WhatsApp backups save your message history to cloud storage so you can restore conversations if you lose your phone or switch devices
WhatsApp stores backups in either Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone), depending on your phone type. The backup includes all your messages, photos, videos, voice notes, and call logs — but not the encryption keys that protect them. This means Google and Apple can see the backup exists, but they cannot read the messages inside it.
You can set up automatic daily backups, or back up manually whenever you want. The process takes a few minutes the first time, then runs in the background. Restoring from a backup happens automatically when you reinstall WhatsApp on a new phone or the same phone after a factory reset.
Key Takeaways
- Android backups go to Google Drive; iPhone backups go to iCloud — you need an active account with the right cloud service for backups to work.
- Automatic backups happen daily by default, but you can change the frequency or turn them off entirely in WhatsApp settings.
- Your messages stay encrypted end-to-end even in the backup, so the cloud provider cannot read them.
- Restoring a backup from a new phone happens automatically during setup — you do not need to do anything manually.
- Backups take up storage space in your Google Drive or iCloud account, and large backups may count against your free storage limit.
How to set up automatic backups on Android
Open WhatsApp and tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup. You will see a button that says Back up to Google Drive. Tap it, then select which Google account you want to use — this must be an account you have access to on your current phone.
Next, choose how often you want automatic backups to happen. The options are Never, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. Daily is the default. You can also choose which Google account to back up to if you have more than one. Once you confirm, WhatsApp will back up when ready and then on your chosen schedule.
If you do not have a Google account linked to your phone, you will need to add one first. Go to your phone's Settings, tap Accounts, and select Add account. Choose Google and follow the prompts to sign in or create a new account.
How to set up automatic backups on iPhone
Open WhatsApp and tap Settings in the bottom right corner. Tap Chats, then Chat Backup. You will see an option to Back Up to iCloud. Tap it and choose how often you want backups to happen — Never, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. Daily is the default.
WhatsApp will use whichever iCloud account is signed into your iPhone. If you want to use a different iCloud account, you will need to sign out of the current one in your phone's Settings and sign in to the other one. Once you confirm your backup frequency, WhatsApp backs up when ready and then on your chosen schedule.
Make sure you have enough free iCloud storage for the backup. If your iCloud is full, the backup will fail silently — WhatsApp will not warn you. You can check your iCloud storage in your phone's Settings under iCloud, then Manage Storage.
What gets backed up and what does not
Your backup includes all text messages, group chats, photos, videos, voice messages, and call logs. It also includes your contact list as it appears in WhatsApp. Stickers and status updates do not back up — you can read them again from the sticker packs and status features.
Your messages are encrypted end-to-end in the backup itself, which means the backup file is protected the same way your live messages are. However, the backup metadata — the fact that a backup exists, its size, and when it was created — is visible to Google or Apple. Your encryption keys stay on your phone and do not go to the cloud.
Settings like your profile picture, about text, and notification preferences do not back up. You will need to set those again on a new phone. Chats that you have archived will stay archived after you restore from a backup.
How to restore from a backup on a new phone
When you install WhatsApp on a new phone, the app will detect that a backup exists and ask if you want to restore it. You must be signed into the same Google account (Android) or iCloud account (iPhone) that created the backup. Tap Restore and wait for the process to finish — this can take several minutes if your backup is large.
After the restore finishes, WhatsApp will ask you to verify your phone number. Use the same number you had on your old phone. Once you verify, your messages will appear in the app. You do not need to do anything else — the restore happens automatically during setup.
If you do not see the restore prompt, it usually means you are not signed into the correct cloud account. Sign out and sign back in with the account that created the backup, then uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
Manual backups and managing backup storage
You can back up manually at any time without waiting for the automatic schedule. On Android, go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup and tap Back up to Google Drive. On iPhone, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap Back Up Now.
Backups count toward your cloud storage limit. A typical backup of a few years of messages might be 100 to 500 megabytes, depending on how many photos and videos you have. If you are running low on storage, you can delete old backups from Google Drive or iCloud directly — just open the cloud storage app, find the WhatsApp backup file, and delete it. Your messages on your phone will not be affected.
If you want to turn off automatic backups entirely, go to the backup settings and choose Never. You can still back up manually whenever you want. Some people turn off automatic backups to save cloud storage space, then back up manually before switching phones.
Security trade-offs to understand
Your messages are encrypted end-to-end in the backup, but the backup itself sits on Google's or Apple's servers. This means those companies can see that a backup exists and how large it is, even though they cannot read the messages inside. If you are concerned about this, you can turn off automatic backups and back up manually only when you need to switch phones.
The encryption keys that protect your messages stay on your phone — they do not go to the cloud. This is why you cannot restore a backup to a phone with a different phone number. WhatsApp uses your phone number to generate your encryption keys, so a backup tied to one number cannot be used on another.
If someone gains access to your Google or iCloud account, they could read your WhatsApp backup. However, they still could not read the messages without also having access to your phone or knowing your encryption keys. The backup is only useful if combined with access to your device or account credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I back up WhatsApp to a computer instead of the cloud?
WhatsApp does not offer a built-in way to back up to a computer. The only official backup method is Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone). Some third-party tools claim to back up WhatsApp to a computer, but they require you to give them access to your phone and are not endorsed by WhatsApp.
What happens to my backup if I delete WhatsApp?
Deleting WhatsApp from your phone does not delete the backup in Google Drive or iCloud. The backup stays there until you manually delete it from your cloud storage account. When you reinstall WhatsApp, it will find the backup and offer to restore it.
Can I restore a backup from an Android phone to an iPhone?
No. Android backups are stored in Google Drive and iPhone backups in iCloud, and the formats are not compatible. You would need to manually transfer important conversations or use a third-party tool, though WhatsApp does not support or recommend this.
Does backing up WhatsApp back up my profile picture and status?
Your profile picture and status text do not back up. You will need to set those again on a new phone. Your status updates (the photos and videos you post to your status) also do not back up, but you can read them again from the status feature.
How much does WhatsApp backup cost?
WhatsApp backups are free, but they use your cloud storage quota. Google Drive and iCloud both give you free storage (15 GB for Google, 5 GB for iCloud), and backups count toward that limit. If you run out of free storage, you can pay for more or delete old backups.