Uninstalling WhatsApp is a common task for many users. You may want to uninstall WhatsApp to free up storage space, switch to a new phone, or troubleshoot issues with the app. However, a major concern is losing your WhatsApp messages and chat history when uninstalling the app.
The good news is – yes, you can uninstall WhatsApp without losing your messages. Here’s a detailed guide on how to uninstall WhatsApp while keeping your chat history intact.
Back Up Your WhatsApp Data
Before uninstalling WhatsApp, it’s crucial to back up your WhatsApp data. This creates a copy of your messages, media, and settings that you can later restore.
There are two ways to back up WhatsApp data:
- Back up to Google Drive (Android only)
- Back up locally to your phone’s storage
Back Up to Google Drive (Android Only)
For Android users, the recommended method is to back up WhatsApp to your Google Drive account. Here are the steps:
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
- Tap the More options icon (3 vertical dots at top-right).
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Back Up to Google Drive and select a backup frequency (e.g. daily, weekly).
This will automatically backup your WhatsApp data from time to time. You can also manually back up by tapping “Back Up Now”.
Back Up Locally to Phone Storage
You can also back up WhatsApp locally to a file on your phone’s internal storage or SD card. Here are the steps:
- Open WhatsApp and tap More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Back Up to your phone’s internal storage or SD card.
- Tap Back Up Now to manually create a local backup file.
This saves a file to your phone’s storage with your messages, media etc. Make sure there’s enough free space to create the backup.
Uninstall WhatsApp
Once your chat history is safely backed up, you can uninstall WhatsApp:
Uninstall WhatsApp on Android
- Open your Android phone’s Settings app.
- Go to Apps or Application Manager.
- Find WhatsApp in the app list and tap on it.
- Tap Uninstall and confirm when prompted.
Uninstall WhatsApp on iPhone
- Hold your finger on the WhatsApp icon until icons start wiggling.
- Tap the cross icon on the WhatsApp icon to uninstall it.
- Tap Delete to confirm uninstalling WhatsApp.
That’s it! WhatsApp will be removed from your phone while your chat history remains safely backed up.
Restore WhatsApp from Backup
Once you’ve uninstalled WhatsApp, you can restore your chats and data when you reinstall it. Here’s how:
Restore from Google Drive Backup (Android)
- Reinstall WhatsApp from the Play Store on your Android phone.
- Enter your phone number when prompted.
- Tap Restore when prompted to restore from Google Drive backup.
- Select the backup you want to restore.
Your chats and media will be restored from your Google Drive backup.
Restore from Local Backup
- Reinstall WhatsApp on your phone.
- On the ‘Restore chats?’ screen, tap Restore.
- Select the location of your local backup file.
- Tap on the backup file ending with .crypt12.
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore chats and media from the local backup.
That’s it! You’ve successfully uninstalled and reinstalled WhatsApp without losing any messages or chat history.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Backup & Restore
Here are some common issues faced when backing up and restoring WhatsApp data:
Backup File Missing
If you cannot find the backup files on Google Drive or local storage, the backup may have failed or got corrupted. Try backing up your chats again before uninstalling WhatsApp.
Insufficient Storage Space
Your backup may fail if there’s insufficient storage space on your phone or Google Drive. Free up space and try backing up again.
Restored Chats Are Missing
Sometimes, not all chats get restored properly. Try restoring again – if issues persist, restore from the previous backup.
Forgotten Backup Password
WhatsApp backups are encrypted. If you forgot the password, you cannot restore chats without wiping the current WhatsApp install.
Backup Too Old
If your last backup is too old, your recent chats may not get restored. Always back up right before uninstalling WhatsApp.
You may also face device-specific issues like low storage, Play Store errors etc. Try basic troubleshooting steps like rebooting your device, checking for updates, freeing up storage etc.
Conclusion
Uninstalling WhatsApp does not have to lead to losing your chat history and precious memories. By properly backing up your chats and media before uninstalling, you can seamlessly restore them when you reinstall WhatsApp. Remember to use Google Drive backup for Android devices and local backup for iPhones for best results.
Following this simple guide will allow you to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp without losing messages or media. Share this guide with your friends and family before they uninstall WhatsApp to avoid any data loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WhatsApp backup save all my chats?
Yes, WhatsApp backups include your entire chat history including text messages, photos, videos and other media files you have exchanged on WhatsApp.
Where are WhatsApp backups saved?
WhatsApp backups are saved to your Google Drive account for Android phones. For iPhones, backups are saved locally to the phone’s storage.
