WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows you to send messages, photos, videos, documents and more to your contacts. WhatsApp also gives you the ability to back up your chat history and media to Google Drive or iCloud so you don’t lose your data if you switch phones or reinstall the app.
However, sometimes these backups can become corrupted or damaged, preventing you from restoring your chats. A corrupted backup often occurs if the backup file wasn’t properly saved or during the transfer process. It may show up with an error prompt when you try to restore.
Don’t panic – in most cases it is possible to fix a corrupted WhatsApp backup and recover your precious conversations. Here are the top solutions to try:
1. Delete and Recreate the Backup
The simplest solution is to delete your existing backup and then create a brand new one from scratch. This essentially resets the backup process and generates a clean backup file without any errors.
To do this:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
- Tap on Back Up to Google Drive or Back Up to iCloud depending on your device
- Tap Delete Backup and confirm
- Then tap Back Up to recreate your backup
You will lose any chat history that hasn’t been backed up recently. But the new backup should work properly going forward.
2. Use a Third-Party Backup Extractor
If you don’t want to lose your existing chat history, a better option is to use specialized third-party software to extract your chats from the corrupted backup.
Apps like iMyFone D-Back and Dr.Fone allow you to browse the contents of a WhatsApp backup file and extract the messages, media, and documents inside. Even if the backup itself is corrupted, the data inside can usually still be retrieved.
Here are the basic steps with these tools:
- Download and install the software on your computer
- Connect your phone or locate your Google Drive/iCloud backup
- The app will read and extract data from the WhatsApp backup
- You can then export the extracted chats and media
- Finally, create a new clean backup in WhatsApp to restore from
This method takes more effort but will save your precious chat history. Make sure to use reputable software to avoid security or privacy risks.
3. Clear App Data and Cache
Sometimes corruption issues stem from outdated temporary data or cache files stored by the WhatsApp app itself. Clearing this can reset WhatsApp and resolve backup problems.
Here are the steps to clear local WhatsApp data:
- Go to your phone’s Settings > Apps > WhatsApp
- Tap Storage > Clear Data and Clear Cache
- Open WhatsApp again and re-create your backup
This wipes all WhatsApp data on your device but can force the app to create a fresh backup without errors. Just be aware you will lose recent messages that weren’t backed up.
4. Update WhatsApp to the Latest Version
WhatsApp frequently releases new versions of the app with bug fixes and updates. Updating to the latest version can sometimes resolve backup problems if it was related to a bug in an older version.
To update WhatsApp:
- On Android, go to the Play Store, search for WhatsApp and tap Update
- On iPhone, go to the App Store, tap your profile icon, and tap Available Updates
- Install the latest WhatsApp update and try your backup again
This basic app update could potentially include a fix for backup corruption issues you may be encountering.
5. Repair or Replace Your USB Cable
If you back up WhatsApp to a computer, corruption can occur if the USB cable connection between your phone and PC is damaged or faulty.
Try switching to a different USB cable and see if the backup works properly. It’s a good idea to try different cables, ports, and computers to isolate the issue.
If you determine the cable is at fault, replace it with a new high-quality cable which can provide stable data transfer and prevent corruption.
6. Change Your Backup Frequency
WhatsApp allows you to configure how frequently backups occur – daily, weekly, or monthly. Frequent backups have a higher chance of file corruption.
You can tweak these auto-backup settings to be less frequent. This provides more time between backups for proper file creation.
To change auto backup frequency:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Backup Frequency
- Select Daily, Weekly or Monthly
A weekly or monthly backup has lower risk than daily. But you may lose more chat history if you switch phones between backups.
7. Free Up Storage Space
Backups can struggle if your phone is running out of storage capacity, leading to potential corruption issues. Ensure there is adequate free space for WhatsApp to create clean backup files.
You can free up storage space by:
- Offloading large files like videos or photos
- Deleting apps, media and other data you no longer need
- Transferring files to a computer or cloud storage
Aim for at least 500MB – 1GB of spare capacity for proper WhatsApp backup operation.
8. Exclude Large Videos from Backup
WhatsApp lets you selectively exclude videos from the backup if you have limited storage space. This prevents large unsupported video files from interfering with the backup.
To exclude videos:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
- Enable the setting for Exclude Videos
You can still back up photos and other files. Just videos will not be included going forward.
9. Reset Network Settings
Some WhatsApp backup problems arise from network connectivity issues that corrupt data transfers. Resetting network settings may resolve this.
On Android:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
After resetting network settings, reconnect to Wi-Fi and try your WhatsApp backup again.
10. Disable Battery Optimization
On some Android phones, battery optimization features can interfere with WhatsApp’s ability to back up properly in the background. Turning this off may help.
To disable battery optimization for WhatsApp:
- Go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Battery > Optimize Battery Usage
- Select All Apps from the dropdown menu
- Find WhatsApp and toggle off Battery Optimization
Give WhatsApp unrestricted background usage to prevent backup issues.
11. Reinstall WhatsApp
If all else fails, the nuclear option is to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp entirely. This wipes all local data and forces a fresh setup.
On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Uninstall
- Redownload WhatsApp from the Play Store
- Configure your account and try the backup again
On iPhone:
- Hold finger on WhatsApp icon until it jiggles
- Tap the X icon to delete the app
- Reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store
This should rule out any bugs or errors and give you a clean slate. You will unfortunately lose recent messages not backed up.
12. Contact WhatsApp Support
If you still cannot resolve your backup issues through standard troubleshooting, reach out directly to the WhatsApp support team:
- Twitter: @WhatsAppHelp
- Facebook: WhatsApp Support
- Direct Message: Tap Settings – Help – Contact Us
Explain your situation and backup error details. They may be able to provide specialized technical support to recover or diagnose your backup file.
Conclusion
A corrupted WhatsApp backup can be incredibly frustrating but is fixable in most cases. The best options are to delete and recreate the backup, extract the data with third-party software, or update and reinstall WhatsApp entirely.
Be proactive by tweaking your backup settings, freeing up storage space, and excluding large videos from the backup file. And when in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact WhatsApp support for assistance recovering your valuable chat history.
With the right troubleshooting steps, you can get your WhatsApp chats back on track and ensure your messages and media remain securely backed up.
Summary of Solutions
| Solution | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Delete and recreate backup | – Simple to do – Generates fresh backup |
– Lose recent chat history |
| Use backup extractor | – Salvage chat history – Access media files |
– More complex process |
| Clear app data/cache | – Resets WhatsApp entirely | – Lose all local WhatsApp data |
| Update WhatsApp | – Quick and easy fix – May include backup bug fixes |
– Backup issue may not be version-related |
| Repair/replace USB cable | – Rule out cable faults – Improve connections |
– Only applies to local backups |
Follow these proven techniques to get your WhatsApp backup working again and prevent future data loss. With customized solutions for both Android and iPhone, you can find an approach that works for your specific situation.
Don’t settle for losing your precious WhatsApp conversations and media. Take control and implement robust fixes to repair your corrupted backup file now.