How to View WhatsApp Chat History on PC: 3 Proven Methods

WhatsApp nowadays has been widely used as a messaging app on the planet. You can access its service on Android phone, iPhone, and even desktop app or web app on your computer. Thus, WhatsApp chats and attachments are just as important as any other data on your iPhone or Android device.

While, you may be like many other WhatsApp users who don’t know how to view WhatsApp chat history on PC. In this guide, we will take about how you can do it with effective methods. Let’s get started.

Part 1. How to view WhatsApp chat history on PC

Without backing up WhatsApp chat history in advance or exporting WhatsApp chat to PC, you can read WhatsApp messages on PC via WhatsApp desktop app or the web of WhatsApp.

Option 1. WhatsApp desktop app (Best for regular use)

The first option how to read WhatsApp messages on PC is to rely on WhatsApp desktop app. Download the official WhatsApp desktop app from Microsoft Store, and follow the steps below to make it.

Step 1. Open the WhatsApp on your computer as well as your phone.

Step 2. On your phone, go to Settings > Tap Linked Devices > Tap Link a Device.

Step 3. Scan the QR code using your phone’s camera as per the instructions on the screen of your computer.

Now, your WhatsApp will be logged in to the PC and you can read your WhatsApp messages there.

Option 2. WhatsApp web (No installation needed)

If you’re wondering how to view WhatsApp chat history on PC without downloading software, this option is for you. You can use the official web app of WhatsApp for this purpose.

Step 1. Open WhatsApp web by WhatsApp web.

Step 2. Open WhatsApp on your phone and go to its Settings > Tap Linked Devices > Tap Link a Device.

Step 3. Scan the QR code using your phone’s camera as per the instructions on the screen. Now, you will be able to read your WhatsApp chats on your computer.

Part 2. How to check WhatsApp backup on PC

Depending on the phone you are using, you can check WhatsApp backup from Google Drive or iCloud on PC. By default, for Android users, the WhatsApp will be backed up to Google Drive, and for iPhone users, the WhatsApp backup is saved in iCloud.

Before checking WhatsApp backup, please be noted that  there is no way to view the WhatsApp backup file from Google Drive or iCloud on your Computer. This is due to the backup file being end-to-end encrypted and so unable to be accessed. But, you can still locate and manage the backup file on these cloud services.

For Android: Access Google Drive Backups

If you are using an Android and have backed up WhatsApp to Google Drive, you will get an answer for how to read WhatsApp backup from Google Drive on PC in this part.

Step 1. Open Google Drive on your browser and sign in with your account.

Step 2. Press the Gear icon from the top-right corner > Select Manage Apps.

Step 3. Locate the WhatsApp app > Click Options and you can manage the backup as you wish.

For iPhone: Check WhatsApp backup from iCloud

You can access WhatsApp backup on iCloud on PC with almost the same with the steps in Google Drive. Here are the steps.

Step 1. Open iCloud site on your browser and sign in with your account.

Step 2. Click the dots icon from Toolbar > Click Your iCloud Storage Space. Below the storage space indicator, you'll see a list of apps and features and how much storage they take up in iCloud.

You can scroll down to locate and check your WhatsApp backup on iCloud here.

Bonus: An easy way to backup and view iPhone WhatsApp messages on PC

You may find that backup WhatsApp to a cloud service is not an ideal solution since it offers limited space and prevent you from viewing WhatsApp backup files. Is there any backup method to backup WhatsApp and view the backup content?

You may do it with FoneTool. It's the ideal solution for backing up WhatsApp from iPhone to PC. Then, you can be free to view and read the WhatsApp backup file on the PC. Here’s how to do that.

Step 1. Install and launch the FoneTool software on your computer. Then, connect your iPhone to PC with a compatible USB cable.

Step 2. On the main interface, click WhatsApp Manager from the left pane of the main interface of FoneTool. Now, select Backup WhatsApp > Get Started to start.

Step 3. To confirm the WhatsApp data types you need to back up, you can enable backup encryption and click Start Backup. 

Step 4. Wait for FoneTool to finish the backup process. When you see the prompt “Backup Completed Successfully”, click View to check your WhatsApp backup data.

Wait for the backup process to finish. If you need to read the WhatsApp chat history on PC, you can follow the instruction below to export WhatsApp backup to computer.

How to read WhatsApp backup file on PC
Step 1. To export WhatsApp chats, select Backup History from FoneTool.

Step 2. Select the backup you have just created > Click the Restore option.

Step 3. Finally, choose a backup version, and click Start Restore to make it.

Conclusion

That's all you need to know about how to view WhatsApp chat history on PC. Please remember that FoneTool is the ideal solution for accessing and reading your WhatsApp backup on your PC. If this guide is helpful, please share it with others.