WhatsApp offers users the ability to backup their chats, media, and settings to Google Drive or iCloud. This allows you to restore your WhatsApp data if you ever lose your phone or switch to a new device. By default, WhatsApp will only backup over Wi-Fi to avoid using up your mobile data allowance. There are a few reasons why your WhatsApp backup might be waiting for a Wi-Fi connection.
Limited mobile data plan
The most common reason is that you have a limited mobile data plan and WhatsApp is trying to avoid backing up over your mobile data. WhatsApp backups can use up a considerable amount of data, especially if you have a lot of media files being backed up. To avoid unintended data charges, WhatsApp restricts backups to Wi-Fi by default.
Large backup size
Your WhatsApp backup may have reached a size that WhatsApp deems too large to backup over mobile data. The app places limits on how much data can be backed up over mobile data before requiring Wi-Fi. The exact limit depends on your device and can range from 10MB to 100MB. If your backup size exceeds this limit, you’ll see “waiting for Wi-Fi” until you connect to a Wi-Fi network again.
Background data disabled
WhatsApp may not be allowed to use background mobile data on your device. Go to your phone’s settings and make sure WhatsApp’s background data usage isn’t disabled or restricted. If background data is off for WhatsApp, it will wait for Wi-Fi before performing backups.
Data saver enabled
Some Android devices have a Data Saver setting that prevents apps from using mobile data when enabled. Check if this is enabled under Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver. WhatsApp cannot back up using mobile data when Data Saver is on.
Battery optimization restrictions
On Android, battery optimization settings can sometimes interfere with WhatsApp’s background data usage leading to delayed backups. Go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Battery and make sure WhatsApp is not restricted by battery optimization. Give WhatsApp permission to use background data without battery optimization.
Connection issues
In some cases, there may be a network-related issue that is preventing WhatsApp from backing up properly over mobile data. Troubleshoot your mobile data connection and try disabling mobile data then re-enabling it to see if this fixes any temporary glitches. Switching airplane mode on and off can also help reset the network.
Account and privacy settings
Check your WhatsApp account settings to make sure backups are actually enabled for your account. Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and confirm that backups are enabled with either Google Drive or iCloud as the backup destination. Also check that your privacy settings allow WhatsApp to access photos, media and files on your device which are needed for comprehensive backups.
Google Drive/iCloud storage full
WhatsApp can’t backup if you’ve exceeded your allocated storage limit on Google Drive or iCloud. Delete existing files and backups from your cloud storage to free up space for new WhatsApp backups. WhatsApp will resume backups once sufficient storage is available again.
Corrupt backup
In rare cases, a corrupt backup can cause WhatsApp backup problems and lead to “waiting for Wi-Fi” messages. Try deleting your existing WhatsApp backups from your cloud storage, then force stopping and clearing data for the WhatsApp app on your phone before reopening it to trigger a fresh backup. This will overwrite any corrupted backup files.
Update WhatsApp
Make sure you’re running the latest version of WhatsApp. An outdated version of the app can result in backup issues. Check for updates in your device’s app store and install the newest WhatsApp update to see if it resolves any backup problems.
Restart your phone
As a basic troubleshooting step, try fully powering down your phone and restarting it. This will clear out any temporary glitches that may be preventing WhatsApp from backing up properly over mobile data. Restarting your device can often resolve intermittent issues.
Factory reset phone
For persistent backup failures, consider doing a factory reset of your phone. This will wipe the phone and restore it to default settings. Before resetting, make sure your WhatsApp chats are backed up so you can restore them later. The nuclear option of a factory reset can eliminate any underlying software bugs responsible for WhatsApp backup problems.
Conclusion
WhatsApp restricts backups to Wi-Fi by default to save mobile data charges. However, there are many other potential reasons why your WhatsApp backup may be stuck waiting for a Wi-Fi connection. Carefully checking your app settings, account settings, network connections, cloud storage, and performing basic troubleshooting steps can help get your backup working properly again. In most cases, you can resolve the issue without needing to reset your phone. Make sure to always keep backups enabled and available on Wi-Fi so you have a backup ready when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my WhatsApp backup so big?
