[GH-ISSUE #1025] Feature Request: Support backing up WhatsApp using exported chat logs #819

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opened 2026-02-26 01:31:59 +03:00 by kerem · 1 comment

kerem commented

2026-02-26 01:31:59 +03:00

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Originally created by @dpkg on GitHub (Jun 25, 2020).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/jberkel/sms-backup-plus/issues/1025

One of the best feature was backing up WhatsApp chats (because that's like the mostly used app among many). Too bad encryption got added in their backup files and this beloved app lost the ability to sync them up in personal gmail.

But WhatsApp still allows exporting chats as .txt files.

// example chat in the .txt file

10/26/18, 21:25 - Deepak Giri: Hey, do you want to support this feature?
10/26/18, 21:28 - jberkel: Sure, let me try.

// so the format looks like is

[timestamp] - [whatsapp username]: [message]\n

If we can somehow parse this and support syncing in gmail, that'll be awesome!

Expected behaviour: allowing WhatsApp exported txt files to be backed up like regular SMSs

Actual behaviour: its not supported yet

I really wish I could do it myself, I setup my local environment for android development, but it's just hard to find time to first learn some android, then figure out how this app works, and then finally make the changes. I already forked this as my plan was to try work on it myself and create a PR back to master, but my way is going to take really long. So raising this feature request here (maybe i'll also spend some time later).

Originally created by @dpkg on GitHub (Jun 25, 2020). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/jberkel/sms-backup-plus/issues/1025 One of the best feature was backing up WhatsApp chats (because that's like the mostly used app among many). Too bad encryption got added in their backup files and this beloved app lost the ability to sync them up in personal gmail. But WhatsApp still allows exporting chats as `.txt` files. ``` // example chat in the .txt file 10/26/18, 21:25 - Deepak Giri: Hey, do you want to support this feature? 10/26/18, 21:28 - jberkel: Sure, let me try. ``` ``` // so the format looks like is [timestamp] - [whatsapp username]: [message]\n ``` If we can somehow parse this and support syncing in gmail, that'll be awesome! ### Expected behaviour: allowing WhatsApp exported txt files to be backed up like regular SMSs ### Actual behaviour: its not supported yet I really wish I could do it myself, I setup my local environment for android development, but it's just hard to find time to first learn some android, then figure out how this app works, and then finally make the changes. I already forked this as my plan was to try work on it myself and create a PR back to master, but my way is going to take really long. So raising this feature request here (maybe i'll also spend some time later).

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2026-02-26 01:31:59 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-02-26 01:32:00 +03:00

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@kurahaupo commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2020):

@dpkg thanks for the suggestion.

The project owner (@jberkel) had been busy lately, but I'm certainly keen to include this and similar proposals in a future roadmap.

@kurahaupo commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2020): @dpkg thanks for the suggestion. The project owner (@jberkel) had been busy lately, but I'm certainly keen to include this and similar proposals in a future roadmap.