11 Easy Ways to Backup WhatsApp Chats and Restore them

This guide compares 11 practical ways to back up, restore, or move WhatsApp chats, so you can pick the method that fits your phone change, storage limits, and restore goal.

Some methods are best for official same-platform recovery, while others are better for cross-platform moves or keeping an extra copy on a computer. Keep reading for the steps and tradeoffs of each option.

What is a WhatsApp Backup?

A WhatsApp backup is a file that contains

• All of your WhatsApp messages (individual & group chats, starred messages, etc.)
• Media (images, videos, voice, etc.)
• Emoji, attachments, etc.

This file can be used to restore your WhatsApp chat history if you ever need to switch to a new phone or lose your current data.

1. How to Backup WhatsApp to Google Drive and Restore them

Google Drive is still the main cloud-backup route for WhatsApp on Android, but those backups now count toward your Google Account storage. That makes backup size, video inclusion, and available space more important than this method once seemed.

Steps to backup your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive:

1. Open your WhatsApp and tap on the 3-dot menu icon.
2. Tap Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back up to Google Drive


WhatsApp chat backup settings

3. Select any backup frequency other than 'Never' from the drop-down list.


Never Backup Whatsapp to Google Drive

4. Tap Google account > Add account if you haven't connected a Google account yet.


Authenticate Gmail account on WhatsApp

5. Turn on Include videos.


Backup WhatsApp videos

6. Click on Back up over to choose what kind of network will be used for the backups. You have two options - WiFi and WiFi or cellular.


Backup WhatsApp to Google Drive

Note: You can also tap End-to-end encrypted backup > Create, then your WhatsApp backup will be secured by a password or 64-digit encryption key.

Here is how to restore your Google Drive WhatsApp Backup:

1. Uninstall WhatsApp.
2. Go to Google Play and install WhatsApp on your Android phone.
3. Open your WhatsApp.
4. Tap Agree and Continue and enter your phone number as requested for verification.


Agree and Continue to Restore WhatsApp Backup Google drive

5. Click Next > Continue > Allow > Restore.


Restore WhatsApp Backup From Google drive

6. All your WhatsApp chats will be restored to your Android phone.

Note: Restoring your WhatsApp via the uninstalling method on Android 11 or later versions will delete your local backup.

2. Backup WhatsApp to PC and Restore to Any Phone (The Easiest Way)

Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer is a professional tool designed for people who don't want to lose their WhatsApp chats in a phone switch.

This software backs up WhatsApp chats from Android or iPhone to a computer, which is useful when you want an extra copy outside Google Drive or iCloud before changing phones.

How to Backup WhatsApp to PC and Restore:

1. Launch Mobitrix WhatsAppTransfer. Click Transfer.
2. Connect your Android phone and iPhone to the PC. Click Transfer.
   

   Set up devices to start the WhatsApp transfer

3. Go to WhatsApp Settings and backup chats locally.
   

   Backup WhatsApp chats locally

4. Install the developer version of WhatsApp on your Android phone. Log in and tap Restore.
   

   Restore chats to the developer version of WhatsApp

5. WhatsApp Messages will be copied to the computer, converted, and restored by Mobitrix to your iPhone.
   

   Copy WhatsApp data to the computer

6. Your WhatsApp messages will be transferred from Android to iPhone.
   

   WhatsApp Transferred from Android to iPhone

You can also watch the video guide on how to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone:

3. How to Restore WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive to iPhone

If you ever backup WhatsApp chats to Google Drive, you'll also be able to use Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer to download your WhatsApp backup from Google Drive and restore it onto your iPhone.

Steps to restore WhatsApp chats from Google Drive to iPhone:

1. Click Back Up > Backup via Google Drive.


Transfer WhatsApp using Google Drive backup

2. Log into your Google Drive.


Log into your Google Drive

3. Select the backup history you need. Click Continue, and your Google Drive WhatsApp data will be downloaded to the computer right away.


Download Google Drive WhatsApp backup

4. Enter your Country Code and Phone Number. Click Verify.


Verify WhatsApp backup account

5. Once the download is complete, click Restore Now.
   

   Google Drive WhatsApp backup is ready

6. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.
7. Right-click your backup file. Tab Restore to phone > iPhone.


Restore Google Drive WhatsApp backup to iPhone

8. All your WhatsApp chats will be restored to the iPhone.


Restoring WhatsApp data to iPhone

4.How to Download Google Drive WhatsApp Backup on PC via whapa

whapa is a free tool that allows you to extract all those files of WhatsApp backup on Google Drive and download them on your computer.

Follow the instructions to learn how:

1. Download whapa and python3.8.10 to configure your computer settings.
2. Locate the file settings.cfg


Download Google Drive WhatsApp backup

3. Configure your Google drive username, password, and phone number.


Configure Google Drive account

4. View WhatsApp messages with the command python whagodri.py –i


View WhatsApp messages with the command

5. Download backup using the command: python whagodri.py -s -o data


Download WhatsApp backup using command

After that, you can inspect backup details such as backup time, database size, and how much space media files consume. That makes whapa more of an inspection or extraction tool than a simple consumer backup workflow.

