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How to Backup and Restore WhatsApp Chat? Best Guide

Updated: 3 days ago



Table of Content

Introduction


Ever felt like your WhatsApp chats are the digital version of a diary you accidentally left on a bus? Backing up and restoring your WhatsApp chat history is essential to avoid losing important messages and media. Whether you use WhatsApp on Android or iPhone, learning how to back up WhatsApp chat to Google Drive or iCloud ensures your data is secure. In this guide, we’ll show you how to restore WhatsApp chat history and retrieve WhatsApp chat from Google Drive so you never lose your conversations, even when switching phones or after deleting chats. To backup and restore WhatsApp chat, use Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone to securely save and recover your chat history, media, and settings.


Part 1: Back Up Your WhatsApp Chat History


Access Settings > Chats > Chat backup in WhatsApp, where you can manually back up your chat history or set automatic backups to your Google Account on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You can also enable the option to back up using cellular data, ensuring your WhatsApp chat backup in Google Drive stays current for easy backup and restore WhatsApp chat when needed.


Method 1: Backup WhatsApp Chat History on Android  to Google Drive


Backup WhatsApp Chat History on Android

Backing up WhatsApp chat history on Android helps secure your messages and media using Google Drive. With WhatsApp Android backup, you can manually or automatically backup and restore WhatsApp chat whenever needed. Here’s how to backup WhatsApp chat history on Android:


Step 1: Open WhatsApp on Android

Launch WhatsApp on your Android device and tap the three dots in the top-right corner to open Settings.


Step 2: Go to Chats

In the Settings menu, tap Chats to manage your WhatsApp chat history.


Step 3: Select Chat Backup

Tap Chat Backup to view options for saving your messages and media.


Step 4: Back Up to Google Drive

Tap Back Up to store your chats in Google Drive. You can also choose a backup frequency such as daily, weekly or monthly for automatic WhatsApp Android backup, making it easy to backup and restore WhatsApp chat when needed.


Pro of WhatsApp Chat Backup on Android:

WhatsApp Android backup allows you to securely save your chat history and media in Google Drive for quick recovery.


Con of WhatsApp Chat Backup on Android:

o backup and restore WhatsApp chat, you must be signed into the same Google Account, which can be inconvenient if credentials are forgotten.


Method 2: Backup WhatsApp Chat History on iPhone on icloud


Backing up WhatsApp chat history on iPhone is easy with iCloud. Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, then tap “Back Up Now” or set auto-backup. Enable end-to-end encrypted backup for added security. This supports WhatsApp chat backup iPhone and helps backup and restore WhatsApp chat anytime.


Step 1: Open WhatsApp on iPhone

Launch WhatsApp on your iPhone to begin the backup process.


Step 2: Go to Settings

Tap on Settings located at the bottom right of the screen.


Step 3: Select Chats and Chat Backup

Choose Chats, then tap Chat Backup to view your backup options.


Step 4: Tap Back Up Now

Tap Back Up Now to immediately back up your WhatsApp chat to iCloud.


Step 5: Enable Auto Backup

Set up Auto Backup for daily, weekly, or monthly backups to keep your WhatsApp chat history updated.


Pro of WhatsApp Chat Backup on iPhone:

WhatsApp chat backup iPhone works smoothly with iCloud, ensuring your messages and media are safely stored.


Con of WhatsApp Chat Backup on iPhone:

Limited iCloud space may prevent a full backup of your WhatsApp chat history and media.


Method 3: Backup WhatsApp Chat using Third Party Apps


While WhatsApp allows official backups via Google Drive and iCloud, some users prefer third-party solutions for more control, cross-platform support, or local storage. These tools simplify WhatsApp chat backup on both Android and iPhone and often include added features.


Step 1: Install the App

Download and install MobileTrans on your Windows or Mac computer from the official website.


Step 2: Launch the App and Select WhatsApp Transfer

Open MobileTrans and click on the "WhatsApp Transfer" option from the main dashboard.


Step 3: Connect Your Device

Use a USB cable to connect your Android or iPhone device to the computer. Ensure that USB debugging (Android) or trust permissions (iPhone) are enabled.


Step 4: Choose Backup or Restore Option

Select “Backup WhatsApp Messages” to back up your chat history to the computer. If restoring, select “Restore to Device”.


Step 5: Complete the Process

Click Start and follow the on-screen instructions. MobileTrans will begin backing up or restoring your WhatsApp chat automatically.


Pro of Using third party apps:

  1. Allows full backup and restore of WhatsApp chats across Android and iPhone, making it ideal for cross-platform transfers.


Con of Using third party apps:

  1. Requires a computer (PC or Mac) to perform the backup and restore, which may not suit all users.

  2. The free version has limitations, and a paid license is needed for complete functionality.


Method 4: Backup WhatsApp Chat Without Media


Backup WhatsApp Chat Without Media

Exporting WhatsApp chat without media lets you back up only the text messages, helping save space while still preserving your chat history for backup and restore.


Step 1: Open WhatsApp

Launch WhatsApp on your Android or iPhone device.


Step 2: Go to Settings

Tap the three dots (Android) or bottom right Settings tab (iPhone), then select Settings.


Step 3: Tap on Chats

Choose Chats from the settings menu.


Step 4: Select Chat Backup

Tap Chat Backup to view your backup options.


Step 5: Disable Media

Turn off the “Include Videos” option before tapping Back Up to exclude media files from the backup.


Pro of Backing Up WhatsApp Without Media:

Saves storage by excluding photos and videos from your WhatsApp backup.


