WhatsApp chat backup and restore

WhatsApp stores chats on the phone, not on its own servers. If the phone is lost or the app is deleted, chats can only be recovered from an earlier backup: on Android from WhatsApp cloud storage or the Google Account, on iPhone from iCloud.

What goes into the backup, and what does not?

• Included: individual and group chats, community messages, photos and voice messages. Videos and the status archive can be added to the backup with separate toggles. Channel updates are also included, but channel media is not (unless the user is an admin of the channel).
• Where it is stored: on Android in WhatsApp cloud storage or in the storage of the chosen Google Account, on iPhone in the iCloud storage of the Apple Account. WhatsApp cloud storage is a new feature, so it is not yet available to everyone; it is free up to 2 GB. A backup to the Google Account also needs enough free space in that Google Account.
• A single backup: only one backup is stored per phone number, and each new backup overwrites the previous one. If the latest backup is older than 120 days, according to the help the restore may not be possible.
• Tied to the platform: an Android backup cannot be restored on an iPhone, and vice versa. When switching systems, transferring the chats is the solution: Moving WhatsApp to a new phone with all chats.
• Only from the phone: the backup is made on the primary phone; according to the help, backing up and restoring are not possible on a linked device (WhatsApp Web, Windows and Mac apps).
• Encryption: in WhatsApp cloud storage, the backup is always end-to-end encrypted. For backups to the Google Account and iCloud, this can be turned on separately (see below).

Backing up on Android: WhatsApp cloud storage or Google Account

With a daily frequency, the Google backup runs every night after the local backup made on the phone. WhatsApp Help: How to back up your chat history.

1. In WhatsApp, open “Settings” from the ⋮ menu at the top right, then “Chats” > “Chat backup”.
2. Under “Cloud backup”, choose WhatsApp (WhatsApp cloud storage) or Google, then tap “Turn on backup” and follow the instructions.
3. For Google, choose the Google Account the backup should go to, or add one with “Add account”. This account has to be known later when restoring; it can be changed under “Google Account”.
4. Set the frequency. For WhatsApp cloud storage, daily, weekly or monthly can be chosen under “Automatic backups”. For Google, choose a regular frequency under “Back up” instead of “Never” and “Only when I tap ‘Back up’”. A daily backup is the safest.
5. As needed, “Back up videos”, “Back up using cellular” and “Back up status archive” can be turned on or off. With a limited data plan, it is best to leave backup over mobile data turned off.
6. Finally, start the first backup with “Back up”. Depending on the amount of chats, this can take several minutes; it is a good idea to keep the phone on the charger meanwhile.

Backing up to iCloud (iPhone)

There has to be enough free space both in iCloud and on the phone: a backup needs considerably more space than its own size (roughly twice as much).

1. First, in the iPhone's own settings, check that the phone is signed in to the Apple Account and that iCloud Drive is turned on. WhatsApp also has to be turned on in the list of apps using iCloud.
2. In WhatsApp, open “Chats” > “Chat backup” from the “Settings” tab (or by tapping the profile picture).
3. Start the first backup with the back-up-now button.
4. Turn on automatic backup and choose how often it runs.
5. Choose whether videos should be included in the backup.

End-to-end encrypted backup

In WhatsApp cloud storage, the backup is always encrypted. For a backup to the Google Account or iCloud with encryption turned on, neither WhatsApp nor the storage provider can read the backup.

1. Open “Settings” > “Chats” > “Chat backup” > “End-to-end encrypted backup”.
2. Choose how to protect it: on Android, with “Use passkey” the backup is protected by the phone's fingerprint or face recognition or its screen lock; under “More options”, a custom password or a 64-digit encryption key can be chosen.
3. Store the password or key in a safe place, for example in a password manager.
4. Create the encrypted backup with “Create”.

• If the password or key is lost, the encrypted backup cannot be restored: according to the help, it is the only way to access the backup.
• When switching providers, if the backup to the Google Account was not encrypted yet, WhatsApp asks for a passkey, a password or a 64-digit key.
• Encryption can be turned off, but this requires the password or key, or the passkey.

Restoring after reinstalling or on a new phone

Restoring is offered after the phone number is verified, during WhatsApp setup. The registration steps: Signing up for WhatsApp with a phone number, step by step.

1. For a Google or iCloud backup, the phone has to be signed in to the same Google Account or Apple Account the backup was made to; on iPhone, iCloud Drive also has to be turned on.
2. Install WhatsApp from Google Play or the App Store.
3. Enter and verify the same phone number the backup was made with.
4. WhatsApp looks for the backup and offers to restore it: tap “Restore”. If the backup is encrypted, enter the password, the key or the passkey. For security reasons, WhatsApp may also ask for identity verification with a code sent by text message or call.
5. After restoring, finish setting up the profile. Photos and videos download in the background after the text messages; staying on Wi-Fi for this is recommended.

• If restoring is skipped during setup, it cannot be started from the menu later: uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, then choose “Restore”.
• The phone needs more free space than the size of the backup; with too little space, the restore may only be partial.
• Restoring is also described in the help: How to restore your chat history.

Google Play App Store

Common restore errors

• No backup is found. Cause: registration was done with a different phone number, another account is signed in for a Google or iCloud backup, the backup comes from the other system (Android or iPhone), or the latest backup is older than 120 days. Solution: try with the same number and account used to make the backup; when switching systems, transfer the chats instead.
• The restored chats are old. Cause: automatic backup was turned off, or the backup could only run on Wi-Fi and the phone had not connected for a long time. Solution: there is no newer backup in this case; set up a daily automatic backup for the future.
• The backup or restore gets stuck or is interrupted. Cause: a weak or unstable internet connection, switching between Wi-Fi networks, too little free space, a low battery. Solution: restart the phone, force-close WhatsApp, use another Wi-Fi network or mobile data, put the phone on the charger, free up storage. On a dual-SIM phone, the SIM belonging to the WhatsApp number has to be active, and on Android updating Google Play services is recommended.
• The password for the encrypted backup is not accepted. Cause: a mistyped password or an older password. Solution: if the 64-digit key is available, the backup can also be restored with it. If neither the password nor the key is available, the backup cannot be restored.
• Storage is full or there is an iCloud error. Cause: the “Backup failed: more storage needed” message indicates full storage; on iPhone, iCloud Drive being turned off or an Apple Account different from the backup's can also cause it. Solution: free up storage (for example by deleting media files) or buy more, and on iPhone check the iCloud settings. Details: Can't create or restore an iCloud backup.
• Videos or photos are missing. Cause: videos were not included in the backup, or media files are still downloading. Solution: wait for the background download to finish; if videos were left out of the backup, they cannot be recovered.