WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows users to send messages, make voice and video calls, share photos and videos, and more. With so much important data stored in WhatsApp, it’s crucial for users to regularly backup their WhatsApp data.
Why is it important to backup WhatsApp data?
There are a few key reasons why backing up your WhatsApp data is important:
- Preserve your chat history – Your WhatsApp chats may contain important conversations, information, photos and videos that you don’t want to lose.
- Migration to a new device – If you get a new phone, backing up your WhatsApp data will allow you to restore it on your new device.
- Free up phone storage – WhatsApp can take up a significant amount of storage space on your phone. Backing up your data gives you the option to delete it from your phone to free up space.
- Protection against data loss – Backups safeguard your data in case your phone is lost, stolen, damaged or develops a technical fault.
How does WhatsApp backup work?
WhatsApp provides both automatic and manual backup options. With automatic backup enabled, WhatsApp will periodically backup your data to your Google Drive account (for Android users) or iCloud (for iOS users).
Manual backups allow you to manually trigger a backup of your WhatsApp data. This can be useful if you want to backup your data immediately before uninstalling WhatsApp, switching phones or performing a factory reset.
Requirements for manual WhatsApp backup
Here are the requirements for performing a manual WhatsApp backup:
- Android – Your phone must be rooted or have USB debugging enabled. You’ll also need to install a file manager or file transfer app like ES File Explorer.
- iPhone – You’ll need a computer with iTunes installed and your phone’s USB cable.
How to manually backup WhatsApp data on Android
Here are the steps to manually backup WhatsApp on Android:
- On your Android phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap on “Back Up” to manually trigger a backup of your WhatsApp data.
- A copy of your WhatsApp data will now be saved to your linked Google Drive account.
- You can also backup WhatsApp media files by going to WhatsApp > Menu > Settings > Chats > Media auto-download > turn off.
- This will prevent auto-download and allow you to manually backup media files.
- Install a file manager app like ES File Explorer on your phone.
- Open the file manager and go to the WhatsApp folder location: Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media.
- Select the files/folders you want to backup and copy them to a safe location like your computer or cloud storage.
Alternatively, if your phone is rooted or has USB debugging enabled, you can connect it to your computer and transfer the WhatsApp data folder directly.
How to restore WhatsApp backup on Android
To restore a manual WhatsApp backup on Android:
- Re-install WhatsApp on your device.
- Open WhatsApp and verify your number.
- On the Restore chat history screen, tap Restore to restore your chats and media from Google Drive.
- If you have a local backup, copy the WhatsApp folder back to your phone’s Internal Storage in the same location.
- Open WhatsApp and it will detect the backup files and restore your chats.
How to manually backup WhatsApp on iPhone
To manually backup WhatsApp data on an iPhone:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed.
- Open iTunes on the computer and select your iPhone.
- Under Backups, click on “Back Up Now” to manually backup your iPhone data, including WhatsApp.
- You can also go to File Sharing > WhatsApp to see WhatsApp documents and media files.
- Select the files you want to backup and save them to your computer.
How to restore WhatsApp backup on iPhone
To restore a manual WhatsApp backup on iPhone:
- Re-install WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Open WhatsApp and verify your number.
- On the Restore Chat History screen, tap Restore to restore chats and media from iCloud.
- If you have a local iTunes backup, restore this backup under Devices > Restore Backup in iTunes.
- Your WhatsApp chats and media will be restored.
Best practices for manual WhatsApp backup
Here are some best practices to follow when doing a manual WhatsApp backup:
- Backup frequently – Don’t just backup your WhatsApp data occasionally. Do it regularly in case something unexpected happens to your phone.
- Store backups safely – Keep backup files securely stored on your computer, external drive or cloud storage.
- Remember backup passwords – For encrypted backups, make sure you remember the password to restore the backup.
- Test the restoration – After backing up, test restoring your data to make sure the backup file works.
- Backup media files – Remember to manually backup WhatsApp media files in addition to chat data.
- Clear old backups – Delete old backups to save storage space and avoid confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my WhatsApp data still backed up if I switch phones?
Yes, your WhatsApp chats and media will still be backed up and synced to Google Drive or iCloud when you switch to a new Android or iPhone. However, any non-uploaded media files will need to be manually transferred from your old phone.
Can I backup my WhatsApp data on a computer?
There is no official WhatsApp desktop app that lets you backup chats on a computer. However, iPhone users can connect their phone to a computer with iTunes and back up WhatsApp along with all other iPhone data. For Android users, you can manually transfer WhatsApp data files from phone to computer.
How often should I backup WhatsApp?
It’s recommended to backup your WhatsApp data regularly, such as once a week or every few days. You may also want to manually trigger a backup before a major update, resetting your phone or traveling internationally in case you lose cell service.
Is my WhatsApp backup encrypted?
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for messages, so your chat history is encrypted in the backup. Media files are not encrypted. iPhone backups to iCloud are encrypted but Android backups to Drive are not encrypted.
How far back does WhatsApp backup go?
WhatsApp includes the last 7 days of chat history in a regular backup. You can include up to 30 days of chat history if you enable a manual daily backup under WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Backup Frequency.
Can I backup WhatsApp without Google Drive or iCloud?
Yes, you can manually backup WhatsApp chat data and media files to your computer or another device without needing Google Drive or iCloud. However, this is a more manual process.
Conclusion
Backing up your WhatsApp data is simple and important to avoid losing your chat history, media files and other important information stored in the app. For Android users, enable chat backups and use a file manager to manually backup media files. iPhone users can backup WhatsApp by connecting to iTunes and performing a backup.
Remember to backup your WhatsApp data regularly. Before switching devices, resetting your phone or installing major updates, trigger a manual backup. Store backup files securely, test restorations and delete old backups you no longer need. Following these WhatsApp backup best practices helps ensure your data stays safe.