Yes, it is possible to restore WhatsApp messages from Google Drive to an iPhone. WhatsApp has a built-in backup feature that automatically saves your chat history to Google Drive. If you ever lose your messages or switch to a new phone, you can use this backup to restore your chat history.
Restoring WhatsApp messages from Google Drive to iPhone may be necessary if you recently switched from an Android device to an iPhone, got a new iPhone, or lost your previous messages due to a data loss issue. As long as you had Chat Backups enabled in WhatsApp’s settings, your message history should be safely stored in Google Drive.
Requirements for Restoring WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive
To successfully restore a WhatsApp backup from Google Drive to an iPhone, you need:
- The iPhone you want to restore chat history to
- Your Google account credentials that were previously linked to WhatsApp
- A reliable internet connection
- Your chat history previously backed up on Google Drive
- The latest version of WhatsApp installed on your iPhone
As long as you have access to your previous chat backup on Google Drive and your account credentials, you can restore your chat history on a new iPhone or an iPhone that lost its messages.
How to Restore WhatsApp from Google Drive Backup on iPhone
Restoring a WhatsApp backup from Google Drive to an iPhone is a straightforward process if you follow these steps:
- First, install the latest version of WhatsApp from the App Store on your iPhone if not already installed.
- Open WhatsApp and select “Use an Existing Account” when prompted.
- Enter your phone number and tap “Next.” WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code to your phone.
- Once you receive the code, enter it and tap “Next.”
- On the Restore Chat History page, tap “Restore” to connect your Google account and restore your chat history from Google Drive.
- Enter your Google account credentials when prompted and tap “Next.” WhatsApp will then begin restoring your chat history from Google Drive.
- The restoration process time will depend on the size of your chat backup. Once complete, you will see all your previous chats that were backed up.
And that’s it! As long as your chat history was previously backed up to Google Drive, restoring it on your iPhone is a simple process. Just be sure to use the same Google account as before when prompted by WhatsApp during setup.
What Data Can Be Restored from Google Drive Backup?
The WhatsApp chat history backup on Google Drive contains most of the data from your previous chats and messages, including:
- All your text messages and call history
- Your contacts and contact details
- Media files like photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages
- WhatsApp groups and group info
- Message timestamps and dates
- Any starred or favorite messages
However, some things are not included in the Google Drive backup, such as:
- Your WhatsApp notification settings
- Peer-to-peer payment messages and transaction data
- Certain settings like blocked contacts, security codes, etc.
So while the chat history contains nearly all of your conversations, some account-specific settings will need to be reconfigured.
How Far Back Can WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive Restore?
WhatsApp backups on Google Drive include your entire chat history for the past year. So when restoring to a new iPhone, you can recover chat data going back up to 365 days from the date of the latest backup.
The amount of restoreable chat history can vary depending on:
- How often you backed up chats – more frequent backups capture more history
- Whether you deleted or cleared chat histories on your old device
- If you configured Google Drive to delete WhatsApp backups older than a year
Under optimal conditions of daily backups and no deleted history, restoring from Google Drive can recover around 365 days worth of WhatsApp data.
Should I Use iTunes or iCloud to Restore Backups?
It is recommended to use the Google Drive method to restore WhatsApp chat history when switching from Android to iPhone.
iTunes and iCloud backups do not store WhatsApp data in the same way and cannot restore your message history across platforms.
The key differences are:
iTunes Backup
- Stores iOS device data like contacts, photos, etc.
- Does not include WhatsApp chat histories
- Cannot transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone
iCloud Backup
- Backs up data and settings from iOS apps
- WhatsApp chat history not included in iCloud backups
- Only transfers WhatsApp data between iOS devices
Google Drive Backup
- Dedicated WhatsApp chat history backup
- Works across iOS, Android, and other platforms
- Allows transferring chat history between devices
So for Android to iPhone WhatsApp restore, rely on the Google Drive backup method for a smooth transition between devices.
Troubleshooting When Restore Not Working
In some cases, you may encounter issues while trying to restore WhatsApp chats from Google Drive to your iPhone. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
If WhatsApp says “Chat History Empty”
- Make sure automatic backups are enabled in WhatsApp settings
- Check if backups stopped over a year ago (history gets deleted)
- Try forcing a manual backup on the old device then restore again
If chat history stops restoring midway
- This usually occurs due to a weak internet connection
- Try restoring when connected to stable WiFi or cellular data
- Restart the restore process – the earlier chats will remain restored
Restored chats appear out of order
- Close WhatsApp completely and restart your device
- Chats will be arranged chronologically when WhatsApp reopens
Backup size differs across devices
- Some content may not get transferred from Android to iOS
- Check third-party app folders for non-transferred media files
- Try exporting chat history as text to retain all message data
Best Practices for Smooth WhatsApp Backup & Restore
To ensure a seamless WhatsApp backup and restore when switching phones, follow these best practices:
- Enable daily auto backups in WhatsApp’s Chat Backup settings
- Periodically perform manual backups before big OS updates
- Avoid deleting chat histories as it reduces backup data
- Export important chats as text files for additional redundancy
- Check Google Drive backup size after major messaging activity
- Disable Google Drive auto-delete option for WhatsApp backups
- Make sure to disable WhatsApp on old device only after restore completes
Conclusion
Restoring your WhatsApp messages and chat history from Google Drive to a new or erased iPhone is simple and straightforward. As long as your chat backup exists in Google Drive, you can retrieve up to a year’s worth of WhatsApp data by logging in with the same Google account during WhatsApp’s restore process. With the proper backups setup, you can seamlessly transfer your messaging history across devices.