Con Backing Up WhatsApp Without Media:

Media files like photos and videos won’t be recoverable if deleted from your device.


Part 2: Restore WhatsApp Chat History


Restoring WhatsApp chat history is possible if you’ve backed up your messages using Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone). By reinstalling WhatsApp and verifying your number, you can easily restore WhatsApp backup and recover chats from your most recent backup and restore WhatsApp chat session.


Method 1: Restore WhatsApp Chat History from iCloud


Restore WhatsApp chat history from iCloud by using the same phone number linked to your iCloud backup. Reinstall WhatsApp, verify your number, and tap Restore Chat History to quickly backup and restore WhatsApp chat from your saved WhatsApp backup.


Step 1: Reinstall WhatsApp

Uninstall WhatsApp from your iPhone and reinstall it via the App Store.


Step 2: Verify Your Number

Open WhatsApp and verify the same phone number used during the iCloud backup.


Step 3: Detect iCloud Backup

WhatsApp will automatically detect the available iCloud backup for your account.


Step 4: Restore Chat History

Tap Restore Chat History to begin restoring your WhatsApp chat backup from iCloud.


Pro of Restoring from iCloud:

Seamless recovery of chats, including messages and media.


Con of Restoring from iCloud:

Requires the same phone number and Apple ID used during backup.


Method 2: Restore WhatsApp Chats from Google Drive


Restoring WhatsApp chats from a Google Drive backup requires uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp, verifying your phone number, and following the prompt to retrieve your chats and media during setup.


Step 1: Install WhatsApp and Verify Your Phone Number

Download and install WhatsApp on your device, then verify your phone number during the initial setup.


Step 2: Wait for the Restore Prompt

After verification, WhatsApp will automatically detect a backup on Google Drive and prompt you to restore it.


Step 3: Tap on "Restore"

Tap the Restore button to begin the process of retrieving your chat history and media files from Google Drive.


Step 4: Complete the Setup

Once the restoration is complete, tap Next to finish the setup and start using WhatsApp with your restored chats.


Pros of Restoring WhatsApp Chats from Google Drive:

Very easy and automatic if you have a recent Google Drive backup.


Con of Restoring WhatsApp Chats from Google Drive:

Requires that you had backups enabled on Google Drive earlier.


Method 3: Restore WhatsApp Chat History on a New Phone


To restore WhatsApp backup, you must use the same phone number and the same Google Account or Apple ID used for the original WhatsApp chat backup. Whether you want to get WhatsApp chats back on Android using Google Drive or on iPhone via iCloud, this ensures your WhatsApp history and media are fully recovered.


Step 1: Use the Same Phone Number

Insert the SIM card with the same phone number you used to create the original WhatsApp backup.


Step 2: Sign in to the Same Google Account or Apple ID

Ensure you're logged into the Google Account (for Android) or Apple ID (for iPhone) linked to the previous WhatsApp backup.


Step 3: Install WhatsApp on the New Phone

Download and install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or App Store on your new device.


Step 4: Verify Your Phone Number

Open WhatsApp and follow the prompts to verify your registered number.


Step 5: Restore WhatsApp Chat History

When prompted during setup, tap Restore to retrieve your chat history and media from Google Drive or iCloud.


Pro of Restoring WhatsApp Chat History on a New Phone

Ensures a smooth transfer of chats and media when using the same phone number and backup account.


Con of Restoring WhatsApp Chat History on a New Phone

Does not work if the required backup or associated account is unavailable.


Common Problems with Recovering WhatsApp Chat History and Data from Google Drive or iCloud


These are some Common Problems with Recovering WhatsApp Chat History and Data from Google Drive or iCloud:


  1. Incorrect Google or iCloud account can prevent recovering WhatsApp chat history if the wrong account is used.

  2. Insufficient storage space on your phone can disrupt the process of restoring WhatsApp data from Google Drive or iCloud.

  3. Outdated WhatsApp version may cause issues when trying to restore WhatsApp chat history.

  4. A poor internet connection can delay or fail the WhatsApp chat backup restore process.

  5. No backup available in Google Drive or iCloud will prevent recovering WhatsApp data.

  6. Corrupted backups in Google Drive or iCloud can lead to failed WhatsApp data recovery.

  7. Using a different phone number can hinder the ability to restore WhatsApp chat history.

  8. Long restoration times due to large backups can affect the speed of WhatsApp data recovery.


Conclusion


In conclusion, backing up and restoring WhatsApp chats is crucial for keeping your messages safe. Whether it's WhatsApp chat history on iPhone or Android, knowing how to back up WhatsApp chat to Google Drive and restore WhatsApp chats ensures your data is always accessible. With these simple steps, you can confidently manage your WhatsApp history online and avoid losing important chats. For more WhatsApp related solutions read our blogs on WhatsApp Contacts Extractor .


FAQs


How do I back up WhatsApp chat history?

To backup WhatsApp chat history, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. From there, you can backup WhatsApp chat history to Google Drive (on Android) or iCloud (on iPhone). You can also set up automatic backups for daily, weekly, or monthly intervals. Read our entire guide on  WA Contact Extractor.

How can I restore WhatsApp chat history on a new phone?

How do I restore WhatsApp chats from Google Drive?

How can I restore WhatsApp chat history from iCloud?

How do I backup WhatsApp chat history without media?

Can I backup WhatsApp chat history on my laptop?

How do I backup WhatsApp on Android to Google Drive?

How do I restore WhatsApp chats after deleting them?


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