Tool to view WhatsApp chats on PC
WhatsApp Viewer for PC is a Windows application designed to allow users to view and export their WhatsApp conversations directly on their computers.
Access your stored messages from backup files
As for its main functions, WhatsApp Viewer stands out for allowing:
- View WhatsApp chats on the computer.
- Make backups on the computer to prevent data loss on the phone.
- Read old conversations without having to manually upload previous messages.
- Search for specific messages within chats.
- Export chats to formats such as .txt, .html, .json.
WhatsApp Viewer is useful to have a local backup of our chats, especially if we have important information that we don’t want to lose.
To use WhatsApp Viewer, you simply have to:
- Download WhatsApp Viewer on your computer.
- Run the program and select the msgstore.db file (you get this in the WhatsApp database, you may require a file explorer).
- Export your chats.
However, getting the necessary files for this tool to work can be tricky for users with little experience in terms of root access and Android development tools. That said, with curiosity and time, it can be achieved.
In short, WhatsApp Viewer for PC is an app that provides the freedom to access and manage their WhatsApp conversations from a computer by making it easier to search for information between chats or as a local backup.
Requirements and additional information:
- Minimum operating system requirements:
Windows 7
How to View WhatsApp on Win & Mac?
- Jerry Cook
- Updated on 2023-05-17 to WhatsApp Tips
I accidentally lost all of my Whatsapp chat with a person, but he still has all of our conversations going back several years, and sent me a plain.txt file of the entire chat log. I can read the conversation like this, but it’s…. hard. Are there any viewing tools that can properly display a formatted view of a Whatsapp backup on a computer?
WhatsApp, a widely used messaging applications is available on all major platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. You may lose the WhatsApp chat with your friends when you buy a new smartphone. The best way to save your previous chat history is by using the backup option of WhatsApp. The chat history can also be saved by using different software and tools. WhatsApp viewer for Windows and Mac can be used for these options. These tools allow you to access your personal WhatsApp account on Mac, and Windows. In this article, we have discussed ways to check WhatsApp online, the best WhatsApp Viewer for Windows and Mac, and how to use WhatsApp viewer. Keep scrolling to know more.
- Part 1. Can I Check WhatsApp Online?
- Part 2. An Introduction of WhatsApp Viewer
- Part 3. How to Use WhatsApp Viewer?
- Part 4. WhatsApp Viewer without Key
- Bonus Tip: WhatsApp Viewer for Win & Mac. [Easy]
Part 1. Can I Check WhatsApp Online?
Yes, you can. Here are two ways for you to check WhatsApp online:
1.1 Set up WhatsApp Web
- 1.Open the official website on your computer and go to the QR code section.
- 2.Open WhatsApp on your mobile smartphone and go to the “chats” tab.
- 3.Now select the 3 dots to launch a new menu. Select “WhatsApp web”.
- 4.Code scanner will appear on the mobile screen. Scan the QR-generated code on the computer screen or web client.
- 5.WhatsApp client will open instantly and you will be able to access the WhatsApp chats.
1.2 Set up WhatsApp’s Desktop App
- 1.This method involves downloading and installing the WhatsApp application on your device.
- 2.The Windows users can click on the. EXE file to run it. The Mac users can access WhatsApp by unzipping the downloaded file.
-
3.A QR code will have to be scanned from the WhatsApp phone application.
- 4.WhatsApp is also offering a built-in code scanner. Go to the “Settings” and choose “WhatsApp web”.
- 5.WhatsApp chats will appear on the screen soon after scanning the code.
Part 2. An Introduction of WhatsApp Viewer
This is one of the best tools to access your WhatsApp account on the computer by using the Android msgstore.db. If you have to access your previous chats and old messages, this tool helps you read those messages instantly. The desktop version of WhatsApp makes it more convenient and easy for the users to read chat history.
The older messages and chats will be displayed instantly without any delay. It also includes an option of exporting the communication with your friends in different file formats like HTML, TXT, and JSON files.
WhatsApp viewer is connected to the internet and you don’t need to download and install this tool on your device. The messages in TXT file format can also be accessed from your desktop and Google drive. The users who want to access their conversations on computers.
Pros of Using WhatsApp Viewer:
- It offers maximum security against data leaks.
