Backing up WhatsApp takes under five minutes and saves you from losing your chat history when you switch phones, reset a device or lose one. The process is similar on both systems: Android backs up to Google Drive, and iPhone backs up to iCloud. This guide covers both, plus encrypted backup and restoring.
What a WhatsApp backup includes
A backup saves your chats and the media in them. You choose whether to include videos, which makes the file much bigger, and whether to keep your status archive. Messages sent after the last backup won’t come back when you restore, so how often it runs matters. Restoring also works only with the same phone number you used for the backup.
How to back up WhatsApp on Android (Google Drive)
Before you start, WhatsApp needs an active Google Account on the phone, Google Play services installed, and free space on both the phone and your Google Account.
- Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings, then Chats.
- Tap Chat backup.
- Under Back up to Google Account, pick a schedule other than “Never” or “Only when I tap Back up.”
- Choose the Google Account that will hold the backup. If none shows up, tap Add account and sign in.
- To back up right now, tap Back up.
On the same screen you can switch Include videos, Back up using cellular and the status archive on or off. Backup files can be large, so WhatsApp suggests connecting to Wi-Fi first to avoid data charges.
How to back up WhatsApp on iPhone (iCloud)
On iPhone you need to be signed in with your Apple ID and have iCloud Drive turned on. WhatsApp’s current help page lists iOS 12 or newer. You also need room: WhatsApp says you should have about 2.05 times the backup’s size free in both iCloud and on the phone.
- Open WhatsApp and tap Settings (or your profile picture).
- Tap Chats, then Chat backup.
- Tap Back Up Now to save immediately.
- To automate it, tap Auto Backup and choose how often.
- Decide whether to Include Videos.
If iCloud is full, the backup won’t finish. Free up space or upgrade your iCloud plan.
How to check that it worked
Go back to Chats > Chat backup. The screen shows the time and size of your last completed backup. If the date is old, run a manual backup and let it finish before you change phones.
How to turn on encrypted backup
By default, your backup is protected by your Google or Apple account but doesn’t have WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption. To add that layer:
- Go to Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup.
- Tap Turn on.
- Pick how to protect it: a password, a 64-digit key or, where available, a passkey, which uses your fingerprint, face or screen lock code. WhatsApp announced passkey backups on October 30, 2025, with a gradual rollout, so you may not see the option yet.
- Tap Create (some versions say Generate) to finish.
Store the password or key somewhere safe. WhatsApp can’t recover it, reset it or restore the backup for you, and without it the data is out of reach. On iPhone, WhatsApp recommends turning off WhatsApp in your device backup when you use encrypted backup, because that copy isn’t covered by WhatsApp’s encryption. To lock down the account itself, also turn on two-step verification.
How to restore chats on a new phone
- Install WhatsApp and verify the same phone number. (If your old phone is stuck on outdated software, note that WhatsApp now blocks logins on those phones, so back up before that happens.)
- On Android, sign in with the Google Account that holds the backup. On iPhone, use the same Apple ID.
- When the app offers it, choose to restore your chat history and wait for it to finish.
On Android, WhatsApp restores only from the last successful backup. Your Google Account is the only way to recover the backup or move it to another Android phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I back up WhatsApp without Google Drive or iCloud?
On Android, WhatsApp’s help page also mentions a local backup, but the main route is your Google Account. On iPhone, iCloud is the official method.
Does WhatsApp backup use my mobile data?
It can, depending on file size. That’s why WhatsApp suggests backing up on Wi-Fi and leaving the cellular option off.
I lost my encrypted backup password. Now what?
There is no way to recover it. WhatsApp doesn’t keep a copy, reset the password or restore the backup. Write down the password or 64-digit key as soon as you create it.
Will deleted messages come back with a backup?
Only if they were in your last backup, since a restore brings back the state from that moment. Messages sent after it won’t return.
