new release.
Can you delete db.crypt12 files from your device?
Yes, you can safely delete db.crypt12 files from your device’s WhatsApp Databases Folder without causing any disruptions to the functionality of WhatsApp or your device.
These files serve as backup files for WhatsApp conversations and will be regenerated the next time WhatsApp performs a backup of your chats. For instance, if your backup cycle is set to ‘Daily,’ WhatsApp will create a new db.crypt12 file every day at a specific time. Therefore, deleting the previous db.crypt12 file should not impact your device or WhatsApp conversations in general.
It’s important to note that if you delete all db.crypt12 files and later uninstall WhatsApp without creating a new backup, you won’t be able to restore your conversations when you reinstall WhatsApp. Deleting these backup files means losing your chat backup since WhatsApp won’t have created another one (due to the uninstallation).
How to decrypt WhatsApp db.crypt12 files without keys?
The method below provides a way to decrypt WhatsApp messages on Android. Before proceeding, it’s recommended to create a backup copy of your WhatsApp database to prevent any accidental data loss.
To create a backup:
- Use your Android File Explorer to create a new folder on your SD card or internal storage.
- Navigate to /WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt on your SD card.
- Copy the msgstore.db.crypt files into the newly created folder.
Now, there are two methods for decrypting db.crypt12 files on a PC, depending on whether your device is rooted or unrooted.
For Rooted Devices: WhatsApp Crypt12 Database Decryption on PC
For Unrooted Devices: Download WhatsApp Database Crypt12 for PC
Choose the appropriate method based on your device’s rooting s
Method 1. (For Rooted Devices) Decrypt WhatsApp Database crypt12 without Key on PC
WhatsApp encrypts data and stores it in .crypt5/7/8/12 formats. On a rooted Android phone, WhatsApp Viewer can decrypt and read these encrypted messages.
Here’s how to decrypt WhatsApp messages using WhatsApp Viewer:
- Locate your WhatsApp backup file, msgstore.db.crypt12, under Device Storage/WhatsApp/Database.
- Find your Key file, containing the decryption key, at /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key.
- Connect your phone to your PC and copy the msgstore.db.cryptX database and key file to your computer.
- Install WhatsApp Viewer on your computer.
- Launch WhatsApp Viewer and go to File > Decrypt.crypt12.
- Load your database and key files. Click the “…” button next to the database file box and do the same for the key file. Click OK to decrypt the database file.
- Once decrypted, you’ll see the message “Database decrypted to file msgstore.decrypted.db.” In the folder where you saved the files, find a file named “msgstore.decrypted.db.”
- Relaunch WhatsApp Viewer, go to File > Open, and import your msgstore.decrypted.db file by selecting the “…” option and then OK.
- Choose the mobile number in the right panel to view chats in the left panel.
- Optionally, export the chats in .txt/.html/.json format if desired.
Method 2. (For Unrooted Devices) Read WhatsApp Database db.crypt12 without Key on PC
To decrypt a WhatsApp database into a human-readable format, you can use decryption programs available on the Google Play Store, such as Omni-crypt. Follow these steps:
- Connect your Android phone to a computer using a USB cable.
- Download and install Omni-crypt on your Android device from the Google Play Store.
- Download WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor from github.com to your computer.
- Locate the file WhatsAppKeyDBExtract.sh in the WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor folder on your computer, and right-click to select Properties.
- On the Permissions tab, check the box next to “Allow executing file as a program.”
- Open the WhatsAppKeyDBExtract.sh file in the Terminal on a Mac.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, including unlocking your device and confirming the backup on your Android phone by selecting “BACK UP MY DATA.”
- Wait for WhatsAppKeyDBExtract to complete the restoration of WhatsApp, then press Enter to exit the Terminal.
- Launch Omni-crypt on your Android device, tap “ENABLE CRYPT 6-12 BACKUPS,” and then select “DECRYPT WHATSAPP DATABASE.”
- Navigate to the extracted folder in the WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor folder on your computer. Look for the files ‘msgstore.db’ (containing messages and attachments) and ‘wa.db’ (containing contact information).
- Use the ‘Whatsapp Viewer’ software, entering the paths to ‘msgstore.db’ and ‘wa.db,’ to display all conversation messages taken from the database.
How to Decrypt & Read Chats from db.crypt12 files on Android?
Below is a step-by-step guide on decrypting and reading chats from db.crypt12 files on Android:
Step 1: Disconnect WhatsApp from Google Drive Backup.