WhatsApp backups can grow very large depending on how many chats, photos, videos and files you have. Media can quickly make backups large. Delete old chats and media you no longer need to slim down your backup size.
How can I reduce the size of my WhatsApp backup?
Here are some tips to reduce your WhatsApp backup size:
- Delete old chats you don’t need
- Remove media like photos and videos, especially large files
- Export chat histories you want to keep, then delete them from WhatsApp
- Use a media compression app to reduce sizes of photos before sending
- Clear large files and documents you have sent or received
- Disable backup for very large chats
Why does my WhatsApp backup keep failing?
Some common reasons for failed WhatsApp backups:
- No internet connection
- Insufficient Google Drive/iCloud storage space
- Large backup size exceeding size limit
- Disabled or restricted background data usage
- Corrupted backup files
- Outdated version of WhatsApp
How to fix ‘Waiting for network’ message during WhatsApp backup?
To fix WhatsApp backup stuck waiting for network:
- Check your internet connection
- Connect to Wi-Fi for large backups
- Allow WhatsApp background data usage
- Disable Data Saver if enabled
- Restart your phone to reset network issues
Should I backup WhatsApp over Wi-Fi or mobile data?
It is recommended to backup WhatsApp only over Wi-Fi if you have a limited mobile data plan. WhatsApp backups can consume large amounts of data which could lead to overage charges if done over mobile data frequently. Use Wi-Fi for worry-free backups.
WhatsApp Backup Size Limit
WhatsApp imposes a size limit on how much backup data can be transferred over mobile data vs Wi-Fi:
| Platform | Mobile Data Limit | Wi-Fi Limit |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 100 MB | Unlimited |
| Android | 10 – 100 MB | Unlimited |
Backups will wait for Wi-Fi if they exceed these size limits. The mobile data limit varies on Android devices depending on model.
WhatsApp Backup Frequency
WhatsApp has default backup intervals for when backups will run if recently changed data is detected:
| Platform | Backup Frequency |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Daily |
| Android | Daily + When app is closed |
You can also manually trigger backups at any time from WhatsApp’s Chat Backup settings.
WhatsApp Backup Storage Usage
Here’s an overview of how much storage WhatsApp backups consume in Google Drive and iCloud:
| Platform | Storage Service | Backup Limit |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iCloud | Unlimited |
| Android | Google Drive | Up to 25 MB |
Note the limited 25MB allocation for Google Drive. You may need to purchase additional Google storage.
Top 5 Tips to Fix WhatsApp Backups Waiting for Wi-Fi
Here are the top troubleshooting tips for WhatsApp backups stuck waiting for Wi-Fi:
- Check WhatsApp’s data and battery settings
- Enable Wi-Fi and turn off Data Saver
- Downsize large backups by removing media
- Update to the latest WhatsApp version
- Delete old backups and force a new backup
Following these tips will help identify and resolve the most common causes of backups waiting for Wi-Fi.
WhatsApp Backup Troubleshooting
If your WhatsApp backup is stuck waiting for Wi-Fi, try the following troubleshooting steps:
- Check your Wi-Fi and mobile data connections
- Make sure you have enough iCloud/Google Drive storage space
- Enable WhatsApp background data usage
- Disable battery optimizations for WhatsApp
- Check for any Data Saver or restrictions enabled
- Update to the latest WhatsApp version
- Delete old backups and force a fresh backup
- Try restarting your phone
- Perform a factory reset as last resort
Going through this checklist of troubleshooting steps will help identify and fix all common issues preventing successful WhatsApp backups.
Link to download latest WhatsApp version from:
https://www.whatsapp.com/download/
Conclusion
WhatsApp limits backups over mobile data to save users money on data charges. Backups can wait for Wi-Fi due to large sizes, network issues, battery/data restrictions, outdated app versions and other problems. Following the troubleshooting guide and tips outlined will help resolve most common situations where WhatsApp gets stuck waiting for Wi-Fi to backup. Checking settings, app versions, network connections and free storage space allows you to quickly identify and fix the underlying cause.