What is a .CRYPT12 file?
A .CRYPT12 file is a type of encrypted database used by WhatsApp Messenger, which is a messaging app for Android devices. This file contains a secure database of messages that have been sent and received using the app. The messages in this database are encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption to ensure they are kept private.
The file extension ".crypt12" is added to a standard database file (with a .DB extension), resulting in a file named something like "msgstore.db.crypt12". This indicates that the file is an encrypted version of WhatsApp's message database.
WhatsApp has used various encryption methods over time, including earlier versions like .CRYPT7, .CRYPT8, and .CRYPT10. The .CRYPT12 version is one of the latest and most secure.
To open and read the messages stored in a .CRYPT12 file, you need to decrypt it first. This requires access to a special key file that WhatsApp stores on your device at this location: /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key. This key is necessary to decrypt the .CRYPT12 file.
You can find .CRYPT12 files in the "Databases" folder within the WhatsApp directory on your Android device's SD card, typically located at /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. In this folder, you might see multiple .CRYPT12 files named with dates (like "msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.db.crypt12"). These dates indicate when each backup was created. WhatsApp automatically creates these backup files periodically.
It's safe to delete older backup files to free up space on your SD card, but you should keep the most recent one or two backups in case you need to restore your message history.
Programs that can open .CRYPT12 files include WhatsApp Viewer on a PC, and of course, WhatsApp Messenger on Android devices. Note that only the Android version of WhatsApp creates .CRYPT12 files; the iOS and desktop versions of WhatsApp do not use this file format.
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