WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, used by over 2 billion people worldwide. It allows you to easily chat with friends, family, coworkers, and more through text, voice notes, video calls, and more. One great feature of WhatsApp is its ability to backup your chats and media to iCloud or Google Drive, allowing you to restore your chat history if you ever lose your phone or switch to a new device.
However, sometimes WhatsApp backups can fail on iPhones and iPads. If you’ve noticed your WhatsApp chats aren’t backing up properly on your iPhone, there are a few potential causes and solutions to try.
Why Your WhatsApp Backups May Be Failing
Here are some of the most common reasons why WhatsApp backups may not be working properly on your iPhone:
- Your iCloud storage is full – WhatsApp backups count against your total iCloud storage. If your iCloud storage is completely full, it can prevent WhatsApp backups from completing properly.
- Background App Refresh is disabled – WhatsApp relies on the Background App Refresh feature in iOS to run backups in the background. If this is disabled, backups won’t work.
- Your iPhone lacks an internet connection – A stable internet connection is required for WhatsApp backups to iCloud or Google Drive. Connect your iPhone to WiFi to ensure a proper connection.
- Your iPhone is low on storage space – Your iPhone needs sufficient free storage space to temporarily store backups before uploading them to the cloud. Clear up storage space if your iPhone is nearly full.
- WhatsApp is restricted from running in the background – WhatsApp needs to run in the background to perform backups. Check that background activity is not disabled for WhatsApp in the iOS Settings.
- Your WhatsApp version is out of date – Make sure WhatsApp is updated to the latest version from the App Store. Older versions may have backup bugs.
- Your date/time settings are incorrect – Inaccurate date and time settings on your iPhone can interfere with WhatsApp’s scheduled backups. Make sure automatic date & time are enabled.
- You have disabled chat history in WhatsApp – WhatsApp allows you to disable chat backups in its Settings. Make sure chat history is enabled under Chats > Chat Backup.
Fixing iPhone WhatsApp Backups By Freeing Up iCloud Storage
One of the most common reasons for WhatsApp backup failures on iPhone is having insufficient iCloud storage space. Here are some tips for freeing up iCloud storage so WhatsApp backups can complete successfully:
- Offload unused apps – This removes the app itself while retaining its data and documents. You can redownload the app later if needed.
- Disable iCloud Photos – Keep just thumbnails on your device and store the full photos & videos on your Mac or PC instead.
- Manage Storage for Music & Podcasts – Optimize your storage by removing music you don’t listen to regularly.
- Delete old device backups – You generally only need your most recent 1-2 device backups stored in iCloud.
- Move files to external storage – Use desktop software to transfer photos, videos, and documents out of iCloud Drive and onto a computer, external drive, or another cloud service.
- Upgrade your iCloud storage plan – You may need more space overall for backups, photos, etc. Upgrading your iCloud plan provides more storage.
Once you’ve freed up ample space in iCloud, WhatsApp should have room to complete a fresh backup of your chat history.
Enabling Background App Refresh for WhatsApp Backups
Background App Refresh is an important iOS feature that allows apps like WhatsApp to perform tasks in the background even when you aren’t actively using the app. Here are the steps to make sure it is enabled for WhatsApp:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Background App Refresh.
- Make sure the switch at the top is turned on to enable Background App Refresh overall.
- Now tap on WhatsApp under the individual apps list.
- Make sure Background App Refresh is enabled for WhatsApp specifically.
With Background App Refresh turned on, WhatsApp should now be able to run backups in the background as normal. You can also enable the “Wi-Fi Assist” option here to allow backups over cellular data when you have a poor WiFi connection.
Updating to the Latest Version of WhatsApp
Using an outdated version of WhatsApp could also prevent backups from working properly due to bugs or missing features. Follow these steps to update WhatsApp on your iPhone:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and tap “Available Updates” to see apps with updates available.
- If WhatsApp appears here, tap “Update” to download the latest version.
- If WhatsApp is not listed, it is already up to date. Search for “WhatsApp” in the App Store search bar and check that the “Open” button displays, not “Update”.
Updating to the latest WhatsApp version can resolve backup bugs and ensure you have all the newest features.
Ensuring Your iPhone Has a Stable Internet Connection
Backups require a steady internet connection between your iPhone and iCloud servers. Here are some tips for ensuring a strong connection for WhatsApp backups:
- Connect your iPhone to a stable WiFi network when performing backups, rather than relying on cellular data.
- Avoid backing up while traveling or in areas with poor reception. Wait until you have a strong WiFi signal.
- Check for any issues with your internet router and resolve them if needed to ensure a strong WiFi connection.
- Restart your iPhone to refresh the network connection before backing up.
- Update your iPhone software to the latest version, which may include connectivity fixes.
