This was the "Golden Age" of non-root extraction. Researchers discovered that if they created a dummy app with the same package name and shared User ID as WhatsApp (specifically utilizing the com.whatsapp signature), they could trick the system into granting them access to WhatsApp's private directory.
: Extracting WhatsApp keys or databases without explicit permission from the device owner is illegal in many jurisdictions (violating computer misuse, privacy, and data protection laws like CFAA, GDPR, etc.). Authorized use is usually limited to: whatsapp-key-db-extractor
WhatsApp encrypts the database using a 256-bit AES key. This key is generated on the device during installation and stored in: /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key This was the "Golden Age" of non-root extraction
Could you clarify your intent? If it’s personal recovery, I’ll point you to legal, safe steps. If it’s for research, I can outline the cryptographic mechanisms (PBKDF2, AES-GCM, key derivation) without providing malicious code. Authorized use is usually limited to: WhatsApp encrypts
If you have a rooted old phone (or a phone running Android <12) and a non-rooted new phone, you can transfer the data to the old phone, extract it there, and move it back.