Create an FMWhatsApp backup without media

FMWhatsApp can accumulate a large amount of storage through photos, videos, voice notes, GIFs, and forwarded files. A busy family group or community chat may add hundreds of megabytes in a few days, especially when automatic downloads are enabled.

A database-only backup preserves messages, contacts, group information, and many account settings while leaving bulky media files behind. This is useful for Android users in Australia who rely on budget handsets, prepaid data, or limited internal storage in regional areas.

The process requires care because FMWhatsApp is an unofficial modified APK. Menu names can vary between releases, and Google Drive support may be inconsistent. Before deleting anything, create a separate copy of the important files and confirm that the backup date is current.

Check what FMWhatsApp is storing

Open FMWhatsApp and review the storage screen through Settings, Chats, and Storage and data, or a similarly named menu. The storage breakdown usually shows which conversations consume the most space. Large videos and forwarded images are often responsible for more storage use than the message database itself.

Australian users with Android phones purchased through Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone may have different file manager apps and Android permissions. On a budget handset used around Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth, the available space can disappear quickly after system updates, cached maps, and photos from everyday messaging.

Before making the backup, update FMWhatsApp only from a source you trust and record the installed version. A modified app may use a different package name or encryption format from official WhatsApp, so restoring into another mod can fail. Keep the old installation available until the backup has been tested.

Turn off unnecessary media in the backup

Go to FMWhatsApp’s Chats or Backup settings and look for the option labelled Include videos. Disable it before starting a Google Drive or local backup. This reduces the backup size, although the exact effect depends on the FMWhatsApp build and whether it follows WhatsApp’s standard backup behaviour.

For a stricter media-free copy, use a local backup and preserve the database files separately. In a file manager, locate the FMWhatsApp or WhatsApp folder, open Databases, and copy the recent msgstore database file to a computer, USB drive, or secure cloud folder. Do not copy the Media folder if the aim is to save storage.

The database can contain message history while media remains absent. Photos may then appear as unavailable placeholders after restoration, and audio or video attachments will need to be downloaded again if they are still accessible in the original chats. This trade-off is worthwhile when storage space matters more than offline access to old files.

Keep a small, useful backup set

Use clear filenames that include the date, FMWhatsApp version, and Android device model. Save the database in two locations where possible, such as a computer and an encrypted external drive. Google Drive may be convenient, but modified apps should not be assumed to receive the same support or security treatment as the official WhatsApp application.

A practical file set can include:

• The newest msgstore database file
• A dated copy of the previous database
• Exported text-only chats for irreplaceable conversations
• A note showing the FMWhatsApp version and phone number
• A separate copy of contacts or account recovery details

Avoid storing an unencrypted database in a publicly shared folder. Under Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 and its Australian Privacy Principles, personal information deserves careful handling, even when the backup is for private use. A chat database can include addresses, workplace details, family discussions, and financial information.

If you use FMWhatsApp for large communities, review its group controls before relying on it for important conversations. These FMWhatsApp group features can vary by release, so a setting visible in one version may be moved or removed in another.

Remove media without deleting messages

After confirming that the database copy exists, open the FMWhatsApp media directory in a file manager. Common folders include Images, Video, Audio, Documents, Stickers, and Voice Notes. Delete only the media categories you no longer need, rather than removing the entire application folder.

Keep Sent folders in mind. They may contain duplicate copies of files that were shared in chats, and deleting them can produce a large storage saving. Check the phone’s recycle bin as well, because many Android file managers retain deleted content until the bin is emptied.

To prevent the same problem returning, open Settings, Storage and data, and Media auto-download. Set mobile data downloads conservatively and disable automatic video downloads unless they are genuinely useful. This matters for Australians using prepaid plans, travelling through regional coverage areas, or relying on mobile data instead of fixed NBN connections.

Restore carefully when changing phones

When moving to another handset, install the same FMWhatsApp release family before attempting a restore. Copy the database into the expected Databases folder, grant the app the required storage permissions, and verify that the phone number matches the backup. Do not immediately remove the old handset or its files.

A database-only restore should bring back messages without restoring the old media library. If FMWhatsApp cannot detect the file, check the folder path, Android’s scoped-storage permissions, the database filename, and the encryption suffix used by that release. Some versions use different folder structures, so a current file manager may need permission to access Android’s restricted directories.

Older guides sometimes describe running several WhatsApp installations on one phone. Treat those instructions cautiously: an older multi-account guide may refer to Android versions, package names, or permissions that no longer apply. Installing multiple modified apps can also create duplicate media folders and consume more storage.

Before deleting the original database, complete these checks:

• The latest backup date appears in FMWhatsApp
• The copied database opens or is recognised during a test restore
• Essential chats have been exported separately
• The phone number and account details are recorded
• The old phone remains available until verification is complete

FMWhatsApp users who also explore other mod families should keep each app’s backup folders separate. Automation-focused features in related variants, such as YOWA automation features, do not guarantee compatible backup structures. Never rename one mod’s database into another mod’s folder unless the release documentation specifically supports it.

Create the local database copy, remove unwanted media only after verification, and schedule a monthly storage check. This keeps FMWhatsApp’s message history available while preventing old videos, voice notes, and forwarded files from taking over an Android phone.