The filename follows a standard automated naming convention used by WhatsApp for video files recorded or processed within the app . File Name Breakdown
: Files with this specific naming format (using dashes instead of underscores, e.g., VID-YYYYMMDD-WAxxxx ) are typically generated when a user records a video directly through the WhatsApp camera or when the app saves an incoming video to the phone's gallery.
: The date the video was created or received, formatted as YYYYMMDD . In this case, the file dates to January 31, 2023 .
: When a video is sent through WhatsApp, the app frequently strips out original EXIF metadata (such as GPS location or original camera settings). The only reliable "time" information remaining is often what is encoded in the filename itself. Troubleshooting and Management WhatsApp media file naming convention - Forensic Focus