- Disable “Low Data Mode” if enabled, as this can interfere with large data transfers like backups.
Following these connectivity tips will help provide the necessary bandwidth for successful WhatsApp chat backups to iCloud.
Clearing Up Storage Space on Your iPhone
Your iPhone needs sufficient free storage space to temporarily store WhatsApp backup data before it gets uploaded to iCloud. Here are some ways to clear storage space for backups:
- Offload unused apps
- Delete or move photos and videos to a computer or storage service
- Remove downloaded music, movies, and podcasts you no longer need
- Delete old SMS/MMS threads and iMessages
- Manage Storage for Mail attachments and large emails
- Delete unused files in iCloud Drive and other cloud storage apps
- Uninstall apps you no longer use
Aim for at least 1GB – 2GB or more of free space for proper WhatsApp backup operation. The more free space the better.
Allowing WhatsApp to Run in the Background
For timely backups, WhatsApp needs to be able to run in the background when you switch to other apps. Here’s how to check its background activity on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Make sure WhatsApp is set to “On” under Background Activity.
- You can also enable “Wi-Fi Assist” here for backups over cellular when needed.
If background activity is disabled for WhatsApp, backups will not work properly even if Background App Refresh overall is on. Be sure to specifically enable it for WhatsApp.
Checking Your iPhone’s Date and Time Settings
WhatsApp relies on accurate date and time settings on your device to run backups at the scheduled day/time. Here’s how to check your iPhone’s date & time settings:
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Make sure “Set Automatically” is enabled to sync the time from the network.
- If using a custom date & time, be sure it is accurate. Incorrect manual settings can prevent backups.
As long as your iPhone maintains the correct current date and time, WhatsApp will backup your chats according to its backup schedule.
Checking That Chat History Is Enabled in WhatsApp
WhatsApp allows you to disable chat backups in its Settings. To enable backups, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and tap More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Make sure “Back Up To” is set to iCloud or Google Drive.
- Enable the “Include Videos” switch to back up your media files.
With chat backup enabled here, your WhatsApp conversations will be included in regular backups as expected.
Manually Backing Up WhatsApp Chats
If your iPhone WhatsApp backups are still failing after trying other solutions, you can attempt to trigger a manual backup:
- Connect your iPhone to a stable WiFi network.
- Ensure WhatsApp is closed completely by swiping it away from the app switcher.
- Open WhatsApp and tap More options > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap “Back Up Now” to manually initiate a backup.
Manually backing up can help determine if an issue is preventing scheduled backups from running properly.
Restarting Your iPhone
Before troubleshooting further, try restarting your iPhone by holding the side or volume button and sliding to power off. Once it reboots, reopen WhatsApp and check if backups are now working. A restart can clear out minor glitches interfering with backups.
Reinstalling WhatsApp
If other troubleshooting has failed, uninstall WhatsApp completely and reinstall a fresh copy from the App Store. This can reset any problematic data or settings that may be preventing backups.
Just be sure to manually backup your chats first, as uninstalling will remove the local WhatsApp data on your device. After reinstalling you can restore from your last good backup.
Contacting WhatsApp Support
If you still can’t resolve iPhone backup issues after trying all applicable troubleshooting, reach out to WhatsApp directly for support:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Help.
- Tap Contact Us and explain your backup issue in detail.
- The WhatsApp team may be able to provide specialized support to restore backups.
Be sure to include your iPhone model, iOS version, WhatsApp version, and screenshots of any error messages you encounter while backing up.
Trying Alternative Backup Methods
If WhatsApp backups remain unreliable even after troubleshooting, here are some alternative backup options to consider:
- Use a different chat backup service like iMazing or PhoneView.
- Email yourself important WhatsApp chat exports for archiving.
- Copy WhatsApp chats via desktop WhatsApp Web and save them to your computer.
- Take screenshots of important chats to store outside WhatsApp.
While not a full solution, using alternative backup methods can provide a supplementary way to preserve your most important WhatsApp chats.
Conclusion
WhatsApp backups are an essential way to safeguard your chat history on iPhone. If you experience issues with WhatsApp backups failing to run properly, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try:
- Free up extra iCloud storage space
- Enable Background App Refresh for WhatsApp
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version
- Ensure a stable internet connection
- Clear local storage space on your iPhone
- Check background activity and date/time settings
- Confirm chat backup is enabled in WhatsApp
- Attempt a manual backup
- Restart your iPhone and reinstall WhatsApp
Following this guide can help restore reliable WhatsApp backups to preserve your valuable chat history. Be sure to also contact WhatsApp support if issues persist after troubleshooting. With a few consistent backup settings and habits, you can avoid losing your precious WhatsApp conversations.