WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows you to send messages, photos, videos and make voice and video calls for free. All your chats, media and contacts are stored in your WhatsApp account.
Backing up your WhatsApp data regularly is crucial to avoid losing your chats and media if you ever switch phones, get a new phone number, lose your phone, or accidentally delete the app. WhatsApp lets you backup your data to Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iOS.
Why Should You Backup Your WhatsApp Data?
Here are some key reasons why you should backup your WhatsApp data:
- Switching phones: When you switch to a new Android or iOS phone, you can transfer your WhatsApp data by restoring your backup on the new device.
- Reinstalling WhatsApp: If you uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, you can restore your chats and data from the backup.
- Lost or stolen phone: If you lose your phone or it gets stolen, your WhatsApp chats and media can be restored from the backup on your new phone.
- Accidental data loss: Backups protect you if you accidentally delete WhatsApp or clear its data.
- Storage management: Backups allow you to free up storage space on your phone by storing your WhatsApp data in the cloud.
How Often Should You Backup Your WhatsApp Data?
WhatsApp automatically backs up your data on a daily basis at 2am to your linked Google Drive or iCloud account. However, it’s also a good idea to manually backup your WhatsApp data from time to time, especially before updating your phone’s OS or switching phones.
Here are some recommended best practices for backing up your WhatsApp data:
- Back up weekly: Do a manual backup at least once a week to ensure you have the latest chats and media.
- Back up before major phone changes: Always backup before switching phones, changing phone numbers, uninstalling the app, or factory resetting your device.
- Back up important media: Manually back up photos/videos right after capturing if they are very important.
- Ensure auto backup is on: Check that WhatsApp’s auto daily backup feature is enabled in Settings.
How to Backup WhatsApp on Android
Here are step-by-step instructions to backup your WhatsApp data on Android phones to Google Drive:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the More options (three dots) icon.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap on “Backup to Google Drive.”
- Tap on “Back Up” to manually start a backup.
- Select a Google Account and tap “Back up” again.
- The backup will now run and upload your most recent WhatsApp data to Google Drive.
You can also enable automatic daily backups in this menu by toggling on “Auto backup”. WhatsApp will backup your data daily at 2am if your phone is charging, connected to WiFi and the screen is off.
Where WhatsApp Backups Are Stored on Android
WhatsApp backups are stored in your Google Drive account. You can find them in Google Drive by:
- Opening the Google Drive app on your phone.
- Going to the Backups folder.
- Tap on the WhatsApp folder.
This folder contains your archived WhatsApp data from all previous backups. The latest backup file will have the most recent date.
How to Restore WhatsApp Backup on Android
If you get a new Android phone, switch phone numbers or reinstall WhatsApp, you can restore your chats and data from the Google Drive backup:
- Install and open WhatsApp on your new phone.
- On the Welcome screen, tap “Restore” instead of “New Phone”.
- Select the Google Account your backup is stored in.
- Tap on the backup file you want to restore.
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats and media from the backup.
How to Backup WhatsApp on iPhone
To backup your WhatsApp chats on an iPhone, you need to backup your phone data to iCloud. Here are the steps:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
- Make sure iCloud Backup is toggled on.
- Tap on “Back Up Now” to manually start a backup to iCloud.
- Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap on “Back Up Now” to backup your latest WhatsApp data.
This will securely backup your WhatsApp chats, media files, and settings to your iCloud storage. WhatsApp data is included in iCloud backups done both automatically (when charging and on WiFi) or manually.
Where WhatsApp Backups are Stored on iPhone
WhatsApp backups on the iPhone are part of your iCloud backups. To access them:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
- Select your device backup.
- Tap on “WhatsApp” to see your chat history backups.
How to Restore WhatsApp Backup on iPhone
To restore a WhatsApp backup from iCloud to your iPhone:
- Install WhatsApp and open it.
- Tap “Restore Chat History” on the Welcome screen.
- Sign in to your iCloud account and select the backup to restore.
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats and media files from iCloud.
What Data Does WhatsApp Backup?
WhatsApp backups comprehensively save your account information from the app. Here are all the items that get backed up:
- Chat history and conversations
- Media files – photos, videos, audio files, GIFs, documents
- Contact names and numbers
- WhatsApp settings and preferences
- Group information including names, member profiles, and group media
- Starred messages
However, WhatsApp backups do not save your call history or deleted chats and media files. They also do not backup your WhatsApp account information like your name, profile photo and “about” text.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Backups
Here are some common issues faced with WhatsApp backups and how to resolve them:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Backup stuck on preparing/connecting | Force close and restart WhatsApp. Check internet connection. |
| Backups not happening automatically | Ensure phone is charging, connected to WiFi and idle overnight for scheduled backup. |
| Restored chats are missing | Restore from an older backup. Media files may not be restored if storage is full. |
| Can’t find backup files | On Android check Google Drive app. On iPhone check iCloud settings. |
| Insufficient storage space for backup | Clear chat images/videos or delete old backups to free up space. |
Best Practices for WhatsApp Backups
Follow these tips to effectively manage your WhatsApp backups:
- Do manual backups regularly besides automatic backups.
- Ensure you have enough free space for backups on Google Drive or iCloud.
- Create reminders to back up before uninstalling or switching phones.
- Back up important media immediately after capturing.
- Check backup status and settings under WhatsApp > Settings > Chats.
- Delete old backups occasionally to save storage space.
- Encrypt Android backups for better privacy and security.
Conclusion
Backing up your WhatsApp data regularly to Google Drive or iCloud is simple and crucial to avoid losing your chat history. Always backup before making major changes to your phone and schedule periodic manual backups for updated content. Enable auto backup, monitor your backup status and storage, and troubleshoot issues promptly for peace of mind.