Uploading your backed up WhatsApp chats to a new device or after reinstalling WhatsApp is a straightforward process. Here are the key steps you need to follow:
Requirements
Before uploading your WhatsApp chat backup, you’ll need:
- Your latest WhatsApp chat backup saved to iCloud or Google Drive
- The same phone number used to create the backup
- A stable internet connection
- Your phone unlocked and WhatsApp installed (if uploading to a new device)
Locate Your WhatsApp Chat Backup
Your WhatsApp chats should automatically backup to iCloud (for iOS devices) or Google Drive (for Android devices) on a regular basis. Here’s how to find your latest backup:
iOS Devices
- Open the Settings app
- Tap your Apple ID profile at the top
- Select iCloud
- Scroll down and tap Manage Storage
- Select Backups to view your WhatsApp backup info and date
Android Devices
- Open the Google Drive app
- Check if there is a WhatsApp folder
- Open the WhatsApp folder to view your chat backup files and date
If you don’t see a recent WhatsApp backup, you may need to manually backup WhatsApp before uploading your chats:
- On iOS: Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now
- On Android: Open WhatsApp > Three Dots Menu > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up
Upload Your WhatsApp Chats
Once you’ve confirmed your latest WhatsApp backup, you can upload it to restore your chats:
On the Same Phone Number
If you are uploading your backup to the same phone number it was created from:
- Install and open WhatsApp
- Agree to the Terms of Service
- Enter your phone number and tap Next
- Tap Restore when prompted to restore your chats and media from backup
WhatsApp will fetch your backup from iCloud or Google Drive and restore your chats.
On a New Device or Number
If you are uploading your backup to a new device or phone number:
- Install and open WhatsApp on the new device
- Agree to the Terms of Service
- Enter your new phone number and tap Next
- When prompted, tap Skip to avoid restoring your old chats
- Once at the main WhatsApp screen, tap Settings
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup > Transfer from Android or iPhone
- Follow the on-screen instructions to transfer your chat history
This will migrate your chat history from your iCloud or Google Drive backup to the new device or phone number.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are having issues getting your WhatsApp chats to upload properly, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Update WhatsApp
Make sure you are running the latest version of WhatsApp by checking for updates in your device’s app store.
Force Stop WhatsApp
Sometimes force stopping the WhatsApp app can help resolve issues with chat restores. Close WhatsApp completely from the recents/multitasking view and try again.
Clear Cache and Data
Try clearing the cache and app data for WhatsApp. This erases your local WhatsApp data but still allows you to restore chats from the cloud backup.
Reinstall WhatsApp
As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp clean on your device, then try restoring chats from backup again.
Back Up Chats Elsewhere
If your phone cannot properly read the backup from Google Drive or iCloud, try creating a manual backup on your computer through WhatsApp Desktop as an alternative restore option.
WhatsApp Chat Backup Size Limits
WhatsApp currently limits how large your chat backups can be. Here are the size restrictions to keep in mind:
Platform | Backup Size Limit |
---|---|
iCloud | Unlimited |
Google Drive | 2GB |
If your backup size approaches or exceeds these limits, you may need to clear large files, media, and old chats from WhatsApp to continue backing up your recent chat history.
Manage Your Backups
To save storage space and keep your backups optimized, it’s good practice to periodically prune old chats and media from WhatsApp.
You can manage the content that gets backed up in WhatsApp’s Settings:
- Tap Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
- Toggle on/off the types of content you want to include in the backup
Unchecking items like large videos and photos can help reduce your backup size. You can also manually clear old chats and media you no longer need from within WhatsApp at any time.
Set Backup Frequency
You can configure how often WhatsApp backs up your chats.
To adjust your backup frequency:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
- Tap Backup Frequency
- Select your desired frequency: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Never
Setting more regular backups gives you more options to restore in case you lose your device or need to migrate chats to a new phone.
Backup WhatsApp Manually
Aside from the automatic backups, you can also manually trigger a WhatsApp chat backup anytime:
- iOS: Tap Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now
- Android: Tap More Options > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up
This will instantly back up your latest WhatsApp data to iCloud or Google Drive.
Retrieve Deleted WhatsApp Messages
If you deleted important WhatsApp messages by accident, there are a couple ways you may be able to retrieve them:
- Restore from an earlier backup – If you notice soon enough, you can restore a backup from before the delete
- Use data recovery software – Some third party apps may be able to scan your phone and recover deleted WhatsApp content
But take note, the sooner you act, the better chance you have of recovering deleted WhatsApp messages.
Alternative WhatsApp Backup Methods
While iCloud and Google Drive are the main backup options, there are some other ways to backup WhatsApp chats:
- Local phone backup – Use your device’s built-in backup features to save a copy locally or to a computer.
- WhatsApp export – Manually export your WhatsApp chats to email or files.
- Third party apps – Some apps promise to backup WhatsApp chats outside of the main backup methods.
But keep in mind, most third party apps violate WhatsApp’s terms and their reliability is questionable. The official iCloud and Google Drive backups are still the recommended way to go.
Conclusion
Restoring your WhatsApp chats from a backup allows you to seamlessly transfer your message history when migrating devices or reinstalling WhatsApp. As long as you have a recent iCloud or Google Drive backup, the process is straightforward. Just be aware of backup size limits, make sure you’re running the latest WhatsApp version, and adjust your backup frequency to suit your needs.
With a few simple steps, you can safely back up your WhatsApp chats and restore them when needed. Just be diligent about regularly backing up your chats and verifying the backups completed properly. Maintaining up-to-date backups gives you peace of mind if you ever lose access to your WhatsApp conversations and memories.