How to Back Up Your WhatsApp Chats

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup

    In WhatsApp's settings menu, tap "Chats," then open "Chat backup."

  2. Connect your Google Drive (or iCloud) account

    Android connects to Google Drive and iPhone connects to iCloud as the storage location for your backups.

  3. Set a backup frequency

    Choose how often you want automatic backups to run -- daily, weekly, or monthly.

  4. Tap "Back Up Now" for an immediate backup

    If you want a backup right away, tap "Back Up Now" instead of waiting for the scheduled one.

  5. Why this is useful

    If you switch phones or have to reinstall the app, a backup lets you restore your chat history, photos, and videos exactly as they were.

Want to keep your chat history when you switch phones?

When you switch to a new phone or need to reinstall the app, a backup lets you restore your chat history, photos, and videos exactly as they were, instead of starting over.

Encrypting your backup adds real peace of mind

Turning on end-to-end encrypted backup means the backup file stored in the cloud is protected by a password too. Just be careful to keep that password somewhere safe -- if it is lost, nobody, including WhatsApp, can recover the backup for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the backed-up chat content encrypted too?

Yes, if you turn on end-to-end encrypted backup, the backup file stored in the cloud is protected by a password, and even WhatsApp itself cannot see the contents.

Do backups take up a lot of storage space?

They can, especially if you have a lot of photos and videos. You can adjust the size by toggling whether "Include videos" (or photos and videos) is included in the backup settings.