Many iPhone users rely on WhatsApp for messaging and want to make sure their chats are properly backed up. iCloud is Apple’s cloud storage service that can back up an iPhone’s data and settings. A common question is whether iCloud backups include WhatsApp data and can restore it if needed.
Does iCloud Backup WhatsApp Chats?
The short answer is no, iCloud does not directly back up WhatsApp chats. Here’s a more detailed explanation:
What iCloud Backs Up
iCloud can back up many types of iPhone data, including:
– Photos and videos
– Contacts, calendars, reminders
– Device settings and preferences
– App data
– iMessages, SMS, MMS messages
– Voice memos
– Health/fitness data
What iCloud Doesn’t Backup
However, there are some exceptions. iCloud does NOT back up certain data, including:
– Music, books, movies, podcasts synced from iTunes
– Data already stored in iCloud (will not duplicate)
– Touch ID/Face ID settings
– Apple Pay information
– Mail app data stored on email servers
And importantly, iCloud does not directly back up data from third-party apps like WhatsApp.
Why WhatsApp Isn’t Backed Up
WhatsApp uses its own cloud-based backup system to store your messages and media. It does not rely on iCloud or other device backups.
One reason is encryption. WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption for messages, so the chat contents are not accessible to Apple or anyone else except the sender and recipient.
Overall, iCloud is not designed to back up data that third-party apps already manage themselves in other cloud services. WhatsApp has its own specialized system for backups.
Will WhatsApp Be Restored from an iCloud Backup?
Because iCloud does not directly contain WhatsApp data, restoring from an iCloud backup will not restore your WhatsApp chats or media.
Here is what will happen for WhatsApp when you restore an iPhone from iCloud:
WhatsApp Will Be Reinstalled
The WhatsApp app itself will get reinstalled from the iCloud backup like any other app. So you’ll have a fresh install of the app.
No Chat History Restored
However, none of your chat history will be restored. All previous WhatsApp chats and media will not come back from the iCloud backup.
Clean WhatsApp State
Essentially, your WhatsApp will look brand new after an iCloud restore, as if you just installed it with no previous chats or data.
How to Properly Backup WhatsApp
Since iCloud does not backup WhatsApp data, you need to use WhatsApp’s built-in backup feature to preserve your chat history.
Here are the key things to know about backing up WhatsApp:
Backs Up to Google Drive or Local Storage
WhatsApp gives you two options for backups:
– Google Drive – Back up to your linked Google account. Free up to a quota.
– Local device storage – Back up locally to phone storage. Limited by storage space only.
Configure Backup Frequency
You can configure how often WhatsApp backs up your data:
– Daily
– Weekly
– Monthly
– Manually only
More frequent is safer to prevent data loss.
Encrypts Chat History
WhatsApp backups are encrypted by default using 256-bit AES encryption. This keeps your chats secure.
Includes Media and Conversations
WhatsApp backups include your message history, contacts, wallpapers, and media files sent or received. This preserves the full state of your chats.
Easy to Restore Chats
When reinstalling WhatsApp, you can restore your chat history from the latest WhatsApp backup. This brings back all your chats and media.
Using iCloud and WhatsApp Backups Together
While iCloud does not backup your WhatsApp data directly, you can use both iCloud and WhatsApp backups together for comprehensive protection:
iCloud Backs Up iPhone System
Use iCloud to backup your overall iPhone system – settings, app data, photos, device health, etc. This will allow you to restore your iPhone system if needed.
WhatsApp Backs Up Chats
Separately, make sure WhatsApp backup is configured to backup chats – either to local storage or Google Drive. This covers your chat history.
Restoring Data
If you need to restore your iPhone, first restore the overall system from an iCloud backup. Then launch WhatsApp and restore chats from your WhatsApp backup.
Third Party Backup Solutions
There are also third party apps available that can backup both your iPhone system data and WhatsApp chats:
iMazing
iMazing can backup your iPhone system via iCloud, and also directly backup WhatsApp chats, messages, and media. This provides full end-to-end backup coverage.
AnyTrans
AnyTrans lets you backup your iPhone and WhatsApp data to your computer. It also offers encrypted WhatsApp backups for added security.
Dr.Fone
Dr.Fone iPhone backup software allows you to directly backup WhatsApp chats along with all standard iPhone content. Provides a simple all-in-one backup solution.
Summary
To summarize the key points:
– iCloud does NOT directly backup WhatsApp chats
– Restoring iCloud backup will NOT restore WhatsApp data
– Use WhatsApp’s built-in backup to save chat history
– Or use third party apps for combined iPhone and WhatsApp backup
So make sure to backup your WhatsApp chats separately from iCloud to preserve your full message history.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about iCloud backups and WhatsApp:
Does iCloud backup WhatsApp messages?
No, iCloud does not directly backup WhatsApp chat messages or media. It only backups the WhatsApp app itself.
Can you recover WhatsApp chat history from iCloud?
No, you cannot restore WhatsApp chats from an iCloud backup since messaging history is not included. You need to restore WhatsApp messages from a WhatsApp backup.
Is WhatsApp data saved in iCloud?
No, WhatsApp chat data is not saved in iCloud storage. WhatsApp uses its own cloud backup system to store chat history.
How do I backup WhatsApp chats on iPhone?
To backup WhatsApp on an iPhone, go into WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and choose to backup to either Google Drive or local iPhone storage.
Does WhatsApp backup save photos?
Yes, backing up WhatsApp also saves any photos, videos, or other media sent and received in your chats.
Conclusion
In summary, iCloud does not directly backup WhatsApp chat data, so restoring iCloud backup will not restore WhatsApp chats. To properly preserve your WhatsApp history, make sure to use WhatsApp’s built-in chat backup feature or a third party backup app. This will ensure you have a saved copy of your WhatsApp messages and don’t lose your chat history if you need to restore your iPhone.