- This tool helps you to read all the messages from your desktop instantly.
- You don’t have to download and install this tool to access your messages.
- You don’t have to download and install this tool to access your messages.
Cons of Using WhatsApp Viewer:
- It doesn’t support iOS devices.
- The availability of the internet is required for accessing the messages on the desktop screen.
- It doesn’t support large images but thumbnails.
- Some users said its interface is not user-friendly.
Part 3. How to Use WhatsApp Viewer?
Follow the given steps for using WhatsApp viewer.
- 1.The database file and key are required for using it. After getting the file and key, launch “WhatsApp viewer” on your Windows or Mac.
- 2.Now, open the file which you want to access from this tool and tap on “File”. Go to “Open” and tap on “Select File”.
- 3.Move to the folder “extracted” and choose the msgstore.db from your device.
- 4.The account name is not required in the latest version of this tool. You can leave it empty to speed up the whole process.
- 5.Select a specific WhatsApp chat that you want to view on your device and it will appear on the screen.
Part 4. WhatsApp Viewer without Key
The users who want to access the encrypted or encoded messages can use this method to read their messages. WhatsApp viewer without key is the best method to access their previous conversations. The first step is creating a copy of the WhatsApp database to keep the original file safe and protected in case of data loss.
Open the File Browser on your device and click on “create a new folder”. Move to “SD card: /WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt” on your device. In the next step, you will have to copy the original msgstore.db.crypt file and paste it into a new folder to keep it secure.
Now, follow these steps to access WhatsApp viewer without the key.
- 1.Open the WhatsApp backup folder on your device. The location of it will be “Internal Memory/WhatsApp/Database”. The next step will be finding the decryption key to access the encrypted files. The location of a key will be “/data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key”.
- 2.Connect the computer with your mobile to make a copy of your original file. The title of this file will be msgstore.db.cryptX. It will also have the decryption key. Copy this key.
- 3.Now, go to the official website of WhatsApp Viewer to download this software. Launch WhatsApp viewer on your device and tap on “File” and go to «Decrypt.crypt».
-
4.The next step involves accessing the decryption key and database file. There will be a button «…» close to the database file and key. Click on this button.
- 5.Select “Ok” to start the decryption of the database file automatically. Then, a notification will appear on the screen indicating the decryption of your files has been completed successfully. Now, go to the folder containing the original key and database files.
-
6.A file named “msgstore.decrypted.db” will be available in this folder.
- 7.Now, launch WhatsApp viewer and select file>Open. Import this newly generated file and click on «…»
8.Two panels will appear on the screen. The right panel will be for the mobile number and the left panel will be for the chat history. The chat can also be exported in different formats.
Bonus Tip: WhatsApp Viewer for Win & Mac. [Easy]
As WhatsApp content can contain sensitive details, it’s critical to transfer WhatsApp information to a new phone while switching devices. UltFone Toolkit — WhatsApp Transfer is an extensive application for the WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business transfer, storage, and recovery solution.
You may use this program to move WhatsApp from an existing smartphone to a new phone, as well as save and recover WhatsApp on your smartphone. This application is extremely useful for moving data from an iPhone to an Android device or vice versa. There are no limitations throughout the backup or restore procedure.
Free Download
For PC
Secure Download
Free Download
For Mac
Secure Download
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Key features of UltFone Toolkit — WhatsApp Transfer
- User-friendly interface makes it perfect for everyone.
- Offers 1-click solution for making a backup or restoring your WhatsApp data.
- Supports all the latest versions of Android and iOS.
- Supports several other messaging platforms like Viber, Kik, LINE, and WeChat.
Steps to view WhatsApp Backup
-
Step 1 Download and install this software on your device by visiting the official website. Launch this software and click on the “WhatsApp” icon on the main screen.
-
Step 2 On your left menu, there will be an option “View and restore”. Click on it and choose the backup file. The whole chat will be available on the screen soon after clicking the “View” button.
-
Step 3 All types of your WhatsApp files will be shown to you. Click these icon to preview them.
-
Step 4 Choose the conversation which you want to export by clicking on “Export to the computer».
