WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It offers end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, photos, videos and other files sent through the app. WhatsApp also provides the option to back up your chat history and media to Google Drive or local storage on your Android device.
While backups are useful for restoring your chats if you ever switch devices, they can take up a significant amount of storage space on your phone. You may want to stop local WhatsApp backups if you are running low on space, don’t want certain chats or media saved, or have privacy concerns.
Should I stop WhatsApp local backups on Android?
Here are some key considerations on whether to stop WhatsApp local backups on your Android device:
- Backup size – Local backups can take up a lot of storage space on your device. If you are running low on space, stopping backups can help.
- Restore chats – Backups allow you to restore your chat history if you ever lose your device or switch to a new one. Without backups, your chats are not preserved.
- Media and files – All photos, videos, documents, and other files you exchange on WhatsApp are included in local backups. If you don’t want certain media saved, stopping backups will prevent that.
- Privacy – Local WhatsApp backups are not encrypted. Anyone with physical access to your device could access backed up chats and media. Stopping backups increases privacy.
- Convenience vs security – Backups provide convenience if your phone is lost/damaged, but decrease privacy. You have to decide what’s more important to you.
Overall, if you need to free up storage space, increase privacy, or don’t care about keeping chat history, stopping WhatsApp backups on your Android makes sense. However, this means you lose the ability to easily restore chats if needed.
How to stop WhatsApp local backups on Android
If you decide to stop WhatsApp local backups on your Android device, here is how to do it in a few simple steps:
Via WhatsApp Settings
- Open WhatsApp and tap the 3-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap the toggle switch next to “Back up to Google Drive” to disable it.
This will immediately turn off Google Drive backups. Your chats and media will no longer be backed up remotely.
Disable Local Storage for Backups
- In WhatsApp’s Chat backup settings, tap “Back up to local storage.”
- Tap the toggle switch to disable local backups.
With both Google Drive and local storage backups disabled here, WhatsApp will no longer backup any of your chats or media.
From Your Android Device Settings
- Go to Settings on your Android device.
- Tap Apps & notifications > Advanced > App permissions.
- Select WhatsApp.
- Turn off the “Storage” permission.
Revoking WhatsApp’s access to storage on your device prevents the app from saving backups locally. However, you will have to re-enable it if you want to send or receive files over WhatsApp.
Other WhatsApp backup settings
In addition to fully disabling backups, WhatsApp provides other backup settings you can configure:
Manage Backup Frequency
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Never (to disable)
Less frequent backups will save storage space while still allowing you to retain some chat history.
Manage Backup Size
You can set a maximum backup size on Google Drive (but not local storage). This also conserves drive space while retaining some backup data.
Exclude Media from Backups
Opt to only back up your chat history and not photos, videos or other media files exchanged on WhatsApp. This saves storage space while retaining text chats.
Encrypt Local Android Backups (Requires Password)
Enable password-protected encryption for local backups to increase privacy. Encrypted backups cannot be accessed without entering your password.
Adjust these settings based on your specific needs and preferences for managing WhatsApp backups on your Android device.
What happens when you disable WhatsApp backups?
When you turn off all WhatsApp backups, either to cloud or local storage, here is what happens:
- Your existing backup data remains in place, but is not updated.
- New chats, media, groups, etc. are NOT backed up as you use WhatsApp.
- Your chat history is not preserved if you switch devices or reinstall WhatsApp.
- Lost, damaged or stolen devices mean your WhatsApp data cannot be restored.
- More privacy as new chats are not saved anywhere without your knowledge.
- More free storage space on your phone as backups cease.
Weigh these impacts carefully based on your own needs and priorities before deciding to disable WhatsApp backups.
How to re-enable WhatsApp backups
If you change your mind later, re-enabling WhatsApp backups is easy:
- Go back into WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Toggle on Google Drive and/or local storage backups.
- Adjust frequency, size, encryption, etc. as desired.
- Backups will resume according to your settings.
You can also re-grant WhatsApp storage permissions on your Android device if you had revoked them to disable backups. Your backup settings will sync and kick in once permissions are turned back on.
Alternative backup options
If you want to keep some chat backup ability but save storage space, consider these alternatives:
- Use a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox to manually back up important media or files exchanged on WhatsApp.
- Use your Android device’s built-in backup to preserve some WhatsApp data along with other app data.
- Back up to a computer using WhatsApp Desktop – this stores chats without taking space on your mobile device.
- Use a third party app like iCareFone to manage and selectively back up WhatsApp chats and media.
With selective backups like these, you can preserve important WhatsApp data without needing a full local backup consuming space on your phone.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp backup issues
If you are having trouble backing up WhatsApp properly, try these troubleshooting tips:
Insufficient storage space
- Clear cache and unnecessary files/apps from your device to free up storage.
- Move existing backups to other storage like a computer to make space.
- Set a lower maximum backup size or exclude media files from backup.
Corrupted backup data
- Delete current backup and restart with fresh partial backup.
- Try switching from local to Google Drive backup or vice versa.
Connection issues
- Check your WiFi or mobile data connection stability.
- Restart your device and check WhatsApp can connect to the internet.
- For Google Drive backup, make sure you are logged in to your Google account.
Incorrect backup settings
- Double check WhatsApp backup settings and permissions.
- Toggle backups off and back on to reset settings.
Unsupported Android version
- Update your Android OS to the latest version supported.
- Check WhatsApp FAQs for compatible Android versions.
If issues persist, contact WhatsApp Support directly for troubleshooting assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my chat history deleted if I disable WhatsApp backups?
No, turning off backups does not delete your existing WhatsApp chat history or media on your device. It only stops syncing any new data to the backup location going forward.
Can I restore earlier WhatsApp backups after disabling?
Yes, existing backup files remain intact even after you disable WhatsApp backups. You can re-enable backups and restore from any historical backups available.
Do my media files get deleted without backups?
No, photos, videos, documents and other files exchanged on WhatsApp are not automatically deleted when you turn off backups. They remain in WhatsApp and your phone storage until you actively delete them.
Can I selectively backup certain chats only?
Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not allow selectively backing up some conversations only. You can only exclude all media to get chat history only in backups.
Is there any free cloud storage I can backup WhatsApp to?
Yes, you can use the free storage tiers offered by Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud and other cloud providers to store WhatsApp backups manually or via third party apps.
| Cloud Service | Free Storage Amount |
|---|---|
| Google Drive | 15GB |
| Dropbox | 2GB |
| Microsoft OneDrive | 5GB |
| iCloud | 5GB |
Can I restore WhatsApp backup from another phone?
Yes, you can transfer a local or Google Drive WhatsApp backup file from one Android device to another via cable, cloud storage, etc. and restore it on the new device after installing WhatsApp.
Is my chat history still on my old phone if I switch devices?
If you created a backup from your old device, then your WhatsApp chat history remains saved on that device storage even if you switch phones. The backup exists independently unless you delete it.
How often should I backup WhatsApp?
Ideally, backup your WhatsApp data daily or weekly to have a fairly recent point you can restore from if needed. Critical media can be backed up more frequently. Avoid exceeding monthly backups.
Conclusion
Disabling WhatsApp backups on your Android device can save storage space, increase privacy, and prevent unwanted chats or media from syncing. However, this also means losing your chat history if you ever switch devices or need to restore data.
Carefully consider your specific needs and priorities around convenience vs. security. Use the built-in settings to disable backups entirely or optimize settings like frequency and size. Also explore selective backup alternatives to balance functionality with your requirements.
With the right backups settings configured, you can enjoy WhatsApp’s convenience while retaining control over your data and storage.