Restoring an older version of a WhatsApp backup can be useful if you’ve lost or overwritten important messages or media that you want to recover. Here are quick answers to some common questions about restoring WhatsApp backups:
Can I restore a previous backup of WhatsApp?
Yes, it is possible to restore an older WhatsApp backup as long as you have that backup stored somewhere. WhatsApp automatically saves new backups over older backups stored locally on your device. But if you’ve manually saved previous backups elsewhere, you can restore one of those older versions.
Where are WhatsApp backups stored?
WhatsApp backups are saved in a few different places depending on your device and settings:
- Locally on your device storage
- iCloud backup for iOS devices
- Google Drive backup for Android devices
To restore an older backup, you need access to wherever that backup is saved.
How do I restore an old backup on Android?
To restore an old WhatsApp backup on Android:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap “Restore” and select the backup file you want to restore from Google Drive.
- Confirm that you want to restore this backup when prompted.
This will overwrite your current WhatsApp data and settings with the ones in the older backup.
How do I restore an old backup on iPhone?
To restore an old WhatsApp backup on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap “Restore” and select the backup file you want to restore from iCloud.
- Enter your Apple ID password to confirm the restore.
This will overwrite your current WhatsApp data and messages with the older backup.
Can I restore selective chats instead of full backup?
Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not currently allow restoring individual chats or media from a backup. When you restore a backup, it will overwrite your entire WhatsApp account with the data in that backup. There is no option to only restore specific chats or media files.
Will my current chats be deleted when restoring old backup?
Yes, restoring an old WhatsApp backup will delete your more recent chats and media. The backup you restore will overwrite your current WhatsApp data, so any messages, media or settings newer than that backup will be deleted.
To avoid losing current chats, make sure to back up your WhatsApp before restoring an older version. That way you have the option to restore your newer backup again.
How far back can I restore WhatsApp backup?
WhatsApp backups are saved for a limited time:
- Local Android backups: Last 7 days
- Google Drive backups: Last 120 days
- iCloud backups: Limited by your iCloud storage
So you can only restore as far back as the oldest automatically saved backup based on these time frames. To restore older data, you would need a backup saved externally.
Can I restore WhatsApp backup from another phone?
It is possible to transfer a WhatsApp backup from one phone to another to restore your data. This can be useful when switching phones or setting up WhatsApp on a new device.
To transfer a WhatsApp backup from one phone to another:
- Save the backup file from the old phone to external storage or a cloud drive.
- Transfer the backup file to the new phone.
- On the new phone, restore WhatsApp from this backup file.
As long as the backup file is compatible, this will restore your chats and data on the new device.
Can I restore after uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp?
Yes, you can restore your WhatsApp backup after uninstalling and reinstalling the app. As long as you didn’t delete your WhatsApp backups, you can access them after reinstalling the app and logging in with your phone number.
Here are the steps to restore your backup after reinstalling WhatsApp:
- Uninstall WhatsApp and reinstall it.
- Enter your phone number to log in.
- On the “Restore chats” prompt, tap Restore to restore your most recent backup.
This will restore your chats, media, settings and groups from the last automatic backup.
Can I restore WhatsApp backup on a new phone number?
WhatsApp backups are tied to your phone number, so you cannot directly restore a backup to a new phone number. However, there are a couple of workarounds:
- Temporarily use your old number on the new phone to restore the backup, then switch to the new number.
- Export the important chats you need as text files and email them to yourself to import manually on the new number.
But there is no direct method for restoring a WhatsApp backup to a phone with a new number.
Is there any way to read WhatsApp backup files?
WhatsApp backup files are encrypted and cannot be read directly. However, there are third-party tools that can extract and decrypt WhatsApp backup files for viewing chat history and media offline. Some examples include:
- Android – WhatsApp Viewer
- iPhone – iBackup Viewer
- PC – PhoneRescue for iOS
Using tools like these require access to the device backups and decryption keys to view the extracted WhatsApp data.
Can I restore WhatsApp messages after deleting an account?
Unfortunately, once you delete your WhatsApp account, your chat history cannot be retrieved or restored. WhatsApp erases all account data when an account is deleted.
However, before deleting your account, you can back up your chats to store them externally. Then if you reinstall WhatsApp and use the same phone number, you can restore this backup to get your old messages back.
