WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion monthly active users. Many people rely on WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends, family, co-workers, and more. As conversations build up over time, users often want to save or back up their WhatsApp chats to keep a history. Luckily, there are several apps that can help save WhatsApp conversations.
Why You Might Want to Save WhatsApp Conversations
There are a few key reasons why saving your WhatsApp chats can be useful:
- Preserve memories and important conversations – You may have meaningful or nostalgic chats you don’t want to lose.
- Store work-related discussions – If you use WhatsApp for work, saving chats creates a record you can reference later.
- Free up phone storage space – Backing up chats to another app clears room on your phone.
- Access chats after switching phones – Your chat history is retained even if you get a new phone.
- Have a backup if you lose your phone – Backups give you a way to recover lost chats if your phone is damaged, lost, or stolen.
WhatsApp’s Built-In Backup
WhatsApp has its own built-in option to backup chats to Google Drive or iCloud. This is an easy way to save your chat history, media, and other data. Here’s an overview of how WhatsApp’s built-in backup works:
- Android devices can backup to Google Drive. iPhone users can backup to iCloud.
- Backups happen automatically daily by default, but you can also manually trigger a backup anytime.
- Only the most recent backup is stored – older backups are deleted and overwritten by newer ones.
- Backups are encrypted for privacy before being uploaded to the cloud.
- To restore from a backup when getting a new phone, just install WhatsApp and login with the same phone number.
WhatsApp’s built-in backup is simple and convenient. However, there are some downsides to relying solely on it:
- You can only restore when installing WhatsApp on a new device. You can’t view or export chat history from the backup.
- Because only the most recent backup is kept, you could lose chat history if that backup becomes corrupted or deleted.
- Media files count against your Google Drive or iCloud storage quotas.
Third-Party Apps to Save WhatsApp Chats
Using a dedicated third-party app to save WhatsApp conversations can provide more flexibility and control. Some key advantages of third-party backup apps include:
- View chat history directly in the app interface without having to restore to a phone.
- Export and save chat history in accessible formats like PDF, CSV, TXT, etc.
- Keep multiple backups instead of just the most recent one.
- Optionally encrypt backups for enhanced security.
- Avoid counting media against cloud storage limits.
- Schedule regular, automated backups.
Let’s look at some of the top apps for backing up and saving WhatsApp chats on both Android and iPhone.
Android Apps
| App | Key Features |
|---|---|
| SMS Backup & Restore |
|
| WhatsApp Chat History Exporter |
|
| ChatBackup for WhatsApp |
|
iPhone Apps
| App | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Wutsapper |
|
| WazzapMigrator |
|
| iTransfer |
|
Key Factors When Choosing a Backup App
With several solid apps to pick from, consider the following factors when deciding on the best WhatsApp backup solution for your needs:
- Accessibility of backups – Can you easily view and export chat history without a phone?
- Backup destinations – Does the app back up to the cloud, local storage, computer, etc?
- Export options – Can you export chats to PDF, Excel, TXT and other readable formats?
- Encryption – Does the app provide encrypted backups for privacy?
- Media support – Will media attachments be included in backups?
- Scheduling – Can you automate regular backups?
- Price – Is there a free version or does it require a paid subscription?
Prioritize the factors that align most closely with how you intend to use WhatsApp backups. For example, if you just need occasional backups to migrate chats to a new phone, WhatsApp’s built-in free option may suffice. But if you need to regularly access chat history from a computer, a third-party app with robust export capabilities is preferable.
Restoring Chats from a WhatsApp Backup
Once you have WhatsApp chats backed up through either WhatsApp’s built-in tool or a third-party app, you can restore your chat history when needed. Here are the general steps to restore a WhatsApp backup:
- Install WhatsApp on the new device you want chats restored to.
- Enter your phone number and verify it when prompted.
- On Android: Tap “Restore” on the popup prompting you to restore from Google Drive. On iPhone: Tap “Restore” when asked if you want to merge iCloud backup.
- Your chats will now be restored to the new device. Media may take more time to download in the background.
Specific steps can vary slightly depending on your backup app. Generally, you need to reinstall WhatsApp on the new device first before restoring the backup containing your chat history. Be patient as restoring a large WhatsApp backup with lots of media can take some time.
Tips for Backing Up WhatsApp Successfully
Follow these tips to make sure your WhatsApp chats are backed up properly so you can access them when needed:
- Enable auto backup – Turn on automated daily backups in WhatsApp or your third-party app so chats are regularly saved.
- Do manual backups – Before a major OS update or factory reset, manually trigger a backup.
- Limit space usage – Media files take up lots of space. Review and clear old large files.
- Check backup history – Occasionally view backup details to confirm chats are being saved.
- Remember security codes – Store your encryption PINs and passwords somewhere secure in case you need them to restore.
- Update backup apps – Keep your WhatsApp backup apps updated so they remain compatible.
Conclusion
Regularly backing up your WhatsApp chats is important to avoid losing your messaging history. While WhatsApp provides a built-in free backup option, third-party apps give you more flexibility and control. Factors like accessibility, export options, encryption, and media support can help determine the best WhatsApp backup solution for your specific needs.
With an app like SMS Backup & Restore, Wutsapper, iTransfer, or any of the other top options, you can easily save, export, and restore your WhatsApp chats. Just be sure to enable automatic backups and do occasional manual backups as well. Follow best practices like limiting storage space usage and recording encryption passwords. With the right WhatsApp backup app and habits, you can reliably preserve your chat history.