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Exporting a backup from an Android phone

This guide shows how to create the backup files our tool accepts and how to get them into the extractor — either by transferring to a computer first, or by uploading directly from your phone’s browser. When ready, head to the SMS/MMS Extractor.

What Android files we accept

  • SMS & MMS: an .xml file from the free SMS Backup & Restore app.
  • WhatsApp: an exported chat (.txt, or .zip with media), a decrypted msgstore.db, or an encrypted .crypt14/.crypt15 database (with your key).

Option A — SMS & MMS (XML)

  1. Install “SMS Backup & Restore” by SyncTech from the Google Play Store.
  2. Open it and tap Set up a backup.
  3. Turn on Messages (this includes SMS); enable MMS / attachments if you want picture messages included.
  4. For destination, choose local storage / this phone (you can also pick Google Drive).
  5. Tap Back up now and wait for it to finish. It creates a file like sms-20260619143708.xml, usually in your Download or SMSBackupRestore folder.

Move the XML to your computer

  1. USB cable: connect the phone, then on the phone tap the “Charging” notification and choose File transfer / Android Auto. On the computer, open the phone’s storage and copy the .xml from Download (or SMSBackupRestore).
  2. Or cloud/email: in the backup app or your Files app, share the .xml to Google Drive, email, or another cloud, then download it on your computer.

Option B — WhatsApp

Easiest: export a single chat

  1. Open WhatsApp and the conversation you need.
  2. Tap the ⋮ menu (top-right) → More → Export chat.
  3. Choose Without media (smaller, faster) or Include media (creates a .zip).
  4. Share it to Google Drive, email, or Files. You’ll get a .txt (or .zip).

Advanced: the full encrypted database

For a complete WhatsApp history you can upload the encrypted database and its key. The database lives at Internal storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt15. The .crypt15 key is the 64-digit end-to-end backup key you set in WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat backup → End-to-end encrypted backup. Copy both to your computer (USB or cloud) and provide the key when prompted. The key is used only to decrypt your upload and is never stored or logged.

Uploading straight from your phone (no computer)

Phone browser upload

You don’t need a computer at all.
  1. Open Chrome (or any browser) on the phone and go to yourlegalaitools.com.
  2. Sign in and open the SMS/MMS Extractor.
  3. Choose your source (Android or WhatsApp), then tap choose a backup file.
  4. In the file picker, browse to Downloads (for the SMS .xml) or to wherever you saved the WhatsApp export, and select it.
  5. The file uploads directly and securely; continue with number selection.

Before you upload

Only upload data you have the legal right to process. Files are permanently deleted from our storage 24 hours after creation. See our Terms and Privacy Policy.

Using an iPhone instead? See the iPhone guide.