Quick Answers
If your WhatsApp backup was interrupted or did not finish restoring properly, don’t worry – there are a few things you can try to continue the restore process:
- Make sure your device has a stable internet connection throughout the restore process.
- Force close the WhatsApp app completely and clear its cache/data before trying again.
- Try transferring the backup file to your device storage rather than restoring directly from Google Drive.
- If restoring from local storage, make sure the backup file is not corrupted.
- Update to the latest version of WhatsApp.
- Try restoring again on another device as a test.
- Contact WhatsApp support if still unable to restore your chats and media.
With some troubleshooting, you should be able to successfully continue restoring your WhatsApp backup so you don’t lose any important chat history or media files. Just take it step-by-step.
What causes an interrupted WhatsApp backup restore?
There are a few common reasons why a WhatsApp backup restore may get cut off or fail to complete properly:
- Connectivity issues – An unstable internet connection during the restore can lead to errors or interruption. WhatsApp requires continuous connectivity to download the full backup file.
- Insufficient storage space – Your phone may run out of storage capacity before the large backup file can be fully downloaded and extracted.
- App failures – Bugs, crashes, or force closing WhatsApp before the restore completes can disrupt the process.
- Corrupted backup file – Sometimes the backup file itself has errors and cannot extract properly onto your device.
- Incompatible WhatsApp version – Trying to restore an older backup onto a newer WhatsApp version may cause conflicts.
- User interruption – Accidentally stopping the restore or device rebooting can lead to incomplete restoration.
Understanding what went wrong allows you to better troubleshoot and avoid the same issue when trying to restore your WhatsApp backup again.
Prerequisites to restore WhatsApp backup
Before attempting to restore your WhatsApp backup, make sure:
- You have a stable WiFi or mobile data connection.
- Your device has enough storage for the backup file size.
- You have backed up your chats via WhatsApp to either Google Drive or local storage.
- Your WhatsApp version is the same or newer than the backup version.
- You have time and patience for the full restore process.
- Your phone’s battery is charged above 20%.
- No other major apps or processes are running.
- You have cleared some cache/data for WhatsApp before restoring.
Ensuring these prerequisites are met will give you the best chance of completing a normal WhatsApp restore without any interruptions.
Steps to continue restoring WhatsApp backup
If your last WhatsApp backup restore got cut off, here are the troubleshooting steps to try continuing the process:
- Force close WhatsApp – Completely force stop the WhatsApp app and clear its cache/data before trying to restore again.
- Check internet connection – Make sure you have a strong WiFi or 4G/5G mobile data connection with good signal strength.
- Free up device storage – Delete unneeded files and apps to ensure your phone has enough storage capacity for the full backup.
- Reboot your device – Power cycle your phone before restoring to clear any memory issues.
- Update WhatsApp – Install latest WhatsApp version in case restore issues were fixed in an update.
- Transfer backup to device – Manually transfer the backup file from cloud to your phone storage using a file manager before restoring.
- Test on another device – Attempt restoring the same backup on a different phone or tablet to check if issues persist.
- Contact WhatsApp support – If still unable to restore your backup, contact WhatsApp for personalized troubleshooting assistance.
Following these steps methodically should help you continue and complete the interrupted WhatsApp backup restore process successfully so you can get your chats back.
Fixing potential errors when restoring WhatsApp backup
Some common error messages you may encounter when trying to restore your WhatsApp backup, and how to fix them:
| Error Message | Solution |
|---|---|
| “Backup corrupt” | Delete the corrupt backup and create a new backup on WhatsApp before restoring. |
| “Couldn’t read backup” | Transfer backup file to device storage and check it is not corrupted using a file manager. |
| “Backup expired” | Backups older than 3 months cannot be restored. Take a new backup and restore that. |
| “No Wi-Fi connection” | Switch to a stable mobile data or WiFi connection and try again. |
| “Restore timed out” | Force close WhatsApp, clear cache/data and ensure stable internet before retrying. |
Diagnosing the specific restore error message can direct you to the appropriate solution to rectify the problem before attempting to continue the backup restoration.
Best practices for restoring WhatsApp backup
Follow these best practices when restoring your WhatsApp backup to avoid interruptions and errors:
- Backup your chats frequently – at least weekly – so you have a recent backup.
- Ensure your backup drive has adequate free space for larger backup files.
- Connect to stable WiFi and keep your device charged during backup and restore.
- Force close all other apps during the restoration process.
- Regularly update WhatsApp to the latest version for optimal performance.
- If issues persist, try restoring on another device before contacting WhatsApp support.
- Be patient! WhatsApp backup restore can take a while depending on file size.
Can I restore WhatsApp backup without WiFi?
Yes, it is possible to restore your WhatsApp backup without a WiFi connection – but you will need to transfer the physical backup file to your device storage first:
- On your old phone, locate the WhatsApp backup file in internal storage or SD card.
- Transfer this backup file to your new phone using a USB cable or cloud storage service.
- Once the backup file is copied to the new phone’s local storage, open WhatsApp.
- When prompted, select the option to restore from existing local backup.
- Navigate to and select the backup file now stored in your phone’s storage.
- The restore should now proceed using the local file, without needing internet.
This manual file transfer method allows you to restore your WhatsApp chats and history even without an active WiFi or mobile data connection.
Can I selectively restore certain WhatsApp chats?
Unfortunately, restoring a WhatsApp backup is an all-or-nothing process. When you restore from a backup file, it will recover the entire backup containing all your WhatsApp data at the time it was created.
There is currently no native way to selectively pick and choose only certain chats to restore from a WhatsApp backup. Your options are:
- Restore the entire backup file as is.
- Manually export specific chats you want to keep using WhatsApp’s export chat feature.
- Delete chats you don’t want after a full restore.
Selectively restoring only certain chats from WhatsApp backup is not possible natively, but you can manage chats after a full restore.
Will my WhatsApp media also restore from backup?
Yes, when restoring your WhatsApp chats from a backup, it will also restore all associated media that was backed up – including:
- Photos and videos sent and received in chats
- Document files exchanged
- WhatsApp audio messages
- Profile photos of your contacts
- Any other media like GIFs, stickers, etc.
Your WhatsApp media including photos, videos, and files get backed up alongside your chats. So when you restore chats from backup, all related media content will also automatically download again to your device storage.
Conclusion
Restoring an interrupted WhatsApp backup may require some troubleshooting, but being persistent can help recover your valuable chat history. Force closing the app, ensuring stable connectivity, transferring the local backup file manually, and updating WhatsApp, are key steps that can get the restore process back on track. Following WhatsApp’s best practices around backup frequency and file management will minimize future issues. With some patience and a systematic approach, you can overcome those frustrating WhatsApp backup failures.