WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the key features of WhatsApp is the ability to backup your chat history, media, and settings. This allows you to restore your data if you ever switch phones or need to reinstall WhatsApp. But many users wonder – is the WhatsApp backup done daily or weekly?
How often does WhatsApp backup by default?
By default, WhatsApp backups are done on a daily basis. Every 24 hours, WhatsApp will automatically backup your most recent chats, media files, and settings to your designated backup location. This daily backup happens when your phone is charging and connected to WiFi to avoid using up your mobile data allowance.
So unless you have specifically changed the settings, you can expect WhatsApp to create a new backup of your account every single day. This daily backup schedule provides a nice balance between ensuring your recent WhatsApp data is protected, without creating excessive redundant copies taking up storage space.
Changing the WhatsApp backup frequency
If you want to change how often WhatsApp backs up your data, that is easy to adjust in the app settings:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup
- Tap Backup Frequency
- Select the desired backup frequency: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Never
So if you don’t want or need daily backups, you can switch to weekly or even monthly backups if you prefer. Just keep in mind less frequent backups means you have more potential data loss if you ever lose or switch phones.
What gets backed up by WhatsApp?
The WhatsApp backup includes the following data from your account:
- Chat history – All of your WhatsApp text messages and chat logs.
- Media files – Photos, videos, voice messages, GIFs, documents etc. you have sent or received.
- Contact info – Phone numbers registered to your WhatsApp contacts.
- Settings – Your profile data, privacy settings, wallpaper, notification settings etc.
So pretty much all of your important WhatsApp data gets included in the regular backups. The only thing that does not get backed up are your call history logs.
Where does WhatsApp backup my data?
WhatsApp gives you a choice of where you want your backup data stored:
- Google Drive – This is the recommended and default option. Backups are stored in your linked Google Drive account.
- Local Storage – Backups are saved to your phone’s local storage.
- iCloud (iOS only) – For iPhone users, backups can be saved to your iCloud.
Unless you specifically changed the setting, your WhatsApp backups are likely being saved to Google Drive. This provides ample free storage space (up to 15GB for free Google accounts) and allows you to restore backups seamlessly when switching Android phones in the future.
How to check WhatsApp backup settings
To check where your WhatsApp backups are being saved to, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
- Look under ‘Backup Location’. This will show Google Drive, Local, or iCloud.
- Tap ‘Change’ to choose a different backup destination.
How long does WhatsApp store backup data?
WhatsApp will keep multiple backups over time, to give you the ability to restore older data if needed. Here is how long backup data is stored:
- Google Drive – WhatsApp will maintain up to the most recent 7 daily backups and 1 weekly backup for the past 4 weeks.
- iCloud – Up to the most recent 7 daily and 3 monthly backups are kept.
- Local Storage – The most recent daily backup plus weekly backups for the past 4 weeks are kept locally.
So regardless of your backup location, you will have access to roughly a month’s worth of backup history. The most recent daily backup will always reflect your latest WhatsApp data.
How to manually backup WhatsApp
While WhatsApp will automatically backup your data on the scheduled cadence, you can also initiate a manual backup anytime by following these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the 3-dot Menu button.
- Select Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap “Back Up Now” to perform an on-demand backup.
This will immediately create a new WhatsApp backup, even if your scheduled backup already occurred earlier in the day. It’s handy when you want to make sure important or recent data gets backed up.
How to restore WhatsApp backup
If you ever need to restore your previously backed up WhatsApp data, here is how to restore from a backup:
- Reinstall and open WhatsApp on your device.
- On the Welcome screen, tap “Restore” when prompted.
- Tap “Restore” again to confirm.
- Select the backup source (Google Drive, iCloud etc).
- Pick the backup date you want to restore.
- Allow time for WhatsApp to restore your chats, media, settings from the backup.
And that’s all there is to it! With a few taps, you can get back all your archived WhatsApp data and pick up right where you left off.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp backups
Here are some common problems and solutions for WhatsApp backups:
Backups not working
- Ensure your phone is connected to a WiFi network when backing up.
- Check you don’t have power saving restrictions enabled for WhatsApp.
- Restart your phone and try forcing a manual backup.
- Clear cache for WhatsApp and try backing up again.
Backup size too large
- Limit how long you keep media files and chats if you don’t need them.
- Change the backup frequency to be less often.
- Transfer old backups to another storage device.
