WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows users to backup their chat history and media to Google Drive. This raises an important question – does the WhatsApp backup delete from Google Drive at some point?
The short answer is – no, WhatsApp backups on Google Drive do not get automatically deleted. The backups remain in the Drive storage unless the user manually deletes them. However, there are some caveats to this:
WhatsApp Backup Size Limit
WhatsApp allows each user to backup up to 2 GB of data to Google Drive for free. This limit was increased from 1 GB to 2 GB in early 2022. Once your backup size crosses 2 GB, you will no longer be able to create new backups on Google Drive until you clear up space below the 2 GB limit.
So while existing backups are not automatically deleted, you may reach a point where you cannot create new backups without manually deleting older ones first.
Does WhatsApp warn before stop backing up?
Yes, WhatsApp does warn users when their backup size is approaching the 2 GB limit. It will show a notification saying the backup size is nearing the limit and backups may soon stop.
This gives users time to proactively manage their backup size by deleting old media/chats before hitting the 2 GB cap.
Backup Frequency
WhatsApp backups do not occur continuously. Backups are created periodically – once every day and when you manually trigger a backup.
So if you do not open WhatsApp for several days, no new backups will be created during that time.
How often does WhatsApp backup to Google Drive?
WhatsApp backs up your data to Google Drive at the following frequencies:
- Daily – A backup is created once every 24 hours if you are connected to the internet
- When manually triggered – You can initiate a backup anytime from WhatsApp’s settings
- When you reinstall WhatsApp – Backups are created when you reinstall WhatsApp on the same or a new device
So unless you regularly open WhatsApp, your backups may not capture your most recent chats/media.
Google Drive Storage Policies
While WhatsApp does not automatically delete backups from Google Drive, Google does have its own storage policies that may impact backup retention.
Does Google Drive delete WhatsApp backup after inactivity?
No, Google Drive does not automatically delete WhatsApp backups if you are inactive for a certain period. WhatsApp backups are treated like any other file you store on Drive.
As per Google policies, inactive files on Drive do not get deleted as long as you have available storage space in your account.
Files only get deleted if:
- You manually delete them
- You exceed your overall Google Drive storage limit
So unless any of these two conditions are met, your WhatsApp backups will continue to be retained even if you are inactive.
Does Google Drive delete WhatsApp backup after years?
No, Google Drive does not automatically delete WhatsApp chat backups based on how long they have been stored.
Backups are retained for as long as you have available space in Google Drive, regardless of whether they are 1 week or 5 years old.
The only case when very old WhatsApp backups could get deleted is if you exceed your Drive storage limit. When storage is full, Google may delete your oldest files that have not been accessed in 2+ years.
But as long as you have free space and occasionally access the Drive backup, it will not be automatically deleted even after years of storage.
Manually Deleting Backups
While WhatsApp and Google Drive do not automatically remove backups, users can manually delete backups in a few ways:
How to delete WhatsApp backup from Google Drive?
Here are the ways to manually delete WhatsApp backups from Google Drive:
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| From WhatsApp |
|
| From Google Drive |
|
| From File Manager |
|
Manually clearing backups may be required to free up storage space or delete outdated backups you no longer need.
What Happens When You Delete WhatsApp Backup From Google Drive?
When you delete WhatsApp backups from Google Drive, the following happens:
- The backup will be permanently deleted from Drive storage
- Any chat history and media in that backup will be lost
- Your WhatsApp account on your phone remains intact and usable
- New backups can be created and stored in Drive again
So deleting a backup only removes that specific copy of your chat data from Drive. Your actual WhatsApp account and app on your phone remain fully functional.
Can you recover deleted WhatsApp backup from Google Drive?
Unfortunately, no. There is no way to recover a WhatsApp backup that you have deleted from Google Drive.
Since the backups are deleted permanently, the chat history and media in those backups are lost for good.
However, your existing and future WhatsApp chats will continue to be backed up normally as long as you have space.
Backing Up WhatsApp Data Outside of Google Drive
While Google Drive is the default and most convenient backup option, there are other ways to backup your WhatsApp data:
What is the best alternative to backup WhatsApp chat history?