Conclusion
UltFone Toolkit — WhatsApp Transfer is an easy-to-use tool for backing up your conversation data. The data can then be effortlessly transferred to your new smartphone without losing anything. WhatsApp message viewer online also shows the conversation history with your friend by showing the status of messages received, delivered, and sent. If you are looking for the best WhatsApp message viewer online application, UltFone Toolkit — WhatsApp Transfer is the best option to consider.
v1.15
- Use new crypt14 offsets for init vector and data (#120)
- Fix for database schema change ‘chat_list’ (#127)
v1.14
- Fix UTF smileys (#72)
- crypt14 support (#114)
- Batch export (#36)
v1.13
- Fix runtime error on large databases (#46)
v1.12
- Show filenames of media (#22)
- Support Links (youtube, general website, ..) (#65)
- Support more message types (calls (8), files (9), gifs (13), live locations (16)) (#67)
- Basic quote support (#62)
- Text below images is now shown (#60)
- Added license file (#16)
- BUGFIX: fixed Windows Imaging Component decoder problem on XP
v1.11
- Datetime formatting now uses user’s region settings (#51)
- Fixed layouting issues (#49, #52)
- Let the user select the filename of the decrypted database (#50)
- Support for older databases without message_thumbnails table
v1.10
- Support for new thumbnail database schema (#42)
- Show messages count (sent / received) in chat list (#45)
- BUGFIX: In some cases decryption failed on perfectly valid input files (#37)
v1.9
- crypt12 support
- json export
v1.8
- Show «[ Audio ]» tag
- HTML export: Show video thumbnails
- HTML export: Show timestamp
- Export: Let the user choose a filename and target directory
v1.7
- Support for .crypt8 (you still need the key file)
- HTML exporter
- Command line interface: -decrypt5, -decrypt7 and -decrypt8 parameters for batch processing
- Basic wa.db support to display names instead of numbers
v1.6
- BUGFIX: No crash on invalid UTF-8 data in messages
- BUGFIX: Messages containing an Ampersand (&) are now displayed correctly
- Visible break between conversations of different days
WhatsApp is one of the most renowned messaging platforms, with billions of users. You can communicate with friends, family or colleagues without any problem. The best part is that it is available on most platforms, such as Androids, iPhones and more. WhatsApp Viewer lets you view your WhatsApp chats directly on your computer instead of your smartphone. This way, you can access all your chats, be they recent or old, without using your phone. In this WhatsApp Viewer review guide, we’ll list its advantages and disadvantages, how to use it and alternative options.
Directory
- Part 1. What Is WhatsApp Viewer
- Key Features of WhatsApp Viewer
- Advantages of WhatsApp Viewer
- Drawbacks of WhatsApp Viewer
- Part 2. How to Use the WhatsApp Viewer Tool
- Part 3. FAQs About WhatsApp Viewer
- Bonus: Alternative App to WhatsApp Viewer — Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery
Part 1. What Is WhatsApp Viewer
WhatsApp Viewer is a PC tool designed to allow users to view WhatsApp chat history on the PC through the msgstore.db file. Copying messages to your PC can make it easier and more convenient for you to read old messages. This tool allows you to see the log as if you were viewing messages in WhatsApp itself. (WhatsApp Viewer Download Link >>)
The program supports multiple database versions (crypt5/7/8/12). WhatsApp Viewer includes a user-friendly interface similar to WhatsApp on Android devices, making it easy for users to view all the old and new chats on their PC. You don’t need to install any crypt library to use this WhatsApp Viewer for Android. Plus, it is a green tool, so you will not go through the hassle of installing it.
Key Features of WhatsApp Viewer
- Allows you to view your WhatsApp chats history on your PC
- Back up messages to PC.
- Export chats in formats like .json, .txt, and .html.
- Search for specific messages.
- Load all old chats without using the «load older chats» option.
Advantages of WhatsApp Viewer
- With WhatsApp Viewer, you can view all your old mobile device messages on your computer and even check live chats on your smartphone or PC.
- It does not have dual memory usage.
- As a green program, it does not require installation.
- The program provides a safe connection for its users.
Drawbacks of WhatsApp Viewer
- It cannot be used to check chat viewers on iOS devices since it doesn’t support iOS devices.
- It has only a few updates available.
- You must create a backup of important files.
- It only supports thumbnails and not large images.
