Losing your WhatsApp chats can be frustrating, especially if they contain important conversations, photos, or documents. The good news is that WhatsApp makes it easy to create backups so you can restore everything if you change phones or reinstall the app. This guide explains how to backup WhatsApp chats on both Android and iPhone in 2026.
Regular backups are one of the most important habits for any WhatsApp user.
How to Backup WhatsApp on Android (Google Drive)
- Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Back up to create a backup immediately.
- To set automatic backups, tap Backup frequency and choose Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
- Select your Google account and choose whether to include videos.
Make sure you have enough free space on Google Drive and a stable internet connection (preferably Wi-Fi).
How to Backup WhatsApp on iPhone (iCloud)
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now to create a manual backup.
- To enable automatic backups, turn on Auto Backup and choose the frequency.
- Make sure iCloud Drive is enabled in your iPhone Settings and you are signed in with your Apple ID.
Your iPhone must be connected to Wi-Fi for the backup to complete.
What Gets Backed Up?
- Text messages and media (photos, videos, documents, voice notes)
- Group chats
- Chat history
Note: Your WhatsApp settings, profile picture, and some app preferences are not included in the chat backup.
How to Restore a WhatsApp Backup
When you install WhatsApp on a new phone or reinstall the app:
- Verify your phone number.
- WhatsApp will detect an existing backup.
- Tap Restore and wait for the process to finish.
- Do not skip the restore step or interrupt the process.
Once restored, all your previous chats and media should appear.
Tips for Better Backups
- Backup regularly, especially before changing phones.
- Use Wi-Fi to avoid mobile data charges and failed uploads.
- Check available cloud storage before starting a large backup.
- For important conversations, you can also export individual chats (Chat info > Export chat).
Final Thoughts
Setting up automatic backups takes only a few minutes and can save you a lot of trouble later. Whether you use Android or iPhone, make it a habit to keep your WhatsApp chats safely backed up.
For more useful features and privacy tips, see our full WhatsApp Complete Guide.