- Delete unnecessary large video files from WhatsApp.
Old backup data missing
- WhatsApp only stores a limited number of backups per their retention policy.
- Manually back up important old chats you want to keep.
- Export old chat history to PDF to preserve conversations.
WhatsApp backup vs WhatsApp Transfer
Backing up your WhatsApp data is different than transferring your WhatsApp account to a new device:
- WhatsApp Backup – Saves your chat history, media, settings to the cloud or local storage.
- WhatsApp Transfer – Moves your actual WhatsApp account and activated SIM to a new phone.
Backups are for redundancy and disaster recovery in case you lose your original device. WhatsApp Transfer is for when you are permanently switching to a new phone number and want to move your WhatsApp account with its chat history intact.
When to use WhatsApp Backup
- When resetting or replacing your current phone
- As a precaution in case you lose your phone
- Before updating to a new Android/iOS version
- To free up local storage space on your phone
When to use WhatsApp Transfer
- When you are switching to a new phone number
- Moving your WhatsApp account to a new device
- Wanting to use your WhatsApp on multiple devices
So in summary – WhatsApp Backup is for data redundancy, WhatsApp Transfer is for account portability. Use backups for peace of mind, use transfers for convenience when switching devices or numbers.
Does WhatsApp notify about backups?
WhatsApp does not directly notify you when backups are completed. However, you can still find out backup status in a few ways:
- Check the latest backup date shown in WhatsApp settings.
- Look for the “Backing up” notification when a backup is in progress.
- See backup timestamps in your cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud etc).
- Notice the WhatsApp logo is missing from the home screen after a successful backup.
While automated backups run quietly in the background, you can infer successful backups based on recent timestamps and lack of errors. Be sure to occasionally check your backup settings for peace of mind.
Can I automate WhatsApp backups?
Yes, it’s possible to automate WhatsApp backups beyond the built-in daily/weekly cadence using third-party apps. Here are some popular options:
Automate (Android)
This Android automation app lets you customize WhatsApp backup schedules and actions using simple flowcharts and scripts.
IFTTT (iOS & Android)
Link WhatsApp to web apps like Google Drive and create customized IFTTT applets to control WhatsApp backups.
Tasker (Android)
Build custom WhatsApp backup tasks and tie them to triggers like WiFi connections, time of day etc using Tasker.
Shortcut Maker (Android)
Create home screen shortcuts to quickly initiate WhatsApp backups on-demand.
These apps provide more flexibility around how often and when WhatsApp backups occur. But the standard daily backup may still be sufficient for most users’ needs.
WhatsApp Cloud vs Local Backup: Pros and Cons
When choosing where to store your WhatsApp backups, consider the pros and cons of cloud vs local backups:
Cloud Backup (Google Drive, iCloud)
Pros:
- Access backups across devices easily
- Large free storage space available
- Encrypted secure backups
Cons:
- Requires constant internet connection
- Potential privacy/security concerns
- Backups count against cloud storage quotas
Local Backup
Pros:
- No internet required after initial backup
- Faster backup and restore times
- No storage limits
Cons:
- Backups isolated to one device
- Easier to lose backups if device is damaged/wiped
- Uses phone storage space
There are merits to both approaches. Cloud backups make restoring across devices easier, while local backups are simpler and more private. Choose the option that best aligns with your priorities.
Should I encrypt WhatsApp backups?
WhatsApp provides the option to encrypt your chat backups for enhanced security. Here are some key points about encrypting backups:
- Backups are encrypted by default when storing to Google Drive
- Encryption protects the privacy of your chats if stored in third-party clouds
- You set a custom password to control access to encrypted backups
- Forgotten passwords mean you lose access to encrypted backups
- Encryption is not available for local-only backups
In general, encrypting your WhatsApp backups is recommended for privacy reasons when backing up to the cloud. Just be sure not to lose your password, or your data will be inaccessible.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points:
- WhatsApp automatically backs up your data daily by default
- Backups include your chat history, media, contacts, and settings
- Backups are saved to either Google Drive, iCloud or local storage
- You can adjust the backup frequency or initiate manual backups
- Encrypted backups provide an extra level of privacy and security
Following a daily backup schedule is recommended for most users to preserve your WhatsApp data. Adjust backup settings as desired for convenience, storage limits, or security needs. Be sure to periodically verify backups are succeeding to avoid any data loss.