Can I backup WhatsApp without internet?
You cannot backup WhatsApp chats to Google Drive without an internet connection. However, you can create a local backup on your phone’s storage without internet.
How many WhatsApp backup files are saved?
WhatsApp maintains only the most recent backup file on Google Drive or local storage. Older backups are overwritten when a new backup is created.
How to recover permanently deleted WhatsApp messages?
If you have deleted WhatsApp messages permanently and did not backup chats before deleting, it’s nearly impossible to recover those deleted messages.
WhatsApp Backup Size and Storage Requirements
Backing up WhatsApp requires adequate free storage space on your phone or Google Drive account. Here are the typical WhatsApp backup sizes to expect:
| Number of Chats | Backup Size |
|---|---|
| 500 chats | 25 MB |
| 1000 chats | 50 MB |
| 5000 chats | 250 MB |
| 10,000 chats | 500 MB |
The more messages, longer videos and higher resolution photos shared, the larger the backup size will be. On average, calculate approx. 50MB of backup storage needed per 1000 WhatsApp chats.
Comparing WhatsApp Cloud vs Local Backups
Here’s a comparison between backing up WhatsApp chats to Google Drive (Cloud) vs locally to phone storage:
| Google Drive Backup | Local Phone Backup | |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Android phones only | iPhone & Android |
| Backup Location | Google Drive cloud storage | Internal phone storage or SD card |
| Internet Required | Yes | No |
| Automatic Backup | Yes, per chosen frequency | No, manual backups only |
| Maximum Size | Unlimited cloud storage | Limited by phone storage |
Google Drive backup is seamless, automated and provides unlimited storage for Android users. Local phone backup is compatible across platforms but requires manual backups and sufficient free storage.
WhatsApp Chat History Security
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for chat security. Here’s how your chat history and backups remain private and secure:
- Messages are encrypted before being sent from your phone.
- Encryption keys are stored only on your personal devices, not WhatsApp’s servers.
- Backups are also encrypted using a user-generated password.
- No one including WhatsApp can read your encrypted chats or backups.
- Enable two-step verification for additional security of WhatsApp account and backups.
As long as you keep your phone secure and use a strong backup password, your WhatsApp chat history remains protected from unauthorized access.
How to Transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Android
When switching from iPhone to Android, you need to transfer your local WhatsApp backup to restore chats on Android:
- On your iPhone, back up WhatsApp chats locally to iCloud or iTunes.
- Export the iPhone backup containing WhatsApp data to your computer.
- Install WhatsApp on your new Android phone and verify your number.
- On Android, select ‘Restore from backup’ during WhatsApp setup.
- Import the iPhone backup file to your Android phone from your computer.
- WhatsApp will extract the chat history from the iPhone backup and restore it.
This process will transfer your chats, photos, videos and other data from your WhatsApp on iPhone to the app on your new Android phone.
How to Transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone
To move your WhatsApp data when switching from Android to iPhone:
- Back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive on your Android phone.
- Install the Move to iOS app on your Android device.
- In Move to iOS app, select WhatsApp under Transfer Data.
- Follow app instructions to move WhatsApp data to your new iPhone.
- Install WhatsApp on your iPhone and log in using same number.
- Tap ‘Move from Android’ during WhatsApp setup on iPhone.
- WhatsApp will automatically restore chats and media from Google Drive backup.
This will ensure a smooth transfer of all your existing WhatsApp chats and data from your old Android smartphone to the new iPhone.
Top Tips for Backing Up WhatsApp
Follow these tips to properly back up and restore your WhatsApp chats:
- Backup chats frequently to avoid losing recent messages.
- Save backups in multiple places like Google Drive & local storage.
- Remember backup passwords or save them securely.
- Check backup size and adequacy of free storage space.
- Encrypt local backups for security of chat history.
- Update to latest WhatsApp version before taking backups.
- Clear old messages & media to reduce backup size.
- Test restoring from backup to check integrity.
Following these best practices will ensure your WhatsApp chat history and precious memories remain safe when switching devices or reinstalling the app.
Conclusion
Uninstalling WhatsApp no longer means you have to lose your chat history, photos, videos and other data. By properly backing up your WhatsApp data to Google Drive or local storage, you can uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp without any data loss.
Remember to always backup before uninstalling WhatsApp. Restore from the same backup after reinstalling WhatsApp to get all your chats and media back. This simple process makes switching devices or freeing up storage space easy without losing your precious WhatsApp data.