WhatsApp Backup and Restore: Complete Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Overview: WhatsApp backup saves your chat history, photos, videos, and documents to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) so they can be restored when you switch phones, reinstall the app, or lose access to your device. Backups can run automatically on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule. This guide covers how to get a chat backup in WhatsApp on Android and iPhone, how to restore it on a new phone, how to transfer chats when switching between Android and iPhone, and how to manage backup storage size.

For businesses using WhatsApp, chat backup preserves client conversations and contact history. For outbound campaign sends to a contact list beyond your existing chats, a WhatsApp bulk message sender free tool handles that from a browser separately from backup management. This guide covers backup and restore only.

Understanding what is and is not in a backup prevents confusion when restoring. One common misconception: photos that appear in your phone's camera roll or gallery are saved separately from the WhatsApp backup. If gallery photos are missing after a restore, fixing WhatsApp images not showing in gallery covers that as a separate device-level issue.

Via Google Drive (Cloud)

Google Drive is the primary backup method for Android. Backups run automatically on your chosen schedule and can be restored to any Android device signed in to the same Google account.

• Open WhatsApp on your Android device.
• Tap the three-dot menu in the top right and select Settings.
• Tap Chats, then Chat Backup.
• Tap Back up to Google Drive and select a backup frequency: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Never.
• Select the Google account to use for backup. If none is linked, tap Add account.
• Choose whether to include videos in the backup.
• Tap Back Up Now to run an immediate backup.

The Chat Backup screen shows the date and size of your most recent backup. Check this to confirm the backup completed successfully before switching devices.

Via Local Storage (Android)

WhatsApp automatically creates daily local backups on Android regardless of your Google Drive settings. These are stored in Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Databases as encrypted files.

• To manually back up locally: go to WhatsApp > three-dot menu > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now. This creates both a local backup and a Google Drive backup if Drive is configured.
• To access local backup files: use a file manager app and navigate to Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Databases.
• To keep a manual copy: copy the msgstore.db.crypt15 file (and the media folder) to your PC or external storage.

• Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
• Tap Settings at the bottom right.
• Tap Chats, then Chat Backup.
• Tap Back Up Now to run an immediate backup.
• To set automatic backups, tap Auto Backup and select Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
• Toggle Include Videos on or off depending on your storage availability.

Ensure your iPhone is signed in to iCloud and has sufficient available storage before running a backup. Check available iCloud space in iPhone Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Account Storage.

WhatsApp introduced end-to-end encrypted backups in 2021. When enabled, your backup is encrypted with a password known only to you. Even Meta, Google, and Apple cannot access the contents of the backup. This is an optional additional layer on top of the standard backup. Securing your WhatsApp business chats covers the full range of privacy controls available, of which encrypted backup is one component.

Android:

• Go to WhatsApp > three-dot menu > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
• Scroll down and tap End-to-end Encrypted Backup.
• Tap Turn On.
• Create a strong password (at least 8 characters). Store this password securely -- you cannot recover the backup without it.
• Tap Create.

iPhone:

• Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
• Tap End-to-end Encrypted Backup.
• Tap Turn On and create a password.
• Store the password in a password manager or safe location.

When you set up WhatsApp on a new Android phone, it automatically detects and offers to restore from your most recent Google Drive backup if the same Google account and phone number are in use. For a complete walkthrough of the full WhatsApp setup process on a new device, the WhatsApp login and setup guide for 2026 covers account creation and device linking before you reach the restore prompt.

• Install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store on your new Android phone.
• Open WhatsApp and enter your phone number. This must be the same number as the backed-up account.
• Verify with the 6-digit OTP code.
• WhatsApp detects the backup linked to your Google account and shows a Restore button.
• Tap Restore and wait for the process to complete. Large backups with videos may take several minutes.
• After restoring, your chat history and media appear in WhatsApp.

• Sign in to the same iCloud account on your new iPhone (the one used during backup).
• Download and install WhatsApp from the App Store.
• Open WhatsApp and enter your phone number. It must match the backed-up account.
• Verify with the OTP.
• When prompted, tap Restore Chat History from iCloud.
• Wait for the restore to complete. Tap Done when finished.