- According to some users, the interface is not very easy to use.
Part 2. How to Use the WhatsApp Viewer Tool
WhatsApp Viewer for Windows is a wonderfully versatile tool that can help its users in innumerable ways. Its unique features make it stand out, allowing those it serves to access and garner usable information quickly. With its intuitive interface, setting the tool up takes no time.
Here’s how you can use this tool:
Step 1. Get the key and the database file from the phone. After that, open the «WhatsApp Viewer».
Step 2. Go to the particular file you wish to check on the WhatsApp Viewer. Open it, then select it by clicking on «File» > «Open» > «Select file».
Step 3. Choose msgstore.db from the «extracted» folder. You can leave the account name field empty. You can view the messages on PC by clicking on a chat.
Read More: Click the link to learn how to read WhatsApp backup from Google Drive on PC.
Part 3. FAQs About WhatsApp Viewer
Q1. Does WhatsApp Viewer save chats?
No. The app does not record your chats or messages on your device. That means you won’t be able to refer back to specific conversations at any time. Instead, it allows you to view them when signed into the platform. It gives you quick access to those past conversations, but that’s where the usage stops.
You won’t be able to permanently export these messages or related attachments offline and keep them stored elsewhere either by way of this application.
Q2. Is it safe to use WhatsApp Viewer online?
While WhatsApp Viewer provides a secure connection to its users through an online tool, it has not received many updates. Therefore, it is uncertain how effectively it can protect against the latest cyber threats. Although it appears safe, there’s no guarantee of its safety.
Bonus: Alternative App to WhatsApp Viewer — Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery
Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery is the best choice for backing up and accessing WhatsApp chat history on your PC. You can easily back up your WhatsApp data from your Android device to your PC with just one click after connecting your device. It supports various file types, which include WhatsApp messages and attachments like photos, videos, stickers, documents, etc.
After you back up your data, you can choose a specific chat history to restore from a backup file on your computer. This process can be done quickly and easily without any complications. Still, there is more to it. It can export your WhatsApp files to HTML and CSV formats, enabling you to read and access them easily.
Here are the significant features of the Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery:
- Let you view or access chat history on PC.
- Extract WhatsApp chats and data from Android phones.
- Back up all of your WhatsApp chats to your computer.
- Restore files from the backup in HTML and CSV formats.
- Support most Android models such as Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Sony and more.
Here are the steps to use Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery:
01You need to download then install the app on the computer. Once installed, connect the Android phones to the PC with a working USB cable and ensure a connection between the phone and the computer. Choose one device and click «Next». Ensure you’ve enabled the USB debugging.
02The app will scan your WhatsApp data to retrieve the chats on Android. The software will prompt you to activate end-to-end encryption on the mobile phone. To activate, first, tap «Turn on». Then, click «Turn on» and tap «Use 64-digit encryption key instead». Now choose to Generate your 64-digit key».
03After obtaining the key, the WhatsApp chat recovery app will automatically read and fill in the blank. You can then proceed by pressing the «Confirm» button. If the key is not automatically inputted, retry the process. Also, if you’ve activated the end-to-end encryption, you must disable and enable it. After the scanning is completed, please tap on «View It».
04Your WhatsApp file will be organized into two categories, «WhatsApp» and «WhatsApp Attachments». To recover specific messages, click the «WhatsApp» option and select the chats you want to restore by checking them. Click on the «WhatsApp Attachments» option to choose to recover media files. After that, press «Recover to Computer».
Final Verdict
WhatsApp Viewer for PC is a software that allows you to view WhatsApp chats history on your computer in a user-friendly interface similar to WhatsApp. It also provides easy and convenient chat searching features. However, it has a very outdated interface that can be challenging to navigate. It also gets updated rarely, making it not a very reliable tool.
You could also use Coolmuster Android WhatsApp Recovery, a comprehensive solution that effectively caters to the needs of modern users. It has a sleek interface that’s easy to use, and it helps you back up and access all your WhatsApp files on the PC. Besides, it can export files in various formats.
Related Articles:
A Comprehensive Tutorial on How to Move WhatsApp to SD Card
How to Restore WhatsApp Chat After Uninstall? Step-by-Step Guide
How to Restore Deleted WhatsApp Messages Without Backup (iOS & Android)
A Guide on How to Recover Deleted WhatsApp Images on Samsung in 5 Ways
Small tool to display chats from the Android msgstore.db.
