Having your WhatsApp backup overwritten can be frustrating, as you may lose valuable messages, media, and chat history. Fortunately, it is possible to recover an overwritten WhatsApp backup on an iPhone, as long as you have a few things in place.
Why Does a WhatsApp Backup Get Overwritten?
There are a few common reasons why a WhatsApp backup may get overwritten:
- You manually created a new backup – This will overwrite any existing backups.
- Your iPhone automatically created a new backup – iPhones automatically back up WhatsApp data periodically, which can overwrite old backups.
- You got a new iPhone and restored from an iCloud backup – Restoring from an iCloud backup on a new iPhone will overwrite the WhatsApp backup on the new device.
- You cleared space on iCloud – Deleting old backups on iCloud can also delete WhatsApp backups.
So in summary, manual backups, automated backups, restoring devices, and deleting iCloud data can all lead to overwritten WhatsApp backups.
Requirements for Recovering an Overwritten WhatsApp Backup
To successfully restore an overwritten WhatsApp backup on an iPhone, you need:
- iCloud Backup – You need to have iCloud backups enabled for WhatsApp.
- Recent Overwrite – You can only restore from your most recent iCloud backup, so the overwrite needs to be recent.
- Stable Internet Connection – Restoring iCloud backups requires a stable internet connection.
- Sufficient iCloud Storage – There needs to be enough iCloud storage space to download the backup.
- Patience – Restoring iCloud backups can take time, so be patient!
As long as you meet these requirements, you should be able to recover your overwritten WhatsApp backup by following the steps below.
How to Recover an Overwritten WhatsApp Backup on iPhone
Here is a step-by-step guide to recovering an overwritten WhatsApp backup on iPhone:
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
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Tap on your Apple ID profile at the top of the screen.
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Select “iCloud” from the menu.
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Tap on “Manage Storage”.
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Under BACKUPS, check that there is a WhatsApp backup listed. This is the overwritten backup you want to restore.
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Tap on “Delete Backup” to delete the current WhatsApp backup. This will remove the overwritten backup.
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Open WhatsApp and log in with your phone number.
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A message will appear saying your chat history was found in an iCloud backup. Tap “Restore” to download the iCloud backup.
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Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats and media from the iCloud backup. This can take from a few minutes up to an hour depending on the size of your backup.
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Once complete, your overwritten WhatsApp backup will be restored!
By following these steps, you can force WhatsApp to re-download your most recent iCloud backup, overwriting the current overwritten backup on your iPhone. Just make sure to delete the current backup before restoring, otherwise it will just restore the overwritten backup again.
What If I Don’t Have an iCloud Backup?
If you don’t have WhatsApp chat history backed up on iCloud, then unfortunately there is no way to recover an overwritten local WhatsApp backup on your iPhone. Some things to keep in mind:
- Enable iCloud backups for WhatsApp in Settings > Chat Backup so this doesn’t happen again.
- Check your iCloud storage to make sure backups are not being deleted due to lack of space.
- You can export your chat history before deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp.
- If you recently overwritten the backup, your chat history may still be in iCloud trash for up to 40 days.
But without an iCloud backup available, there are limited options to restore an overwritten local WhatsApp backup on iPhone. Using a third-party app may recover some data, but results are mixed.
Can I Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages?
If you have deleted specific WhatsApp messages or media files from a chat, it is possible to retrieve them as long as you have a backup:
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iCloud Backup: If the messages were deleted after your most recent iCloud backup, you can restore this backup to retrieve deleted WhatsApp data.
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Local Backup: If you have a local WhatsApp backup stored on your computer that contains the deleted messages, you can restore from this backup.
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Third-party apps: Some third-party apps claim to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, but results vary widely.
However, if the messages were already deleted before your last backup, then there will be no way to retrieve them. Always make sure you have regular WhatsApp backups to avoid permanently losing data.
How Can I Prevent Overwritten Backups in the Future?
To avoid having this issue again, here are some tips to prevent WhatsApp backups being overwritten:
- Turn off auto backups in WhatsApp and manually backup only when needed.
- Export your WhatsApp chat history regularly to store on your computer or external drive.
- Make sure you have enough iCloud storage so backups are not deleted.
- Delete old backups you don’t need from iCloud to prevent overwriting new ones.
- Use a secondary cloud service like Google Drive to store backups.
- Back up important media/messages outside of WhatsApp so you have copies.
Also remember to regularly update your WhatsApp backups so they reflect your latest conversations. By manually managing your backups, you can prevent accidentally overwriting backups.
Third-party Apps to Recover Overwritten WhatsApp Backups
There are a few third-party apps that claim to help recover overwritten or deleted WhatsApp backups:
| App | Platform | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Recovery | iOS & Android | 4.5 |
| iMyFone D-Back | iOS | 4.6 |
| FonePaw WhatsApp Recovery | iOS & Android | 4.2 |
However, success rates vary widely with these apps so results are not guaranteed. Ideally you should use official WhatsApp backups to ensure full recovery.
FAQs about Restoring Overwritten WhatsApp Backups
Does WhatsApp backup photos?
Yes, WhatsApp’s built-in chat backup includes photos and videos you have sent or received in chats. Media will be restored when recovering an overwritten backup.
Where are WhatsApp backups stored?
WhatsApp backups are saved both locally on your iPhone, as well as optionally to iCloud. iCloud is required to restore overwritten backups.
Can I restore WhatsApp backup from Google Drive?
Only if you originally setup your WhatsApp backups to save to Google Drive. Default backup location is iCloud for iOS users.
Will my chat history be exactly the same after restoring backup?
It should restore your WhatsApp chats perfectly as they were at the time of the backup. Media content takes up most space in backups.
How can I tell if my backup is from iCloud or Google Drive?
In WhatsApp go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. It will show the last backup date and location (iCloud or Google Drive).
How long does WhatsApp backup take?
It depends on how much data needs to be backed up, but can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour for very large backups with lots of media.
Conclusion
Restoring an overwritten WhatsApp from an iCloud backup is the most effective way to get your valuable chat history back on an iPhone. Just make sure to delete the current backup first before restoring from iCloud. Following proper backup procedures can prevent overwriting issues.
In summary:
- WhatsApp backups get overwritten by new backups, when restoring devices, or deleting iCloud storage.
- You need an iCloud backup and stable internet connection to restore successfully.
- Delete the current backup, then restore WhatsApp to trigger iCloud restore.
- Prevent future issues by managing your backups carefully.
- Back up important chats and media outside of WhatsApp as an extra precaution.