Conclusion
Restoring older WhatsApp backups is possible as long as you have access to those backup files and know the restore process for your device. This can help recover lost data or revert to an older version if needed. Be aware that restoring backups will overwrite your current WhatsApp data.
Make regular backups to have multiple versions to restore from. Back up important chat history externally before any major WhatsApp changes. And be careful fully deleting your account, as that erases chat backups as well.
With the proper backups in place, you have the ability to restore and recover previous versions of your WhatsApp data if ever necessary.
WhatsApp Backup Restore FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about restoring WhatsApp backups:
Can I restore my backup after switching phones?
Yes, you can transfer your WhatsApp backup file from your old phone and restore it on your new phone. This will transfer your chats, media, and settings.
Will my messages be merged when restoring a backup?
No, restoring a WhatsApp backup will overwrite your current chats. It does not merge the backup data with existing conversations.
Can I restore my backup after reinstalling WhatsApp?
Yes, reinstalling WhatsApp on the same phone will allow you to restore your most recent backup during setup.
Does an older backup restore all data?
Yes, restoring an older WhatsApp backup will restore all of your chats, media, settings and groups from the time of that backup.
Will I lose my current chats if I restore a backup?
Yes, any chats newer than the backup you are restoring will be deleted when you overwrite your data.
Do messages get merged when I restore my backup?
No, WhatsApp does not merge or combine messages when restoring a backup. It simply overwrites your account data.
Can I restore a backup from internal storage?
Yes, you can restore a WhatsApp backup saved locally on your Android device storage or iPhone internal storage.
How can I tell the date of a WhatsApp backup file?
On Android, you can view backup dates in Google Drive. On iPhone, connect your phone to a computer to view iCloud backup dates in Finder or iTunes.
Will my chats stay after uninstalling WhatsApp?
Your chats will not stay visible after uninstalling WhatsApp. But you can restore your chats by reinstalling WhatsApp and restoring your backup.
WhatsApp Backup Restore Process
Here is an overview of the steps to restore a WhatsApp backup on Android and iPhone:
Android WhatsApp Backup Restore
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Restore and select the backup to restore from Google Drive.
- Tap Restore to confirm and overwrite your current WhatsApp data.
iPhone WhatsApp Backup Restore
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Restore and select the backup to restore from iCloud.
- Enter your Apple ID password to confirm the restore.
This will completely replace your current WhatsApp data and settings with the information in the backup you restore.
WhatsApp Backup Locations
WhatsApp backups are saved in different locations depending on your device:
| Device | Backup Location |
|---|---|
| Android | Google Drive or Local Storage |
| iPhone | iCloud |
You need access to the backup file’s location to be able to restore it on your device.
WhatsApp Backup Timeline
WhatsApp backups have a time limit before they are automatically deleted:
| Backup Location | Backup Expiry |
|---|---|
| Google Drive | 120 days |
| Local Android Storage | 7 days |
| iCloud | No expiry |
So make sure to save important backups externally before they are deleted.
Third-Party WhatsApp Backup Viewers
Here are some apps that can decrypt and view WhatsApp backups:
| App | Platform |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp Viewer | Android |
| iBackup Viewer | iOS |
| PhoneRescue | Windows/Mac |
These tools extract and decrypt WhatsApp backup files to view chats and media offline.
WhatsApp Chat History Recovery
If you need to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, here are some options:
- Restore from an older automatic backup
- Use a WhatsApp recovery app
- Extract chats from a decrypted backup file
- Retrieve from Google Drive or iCloud backups
Prevent chat loss by regularly backing up your WhatsApp data externally.
WhatsApp Backup Troubleshooting
Here are some tips for troubleshooting WhatsApp backup issues:
- Check your internet connection is stable when backing up
- Verify backup location has enough free storage space
- Restart your phone and try backing up again
- Clear cache and data for WhatsApp before backups
- Update to latest WhatsApp version if backup not working
- Try connecting phone to PC to manually transfer backup
If your backup is corrupted, you may need to format the phone storage or cloud drive and start fresh.
Conclusion
Restoring WhatsApp from an older backup can recover lost chats and media. Be aware it will overwrite your current data. Make backups regularly and save copies externally when needed. Understand the backup process for your specific device. With the right backups, you can retrieve previous versions of WhatsApp when required.