Yes, it is possible to backup and restore WhatsApp messages. WhatsApp has a built-in backup feature that allows users to create backups of their messages and media that can be restored if needed. There are a few different ways to backup and restore WhatsApp data – using the built-in backup feature, local backups, and third-party apps.
Backing Up WhatsApp Messages
WhatsApp includes a built-in backup feature that can automatically or manually create backups of your messages, media, and settings. These backups are stored in Google Drive or iCloud depending on your device. Here are the steps to enable WhatsApp backup:
Android
1. Open WhatsApp and tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top right.
2. Select Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
3. Tap on Back up to Google Drive and select a backup frequency – daily, weekly, monthly or never.
4. Tap Account and select the Google account you want to backup your WhatsApp data to.
5. Tap Back up over to choose whether to backup using mobile data or Wi-Fi only.
6. Tap Back up now to manually trigger an instant backup.
iPhone
1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
2. Tap on Auto Backup and select a backup frequency.
3. Ensure iCloud Backup is enabled in iOS settings. WhatsApp data will be included in your iCloud backups.
4. Tap Back Up Now to manually create an instant iCloud backup containing WhatsApp data.
Enabling WhatsApp’s built-in chat backup is the easiest way to protect your chat history and media. Backups occur automatically in the background without user intervention based on your selected frequency.
Restoring WhatsApp Backup
If you get a new device or need to restore a backup for any reason, here are the steps:
Android
1. Install WhatsApp on your new device.
2. Enter your phone number and tap Next.
3. Tap Restore when prompted to restore chats and media from Google Drive backup.
4. Select the backup you want to restore from the available options.
iPhone
1. Install WhatsApp from the App Store.
2. Enter your phone number and tap Next.
3. Tap Restore when prompted and select the iCloud backup to restore.
4. Tap Restore to confirm and restore WhatsApp chats and media from iCloud.
Restoring from your saved WhatsApp backup retrieves all your messages, photos, videos and settings on your new device. Just make sure to regularly backup so you have a recent version to restore from if needed.
Local WhatsApp Backups
In addition to cloud backups, you can also create local backups of WhatsApp to your device storage or SD card (Android only):
Local Backup on Android
1. Open WhatsApp > Menu > Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
2. Tap Back up to Google Drive and select ‘Never’ to disable cloud backup.
3. Tap Local backups and toggle on.
4. Select frequency – daily, weekly, monthly.
5. Tap Back up now to manually create local backup.
Local iOS Backup
1. Connect iPhone to computer and open iTunes.
2. Select your device and go to File Sharing.
3. Tap WhatsApp and click Save to… to save chat history to computer.
4. Tap Add File… to later restore WhatsApp backup from computer to iPhone.
This will save a copy of your WhatsApp chats and media to your device or computer storage rather than the cloud.
Third-Party Backup Apps
There are also various third-party apps that can be used to backup and restore WhatsApp messages:
- dr.fone – Easily backup WhatsApp messages to computer and restore to any device.
- SMS Backup & Restore – Backup WhatsApp to Android device or Google Drive.
- iCareFone – Backup and manage WhatsApp on iPhone and manage from computer.
- iTransor – Backup WhatsApp chats, photos, videos to computer from iPhone.
These tools provide greater flexibility in terms of where you can save WhatsApp backups and provide options to view and manage backups on a computer.
Which WhatsApp Data is Backed Up
WhatsApp backups contain the following data:
- Messages – All chats, text messages, images, videos, documents etc.
- Media Files – Photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages and audio files.
- Contact Info – Names and phone numbers of your WhatsApp contacts.
- Call History – Records of WhatsApp calls.
- Settings – Chat wallpaper, notification settings etc.
Any WhatsApp account info such as your name, profile photo and ‘about’ info is not part of the backup. Your chat encryption keys are also reset when restoring from backup.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Backups
Here are some common issues faced when trying to backup or restore WhatsApp chats:
Backup Not Working
– Check internet connection is active. Backups require an internet connection.
– Verify backup settings. Auto backup may be disabled or backup frequency set to ‘Never’.
– Inadequate storage space can prevent backup. Delete unneeded files to free up space.
– Log out and log back in to WhatsApp which can resolve backup issues.
Backup Too Large
– WhatsApp backup sizes are capped at 1GB on iOS and 2GB on Android.
– Delete old chats, media and messages you no longer need to reduce backup size.
– Use a third-party app like dr.fone to backup without size restrictions.
Missing Messages in Restored Chats
– The restored backup may be old and not contain recent chats. Check the date.
– Create a new backup and try restoring again to get the latest data.
– Messages may fail to restore if they exceed localized backup size limits.
Conclusion
Backing up regularly is crucial to avoid losing your WhatsApp data if your phone is damaged, lost or upgraded. WhatsApp provides automatic chat backups to the cloud for easy recovery. You can also create local backups or use third-party tools for more flexibility. Remember to verify backups are being created properly and restore to confirm it works when needed. Follow the troubleshooting tips if you encounter issues with WhatsApp backups.