Overview
WhatsApp allows users to create backups of their chats and media which can then be restored if switching to a new device. Backing up chats can be useful if you are getting a new phone and want to transfer your WhatsApp data, or if you want to create a backup as a precaution in case your phone is damaged, lost or stolen.
WhatsApp backups are saved to your phone’s internal storage or SD card by default. However, they can also be saved to cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud for added security and convenience when transferring to a new device. The process for restoring a WhatsApp backup is straightforward whether the backup file is stored locally on your old device or in the cloud.
Backing Up WhatsApp Data
Before being able to transfer your WhatsApp chats to a new phone, you first need to create a recent backup of your WhatsApp data on your old device. There are a couple ways to back up your chats:
Local Backup to Device Storage
WhatsApp automatically saves backups to your phone’s internal storage or SD card daily when the app is closed, as well as when you manually create a backup. Here’s how to manually back up WhatsApp chats and media on an Android phone:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the three dot menu icon in the top right.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap “Back Up” to create a new backup.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap “Back Up Now” to create a manual backup.
Backups saved to your device storage provide a quick way to restore your chats on a new phone. However, the backup will be deleted if you lose your device or uninstall WhatsApp.
Cloud Backup
For more secure and convenient backup storage, you can set up automatic WhatsApp backups to Google Drive or iCloud. With cloud backups enabled, your chats and media will be regularly saved to the cloud in addition to local device storage.
To enable Google Drive backups on Android:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the three dot menu.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap “Backup to Google Drive” and log into your Google account.
- Select a backup frequency and save option.
For iCloud backups on an iPhone:
- Go to iPhone Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
- Toggle on “iCloud Backup.”
- Connect to WiFi and plug your device in to charge.
- Tap “Back Up Now” to manually create an iCloud backup.
With cloud backups enabled, your WhatsApp chats and media will remain safely backed up online allowing you to restore them on a new device.
Transferring WhatsApp Backup to New Phone
Once you have a recent backup of your WhatsApp data, you can transfer and restore it when setting up WhatsApp on your new phone. The process varies slightly depending on where your backup is stored.
Restoring from Local Storage
If you only have a local WhatsApp backup saved to your old phone’s storage or SD card, you will need to transfer this file to your new phone before being able to restore it.
On Android, your WhatsApp backups are saved in the WhatsApp/Databases folder. You can copy this entire folder to your new Android phone’s internal storage or SD card.
On an iPhone, you will need to use iTunes or Finder to create a backup of your old iPhone which contains the WhatsApp backup files. Then restore this backup to your new iPhone.
Once your local WhatsApp backup files are accessible from the new device, you can restore chats and media by:
- Install and open WhatsApp on your new phone.
- On the registration screen, tap “Restore” when prompted.
- Select the source location of your local backup files.
- WhatsApp will then restore your chats, contacts, and media from the local backup.
Restoring from iCloud Backup
If you created iCloud backups on your old iPhone, you can easily restore them when setting up your new iPhone:
- When activating your new iPhone, select “Restore from iCloud backup” during setup.
- Log into iCloud and choose the desired backup containing your WhatsApp data.
- Continue through the setup process until your apps & data are restored.
- Open WhatsApp and verify your chats, contacts, and media are restored.
Restoring from Google Drive Backup
For WhatsApp backups saved to Google Drive:
- Install WhatsApp on your new Android phone.
- Enter your phone number on the registration screen.
- Tap “Restore” when prompted.
- Log into your Google account containing your WhatsApp backup.
- Select the backup to restore from Google Drive.
WhatsApp will then restore your chats, contacts, settings and media files from Google Drive.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Backup & Restore
In some cases, you may encounter issues trying to restore your WhatsApp backup on a new device. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
Backup File Not Found
If WhatsApp doesn’t find your local backup file, make sure the backup folder (WhatsApp/Databases on Android) was transferred to the correct location on your new phone’s storage. On iPhone, be sure you restored the proper iCloud backup containing WhatsApp data.
Connection Issues
Network errors can disrupt the backup or restore process, especially for large files. Connect both devices to a stable WiFi network to ensure uninterrupted data transfer.
Insufficient Storage Space
Your new phone may not have enough free storage to save the WhatsApp backup file. Move items to external SD card or delete unnecessary files to free up internal storage space.
Incompatible WhatsApp Versions
Backups can only be restored between compatible WhatsApp versions across platforms. Make sure both devices are updated to the latest WhatsApp version.
Encryption Mismatch
WhatsApp end-to-end encryption keys must match between devices. Re-install WhatsApp and try restoring again. Log out and back into linked accounts if needed.
Corrupt or Incomplete Backup
If your backup file is damaged, restore may fail. Delete the backup and create a fresh one on your old device before transferring again.
Account Registration Issue
Make sure you used the same phone number on your new device. Deregister your number from your old device first before trying to restore.
Conclusion
Transferring your WhatsApp chats, contacts, media files and settings to a new phone is simple if you have a recent local or cloud backup. Save backups routinely for easy restoration and access across devices. If you encounter issues restoring your WhatsApp backup, try troubleshooting steps like checking for connectivity problems, storage restrictions, incompatible versions, or corrupted backup files. With a few taps, you can quickly migrate your WhatsApp data to continue messaging uninterrupted on a new phone.