WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, with over 2 billion monthly active users. It allows users to send messages, photos, videos, documents and more to individuals or groups. WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for all communication, which provides a high level of security and privacy.
One key feature that WhatsApp offers is the ability to back up your chat history. This allows you to restore your messages if you ever switch devices or reinstall the app. But does the iPhone locally back up your WhatsApp data, or is it only stored in iCloud?
Does WhatsApp backup chats locally on iPhone?
Yes, WhatsApp on iPhone does maintain a local backup of your chat history by default. This backup is stored locally on your device storage, separate from iCloud backups.
Here are some key points about local WhatsApp backups on iPhone:
- The local backup includes your messages, photos, videos and other data from WhatsApp.
- It is encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption for security.
- The backup file is stored in the WhatsApp folder within your iPhone’s file system.
- A new local backup is created periodically whenever WhatsApp is running and connected to a power source.
- The frequency of local backups can be customized in WhatsApp’s settings.
So in summary, WhatsApp does maintain an on-device encrypted backup of your chats on iPhone. This happens automatically and does not rely on iCloud.
Where does WhatsApp store local backups on iPhone?
WhatsApp’s local iOS backups are stored in the WhatsApp folder located in your iPhone’s local file system. The exact location is:
On internal iPhone storage:
/var/mobile/Containers/Shared/AppGroup/{group id}/WhatsApp/Databases
On external storage like SD card:
/var/mobile/Containers/Shared/AppGroup/{group id}/external. WhatsApp/Databases
Within this WhatsApp folder, your messages are stored in an encrypted database file ending with .crypt12. There are also media folders for photos, videos, audio, documents and more. The key files in this local backup are:
- ChatStorage.sqlite.crypt12 – stores your chat history and messages
- Media folders – contain your media files from chats
- Key – encryption key for the backup
So in summary, the local WhatsApp backup on iPhone is found in the app’s designated folder on your device storage or external SD card if applicable.
How are WhatsApp iCloud backups different?
In addition to local backups, WhatsApp also offers the option to backup your data to iCloud. Here are some key differences compared to local WhatsApp backups:
- iCloud backups sync across multiple iOS devices logged into your iCloud account.
- They are stored on Apple’s servers rather than your iPhone storage.
- You need to enable iCloud Drive and WhatsApp backups in iCloud settings.
- Backups occur when device is charging, connected to WiFi and iCloud has space.
- Backup frequency can’t be changed, but can turn on low storage mode.
- Encrypting iCloud WhatsApp backup requires a password.
- iCloud allows selecting which chats to backup, local backup backs up all chats.
In summary, iCloud WhatsApp backups provide syncing across devices while local backups focus on a single device. Both encryption methods differ slightly too. Having both backups enabled provides an extra safeguard.
How often does WhatsApp backup locally on iPhone?
By default, WhatsApp on iPhone is set to backup your data locally every day. But you can customize this frequency in WhatsApp’s settings:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap on Backup Frequency.
- Choose from Never, Daily, Weekly or Monthly.
Here are some key points about controlling local WhatsApp backup frequency:
- Setting to Never disables local backups.
- Daily backup occurs once every 24 hours if conditions met.
- Weekly backup happens once per week on the selected day.
- Monthly backup occurs once per month on the chosen date.
- Backup only happens when iPhone is idle, charging and WiFi connected.
So in summary, the default is daily but you can adjust as needed based on your preference. The less frequent the backups, the more chat history you risk losing.
How to restore WhatsApp backup on iPhone
If you ever need to restore your WhatsApp chat history from a backup, here are the steps to follow on iPhone:
Restore from iCloud backup
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Open WhatsApp and select to restore from iCloud backup when prompted.
- Tap on your desired backup date to restore.
Restore from local backup
- Uninstall WhatsApp but do not delete the app data.
- Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store.
- WhatsApp will find the local backup and restore data automatically.
A few key tips for smooth backups and restores:
- Ensure local and iCloud backups are both enabled for redundancy.
- Remember your iCloud backup password if encrypting.
- Back up before uninstalling or resetting your device.