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Local Backup |
|
| iCloud Backup |
|
| 3rd Party Apps |
|
Each WhatsApp backup alternative has pros and cons to weigh when considering options beyond Google Drive.
Backing Up Full Chats vs Media-Only
WhatsApp gives users two main backup options in Settings:
- Back up chats – Backs up entire chat history including text messages, calls, etc.
- Back up media – Only backs up sent/received photos, videos and other media
Backing up just media is quicker and saves Drive storage space. But it does not preserve your message history, which gets deleted when you uninstall WhatsApp.
For a full chat history backup, you need to select both options – back up chats + media. This ensures your entire WhatsApp data is preserved in the cloud.
Should I backup chats only or chats and media both?
It is recommended to backup both chats and media if you want a complete WhatsApp data backup.
Just backing up chats will only preserve your messaging history. All your sent/received photos, videos and other files will be lost when you uninstall WhatsApp.
Backing up just media is not useful either, as you lose context without the chat messages.
So for comprehensive WhatsApp backup, enable both options – back up chats + media.
Encryption of WhatsApp Backups
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for messages and calls. However, this encryption does not extend to Google Drive backups.
WhatsApp backups on Drive are not end-to-end encrypted. They are encrypted using a password, but the key for this encryption is managed by WhatsApp.
Are WhatsApp backups encrypted?
WhatsApp backups on Google Drive have encryption, but not true end-to-end encryption:
- Backups are encrypted using a user-set password
- But WhatsApp manages the encryption key on their end
- So WhatsApp can technically access the backup contents
- Not as secure as end-to-end encryption used for WhatsApp chats
Enabling backup encryption with a password does add a layer of security. But the backups are still accessible to WhatsApp since they control the encryption key.
Restoring WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive
If you get a new phone, uninstall WhatsApp, or lose your chats, restoring from Google Drive backup allows you to retrieve your chat history.
How do I restore my WhatsApp backup from Google Drive?
Follow these steps to restore WhatsApp chats and media from Google Drive backup:
- Install and open WhatsApp on your device
- Enter your phone number when prompted
- On the ‘Restore chats?’ screen, tap Restore
- Select the backup to restore from the options shown
- Tap Next and wait for the backup to be restored
Once the restoration completes, you will see all your synced chats and media in WhatsApp on that device.
Lost Access to Backups in Google Drive
There are a few scenarios where you may lose access to your WhatsApp backups in Google Drive:
- Forgotten backup password – Can’t restore without password
- Deactivated Google account – Backups inaccessible
- Exceeded Drive storage – Backups deleted if no space freed up
Always remember your backup password and maintain enough free Drive storage to avoid losing access to your chat history.
What happens if you delete your Google account linked to WhatsApp?
If you delete the Google account that WhatsApp is backing up to, the following happens:
- You immediately lose access to those WhatsApp backups in Drive
- Any backups remaining in Drive are disconnected from your WhatsApp account
- You have to create new backups when linking WhatsApp to another Google account
- Old backups remain in deleted account storage but are inaccessible
So you should avoid deleting your linked Google account if you want to keep accessing your chat backups.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Backups Not Working
In some cases, WhatsApp backups to Google Drive may stop functioning normally. Here are solutions for some common backup issues:
What to do if WhatsApp is not backing up to Google Drive?
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Backups disabled |
|
| No internet connection |
|
| Drive space full |
|
| App needs update |
|
Checking these common issues can help diagnose and resolve problems with WhatsApp backups to Drive.
Conclusion
To summarize, WhatsApp backups on Google Drive are not automatically deleted without user action. They do not expire based on backup age or user inactivity.
However, other factors like manual deletion, storage limits, or deleting linked accounts can result in backup removal. Users should proactively manage backups by periodically creating new backups and clearing old ones they no longer need.
Encrypting backups, remembering passwords, maintaining Drive space, and troubleshooting issues will help avoid losing access to your chat history.
Overall, while not foolproof, backing up to Google Drive remains the simplest way to protect your WhatsApp data from loss on mobile devices.