What is a .CRYPT14 file?
A .CRYPT14 file is a type of encrypted backup file used by WhatsApp Messenger on Android devices. This file contains a secure record of all the messages that a user has sent and received on WhatsApp. The messages in the file are protected using strong 256-bit AES encryption to ensure privacy and security.
The .CRYPT14 file is essentially a .DB (database) file that has been encrypted and given the .crypt14 extension, resulting in a file named something like 'msgstore.db.crypt14'. WhatsApp has evolved its encryption methods over time, previously using extensions like .CRYPT12, .CRYPT10, .CRYPT8, and .CRYPT7 for its backup files.
To open and read the contents of a .CRYPT14 file, you need specific tools and access to the encryption key used by WhatsApp. This key is stored on your Android device at the location: /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key. Once you have the key, you can locate your .CRYPT14 file, which is typically stored in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.
Programs that can open .CRYPT14 files include: - WhatsApp Viewer: A tool specifically designed to view WhatsApp backups. - Android: The operating system on which you can access and manage these files through file management apps. - WhatsApp Messenger: The app itself can restore these backups automatically when reinstalling or switching phones.
WhatsApp automatically creates these backup files periodically to save your message history. Each backup file is named with a date in the format YYYY-MM-DD to indicate when it was created. If you see multiple .CRYPT14 files, it's because WhatsApp creates a new backup file regularly.
If you need to free up space on your device, you can delete older .CRYPT14 files from the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases directory. However, it's wise to keep the most recent one or two backups to ensure you can restore your message history if needed.
Note that WhatsApp started using the .CRYPT14 format for message backup files with version 2.21.8.17, released in May 2021.
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