Supported versions are crypt5, crypt7, crypt8 and crypt12.
github.com
XDA Thread
2. Features
You are looking for a way to:
- View your WhatsApp chats on PC
- Have a backup on your computer in case your phone gets lost
- Conveniently read old conversations without pressing «load older messages»
- Search messages
- Export to .txt, .html, .json
- No need to install Python, SQLite or additional libraries (M2Crypto)
- All in a small application, no dependencies, no need to install
3. Download
Download here: github.com
4. Screenshot
5. How to use
- Get your key and database file from the phone. Easiest method I know: forum.xda-developers.com
- Open WhatsApp Viewer
- File -> Open -> Select file
- Select msgstore.db in the folder «extracted»
- Leave account name empty, is was used for older versions of WhatsApp (crypt5)
- Optional: If you want, you can import contact names from the wa.db file
- Click on a chat to show the messages.
You cannot see bigger images because only thumbnails are stored in the database.
You see cryptic phone numbers because account names or details are not stored in the database. However, you can import your wa.db file to resolve your contact names.
Do you have a good idea or new feature you would like to see in a future release? Please check whether it is already on the TODO list. If not, create a Github Issue or write me an e-mail. Please keep in mind I develop WhatsApp Viewer in my spare time, I won’t promise any features or release dates.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
-
Can I decrypt the database without the key file?
WhatsApp is able to do that, but I am not. If you have lost your phone or the key file, the backup is worthless.
Please, do NOT write me e-mails because you cannot find the key but the messages are SOO important for you. I cannot help you. -
What about iPhone / Blackberry?
Not supported. -
Where can I get the msgstore.db database file?
forum.xda-developers.com -
How can I decrypt .crypt7 / .crypt8 /.crypt12?
First of all you either need root access to your device or get the key file using the backup method of Android (see link above).
When you got root access, you can download the file from the system memory at /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key. Personally, I use MyPhoneExplorer for this task and I can really recommend this tool.Once you got both, the .crypt7 and key file, use the menu File->Decrypt .crypt7 (or .crypt8), select your files and press OK.
The decrypted file should be in the same folder, you can now open it in WhatsApp Viewer. -
How can I decrypt .crypt5?
.crypt5 files are, as the name implies, encrypted database backups. The key is combined of some numbers and your personal email address. Usually this is the first account on Settings->Accounts on your phone and is a Google-Mail account. Make sure you enter the whole email address as account name. If you have trouble, sometimes leaving the account name empty is known to work.So in order to decrypt the file, click File->Decrypt .crypt5, select your file and type the email address. Now you should see a confirmation and the decrypted database on your disk.
-
Error: could not load chat list sqlite error 11 database disk image is malformed
Sometimes WhatsApp creates a malformed backup and you need to repair it. Currently there is no automatic repair option in WhatsApp Viewer, so you need to do it manually.
You need sqlite installed on your computer and run these two lines from command prompt:echo .dump | sqlite3 msgstore.db > temp.sql echo .quit | sqlite3 -init temp.sql repaired.db
Now you can load repaired.db with WhatsApp Viewer.
-
I get error XYZ, the conversation is not displayed, the app crashes without any error message, …
Please consider this app as beta, I can’t test all variations of WhatsApp backups out there.However, if you don’t mind and would like to improve the experience for all users you can send me the file you have problems with and I try my best to help you or fix errors. I understand a backup file contains a lot of personal information most users don’t want to share, however debugging is much easier when you can reproduce the problem, so it would help me a lot. I am not interested in your personal data and will delete all the files you send me from my disks after the bugfix.
If you think you found a bug or have suggestions for future versions please report it here: Github Issue
7. Credits
- TripCode for crypt12 support github.com/EliteAndroidApps
- Whatsapp Xtract
- pwncrypt5.py github.com/aramosf
- SQLite
- MD5 bobobobo.wordpress.com
- UTF8 utfcpp.sourceforge.net
- AES polarssl.org
- Base64 adp-gmbh.ch
- RapidJSON rapidjson.org
- mbedtls github.com/ARMmbed