Also Read: How to Get Meta AI in WhatsApp: Android and iPhone (2026)

Cloud backups are not cross-compatible -- an Android backup on Google Drive cannot be restored to an iPhone. To move WhatsApp from Android to iPhone, use Apple's Move to iOS app before setting up the new iPhone.

Requirements: Android OS 5 or above, iOS 15.5 or above, Move to iOS app installed on Android, WhatsApp version 2.22.7.74 or above on Android, both phones using the same phone number, connected to power and the same Wi-Fi.

• Set up your new iPhone as a new device (do not restore from iCloud or iTunes).
• On the iPhone setup screen, choose Move Data from Android.
• Install the Move to iOS app on your Android phone and open it.
• Enter the code displayed on your iPhone when prompted by the app.
• On the Transfer Data screen, select WhatsApp.
• On your Android phone, tap Start and wait for WhatsApp to export data.
• After export, your Android WhatsApp logs out automatically.
• Tap Continue in Move to iOS to transfer the data to your iPhone.
• Install WhatsApp from the App Store on your iPhone and sign in with the same number.
• Follow the prompts and tap Start to activate. Your chat history appears.

Two methods work depending on your Android device.

For Samsung Android devices:

• Install Samsung Smart Switch on your Samsung Android phone.
• Connect your iPhone to the Samsung using a USB-C to Lightning cable.
• Follow the Smart Switch on-screen instructions.
• Use your iPhone camera to scan the QR code displayed on the Samsung.
• Tap Start on your iPhone and wait for the transfer.
• Open WhatsApp on the Samsung and sign in with the same number.

For Google Pixel and other Android 12+ devices:

• Install Google's Data Restore Tool on your Pixel or Android 12+ phone.
• Start device setup and select Restore from iPhone when prompted.
• Connect both phones using a USB-C to Lightning cable.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to scan the QR code with your iPhone camera.
• Wait for the transfer to complete, then open WhatsApp and sign in.

Also Read: WhatsApp Automatic Reply: How to Set It Up (2026 Guide)

Android: WhatsApp backups on Google Drive previously did not count against the free 15GB Google storage. As of late 2023, this changed -- WhatsApp backups now count toward your Google account's storage. To check backup size: WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. To reduce size: disable video backup, run the backup, and delete the old larger backup from Google Drive > Storage > Backups.

iPhone: WhatsApp backups count toward your iCloud storage (5GB free). To check size: iPhone Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > WhatsApp. To reduce: disable video backup in WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Include Videos (toggle off). Or delete the existing backup from iCloud and create a fresh one without videos.

1. Back up before switching phones: Run a manual backup immediately before setting up any new device. Do not rely solely on the most recent automatic backup, which may be days old.

2. Use Wi-Fi for backups: Large backups that include videos can use significant mobile data. Set backups to run over Wi-Fi only in your backup settings.

3. Set a schedule: Daily backups are best for active business accounts. Weekly is sufficient for personal accounts where the occasional lost message is acceptable. Monthly is rarely worth the risk.

4. Verify before you need it: Check the Chat Backup screen periodically to confirm the date and size of the most recent backup. A backup that shows "Last backup failed" will not restore on a new phone.

5. Store your encrypted backup password securely: If you enable end-to-end encrypted backup, add the password to a password manager immediately. There is no recovery path if you lose it.

WhatsApp backup and restore is a two-step process that takes under five minutes to set up but eliminates the risk of losing conversations, media, and documents if your device is changed, lost, or wiped. Android backups go to Google Drive. iPhone backups go to iCloud. Both can be automated on a daily or weekly schedule and both now count toward your cloud storage quota.

For cross-platform moves -- Android to iPhone or iPhone to Android -- cloud backup restoration does not work across platforms. Use Move to iOS (Android to iPhone) or Smart Switch / Data Restore Tool (iPhone to Android) instead.

For businesses managing client conversations on WhatsApp, backup preserves communication history. For outbound campaign sends to a full contact list, Roklo is a free bulk message sender that handles how to send bulk WhatsApp messages from a browser -- no API, no saved contacts, no per-message charge.

Also Read: WhatsApp Broadcast Limit: What It Is and How to Send Beyond It