To backup WhatsApp Crypt12 file from Google Drive and disconnect it, follow these steps:
- Open your web browser and go to drive.google.com on your computer.
- Navigate to “My Drive” and then click on “Settings.”
- Choose “Manage Applications” from the dropdown menu.
- Locate the WhatsApp Crypt12 file and make a copy of it for backup purposes.
- Select “WhatsApp Messenger” and then click on “Options” followed by “Disconnect from Drive.” (Skip this step if the “Disconnect from Drive” option is not presented.) Note: If you have a large backup file, it may take a few moments for WhatsApp Messenger to appear in the Apps list.
- On your Android phone, open WhatsApp Messenger.
- Navigate to “Settings” > “Chats” > “Chat Backup” > “Backup to Google Drive.”
- Choose the “Never” option to stop future backups to Google Drive
Step 2: Deactivate Verification in two stages.
Follow these steps to ensure that two-step verification is disabled in WhatsApp Messenger on your Android device:
- Open WhatsApp Messenger on your Android device.
- Navigate to [Additional Options] > Account > Settings > Two-step verification.
- Verify that two-step verification is disabled.
Step 3: Backup WhatsApp Conversations on an Android Phone
If you already have a backup on your Android phone, you can skip this step. Otherwise, follow the steps below:
- On your Android device, go to WhatsApp Messenger.
- Navigate to [More Options] > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Press the [BACK UP] button.
Step 4: Save the Android smartphone’s information to the storage device.
Download and install Backuptrans WA Sync on your Android device from HERE.
Open Backuptrans WA Sync and choose the “Copy Data” option. Ensure that a notification confirming successful duplication appears on your phone.
Step 5: Copy the WhatsApp folder from your Android phone to your computer.
Duplicate the entire WhatsApp folder found in your Android phone’s Android/media/com.whatsapp directory to your PC.
Note: If your device has internal storage, locate the WhatsApp folder within it. In the absence of internal storage, the folder will be stored on an SD Card or External SD Card.
Step 6: Download and install Backuptrans WhatsApp Transfer on your PC.
Step 7: On the computer, launch the Backuptrans WhatsApp transfer software.
In the Backuptrans WhatsApp Transfer software, go to “File” -> “Import Android WhatsApp Backup Data.”
Alternatively, you can right-click the local database icon and choose the “Import Android WhatsApp Backup Data” option from the menu.
Step 8: Choose an encrypted WhatsApp backup file.
Find the WhatsApp folder on your computer, saved from your Android phone in step 4. Choose the WhatsApp backup database file (msgstore.db.crypt12) and click “OK” to proceed.
For decryption, opt for the Android WhatsApp Backup Crypt2 File.
Step 9: Verify your phone number in order to access WhatsApp conversations.
After entering your phone number, click the “Next” button. Input the six-digit code received via text message to initiate the loading of WhatsApp chats from your Android device.
Ensure the provided phone number matches the one used for the WhatsApp backup.
How to solve problems with DB.CRYPT12 files?
Here is how you can solve problems with db.crypt12 files on different OS:
Windows:
Ensure you are using the correct file extension for the application you are working with. On Windows, right-click on any DB.CRYPT12 file, then choose “Open with” > “Choose another software” from the drop-down menu. Select a different program and check the option that says “Use this app to open *.DB.CRYPT12 files regularly.”
Mac:
Choose the DB.CRYPT12 file, right-click (or Ctrl-click), and then pick “Open with” > “Other…” from the context menu. Select a different program, and check the “Always Open With” box to set it as the default.
Linux:
Right-click on the file and select “Open with,” then select a different software from the drop-down menu.
iPhone:
Tap on the file to select it. If you don’t see an app to open the file, tap “Share” and choose an app from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can save the document and then open the Files application. Press and hold on the file for an extended period until a black navigation bar appears at the top of the screen. From there, select an app from the “Share” drop-down menu.
Android:
Open the Settings on your smartphone, then choose the Apps section from the drop-down menu. In the top right-hand corner of the screen, click the Options icon to make adjustments to the default applications.
Make sure to download the latest version of the software that supports the DB.CRYPT12 file format. Check for an available version of WhatsApp, for instance, on the manufacturer’s website. DB.CRYPT12 is an updated format for the WhatsApp Encrypted Database File.
Before proceeding, retrieve the DB.CRYPT12 file again and run it through antivirus software to confirm that it is not corrupted or infected with a virus.
