Hey there, let's work through this annoying issue with your mom's Galaxy A5—losing WhatsApp chats repeatedly is such a hassle, especially when you've already found a partial fix with local backups. The key problem here is that Google Drive backup takes priority over local backups by default, which is probably undoing your recovery efforts. Here's a step-by-step solution and troubleshooting guide:

Step 1: Disable Google Drive Auto-Backup First #

Before you try restoring again, you need to stop WhatsApp from pulling the problematic cloud backup automatically:

• Open WhatsApp, tap the three-dot menu > Settings > Chats > Chat backup
• Under "Google Drive backup", set the frequency to Never
• Toggle off the Auto backup switch entirely

Step 2: Restore Local Backup Without Cloud Interference #

Now you can safely restore the local backup without Google Drive overriding it:

• Uninstall WhatsApp from the Galaxy A5 (don't worry, your local backup files will stay in the WhatsApp/Database folder)
• Open your phone's file manager, navigate to WhatsApp/Database
• Locate the second-to-last backup file (it’ll look like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD-HH-MM-SS.db.crypt12)
• Rename this file to msgstore.db.crypt12 (replace the existing file if prompted)
• Reinstall WhatsApp, verify your phone number, and when prompted, select Restore from the local backup option that appears

Why Are Chats Disappearing Repeatedly? #

Let’s dig into possible root causes to prevent this from happening again:

• Auto-delete old messages enabled: Check WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat history > Auto delete old messages—if this is turned on, WhatsApp will automatically erase older chats after a set period (7/30/90 days)
• Low storage space: The Galaxy A5 has limited internal storage. If it’s nearly full, WhatsApp may automatically delete old media or chats to free up space. Try clearing unused apps/files, or move WhatsApp media to an SD card if your device supports it
• Outdated WhatsApp version: Old app versions can have stability bugs that cause data loss. Update WhatsApp to the latest version from the Google Play Store
• Corrupted Google Drive backup: If your cloud backup is corrupted, WhatsApp might restore it incorrectly or overwrite valid local data. Sticking to manual cloud backups (instead of auto) can help avoid this

Long-Term Prevention Tips #

• Manual Google Drive backups: Instead of auto-backup, manually trigger a backup to Google Drive once a week (Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back up)
• Export critical chats: For super important conversations, use WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat history > Export chat to save a copy as a PDF or text file—store this on your computer or external storage for extra safety

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Vesnog