- Don’t delete WhatsApp or its data before reinstall if restoring local backup.
Does deleting WhatsApp delete the backup?
If you delete the WhatsApp app from your iPhone, here is what happens to your local and iCloud backups:
- Local backup – Remains intact even when WhatsApp is deleted. It is restored when you reinstall WhatsApp.
- iCloud backup – Also remains available and can be restored later. But if you disable iCloud Drive, the backup will be deleted.
So in summary, your WhatsApp backup data will persist after deleting the app, up until you take steps to manually delete the local files or disable iCloud backup. Reinstalling the app will find and restore the backups.
How to delete WhatsApp backups on iPhone
If you want to permanently delete WhatsApp’s backups from your iPhone, here are the steps:
Delete local WhatsApp backups
- Open the Files app on your iPhone.
- Go to On My iPhone > WhatsApp > Databases.
- Select and delete the ChatStorage.sqlite.crypt12 file.
- Also delete the Media folders to remove media files.
Delete iCloud WhatsApp backups
- Go to iPhone Settings > tap your name.
- Select iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
- Choose your device backup > Disable & Delete.
Once complete, your WhatsApp backup data will be permanently deleted from both local storage and iCloud. You can also disable backups in WhatsApp settings to prevent new backups.
Does WhatsApp notify about backup status?
WhatsApp does provide notifications to alert you about the status of recent backups or backup failures. Here are some of the backup notifications you may see:
- “WhatsApp backup successfully completed” – indicates local backup finished.
- “Your chats and media will be restored soon” – local restore after reinstall.
- “Only stored chats prior to [date] will be restored” – partial restore warning.
- “Your backup was not created successfully” – local backup failed.
- “Waiting for network/Trying again in [time]” – iCloud backup issue.
These notifications appear as pop-up messages within the WhatsApp app. They can indicate key details like backup completions, pending restores or any errors that need your attention.
Does iPhone backup WhatsApp by default?
Here are the default backup settings for WhatsApp on iPhone:
- Local backups – Enabled by default to run daily when conditions met.
- iCloud backups – Disabled by default, you must enable in iCloud Drive settings.
So while local WhatsApp backups are on by default, you need to manually turn on iCloud backup. When enabled, both methods will automatically backup your chats unless frequencies are changed or backups turned off.
WhatsApp backup size on iPhone
The size of your WhatsApp backups on iPhone will depend on how much content you have in the app. Here are some typical backup sizes:
- Local backup – Ranges from 100MB to over 1GB
- iCloud backup – Usually slightly smaller than local, varies based on chat selection
Factors impacting WhatsApp backup size include:
- Number of chats
- Media exchanged like photos & videos
- Duration of chat history
- Group chats tend to be larger
- Voice messages take up space
In general, expect your local WhatsApp backups to occupy up to 1GB or more storage on your iPhone. You can monitor the app size in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp backups
Here are some common issues faced with WhatsApp backups and how to resolve them:
Local backup not working
- Ensure iPhone is plugged into a power source and connected to WiFi.
- Check you have enough iCloud storage space.
- Toggle Airplane Mode on/off to reset connections.
- Update to latest WhatsApp version if needed.
Large backup size
- Change chat backup frequency to weekly or monthly.
- Clear large unwanted media from chats.
- Delete and reinstall WhatsApp to start fresh.
Can’t restore backup
- Check backup file is not corrupted – try another backup.
- For iCloud restore – be sure to use same Apple ID.
- May need to uninstall/reinstall WhatsApp.
Backup stopped unexpectedly
- Free up storage space on your iPhone.
- Check for any WhatsApp crash errors.
- Disable battery optimizations for WhatsApp.
- Reset network settings on your iPhone.
Conclusion
To summarize, WhatsApp on iPhone supports both local and iCloud backups to preserve your chat history and messages. Local WhatsApp backups are enabled by default and stored securely on your device storage. iCloud backups offer syncing across devices but need to be manually turned on. Both options provide a way to restore your chats if you ever lose access to WhatsApp on your iPhone. Following proper backup practices is crucial to avoid losing your important WhatsApp data.