5. How to Transfer WhatsApp between Android and iPhone without a PC

Chatrans is a top-rated pro app to transfer WhatsApp chats across platforms. This handy app can transfer WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business directly between your smartphones.

Before you start, prepare an OTG or USB-C to Lightning cable. A wired connection matters here because the transfer depends on both phones staying connected through the full setup flow.

Here is how to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone via Chatrans:

1. Launch Chatrans. Tap START.
2. Select a WhatsApp version. Tap Android to iPhone.


Transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone

3. Back up your WhatsApp data as instructed. Click Next.


Locate WhatsApp android backup

4. Enter your phone number for WhatsApp.


pair WhatsApp backup

5. Connect your Android and iOS device with an OTG/USB-C to Lightning cable.


Connect Android device and iPhone using cable

6. Tap Transfer Now on Chatrans.


Transfer WhatsApp data to iPhone

7. Once the transfer is complete, your iPhone will restart.
   

   WhatsApp transfer completed

Steps to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Android via Chatrans:

1. Tap START > iPhone to Android.
2. Connect the iPhone with your Android device using an OTG/USB-C to Lightning cable.


Connect Android device and iPhone using cable

3. Copy data from iPhone to Android.
4. Log in to WhatsApp.
5. Restore WhatsApp on your Android.

Pros

• A direct phone-to-phone option for cross-platform transfer when you do not want to involve a computer.
• Supports both WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business.
• No PC is required, which can make it more convenient for users who only have the two phones available.

Cons

• Transfer time depends heavily on chat size and media load, so large accounts can still take a while to finish.
• Requires an OTG/USB-C to Lightning Cable.

Don't you have a USB-C to lightning cable or an OTG cable? Well, use Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer on your PC instead. It requires a USB cable but is faster and more stable.

6. Backup and Restore WhatsApp Chats via Samsung Account

Besides Google Drive, some Samsung devices also expose backup and restore options through Samsung account settings. This is mainly useful for Galaxy users who want another same-ecosystem backup route.

Here is how to backup your WhatsApp chats via your Samsung Account:

1. Sign in to your Samsung account.
2. Open the Settings.
3. Tap Accounts and backup > Backup and restore > Backup data.


Backup WhatsApp via Samsung account

4. Choose WhatsApp and tap Backup.
5. Tap Done when the backup is finished.

Note: The steps work with devices running Android Pie and above. For previous versions of Android, check the Samsung instructions.

To restore or transfer your WhatsApp backup from Samsung Account:

1. Tap Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore >Restore data.


Restore WhatsApp via Smsung account

2. Select WhatsApp to restore/transfer.
3. Tap Install to restore your Apps screen and Home screen.

Pros

• The method is simple to test if you already use Samsung account backup on your Galaxy device.
• You do not have to uninstall WhatsApp from your device.
• It does not require you to connect to a computer.
• You get free storage of up to 15 GB with your Samsung Account.

Cons

• The method only works for Samsung devices.
• It is not a general Android-to-Android or Android-to-iPhone migration tool; it is mainly relevant inside the Samsung ecosystem.
• If your Samsung cloud storage is not enough for the backup size, you may still need to clear space or move to another backup option.

7. How to Backup WhatsApp Chats on iPhone to Samsung

If you are moving from iPhone to a Samsung phone, Smart Switch is one of the few built-in paths that can help during the initial setup stage.

The catch is that the transfer works best while the new Samsung is still being configured, and it still requires a wired connection between the two phones.

Here is how you can do it:

1. Connect your Samsung to your iPhone with an OTG/USB-C to Lightning Cable.


Connect With USB

2. Open Samsung Smart Switch and follow the steps as instructed.
3. Use your iPhone's camera to scan the QR code displayed on your Samsung.
4. Tap Start on your iPhone and wait for the process to complete.
5. Continue setting up your new Samsung.
6. When you reach the home screen, open WhatsApp and login into your account.
7. On your target Samsung phone, select an iOS device and choose whether you wish to transfer data from the device storage or iCloud.


Select IOS Device to Transfer Data

8. Tap Import when prompted, and allow the process to complete.


Import Data From iCloud

9. Finish activating your new device, and you'll see your chats waiting for you.

Note: This process does not bring over everything. Call history and some profile details, such as your display name, may still need to be set up again afterward.

8. Backup WhatsApp to Android Internal Storage and Restore

Backing up your chats in Android local storage is a better idea than Google drive as it does not require a strong internet connection. Besides this, Android backups and restoring procedures do not lag or get stuck like Google drive.

Here is how to backup WhatsApp to Android Internal Storage:

1. Go to the settings on your WhatsApp.
2. Open chats and locate backup.
3. Click on Back up to Google Drive, and select option Never from the list.


backup whatsapp to local storage

4. Click on the backup button to start the backup to your phone's internal storage.

Steps to restore your WhatsApp backup from Android internal storage:

1. Install WhatsApp on your Android phone, don't log in at this moment.
2. Tap Settings > About phone > Software information to check your phone's system version.


Restore WhatsApp steps

3. Find your backup folder on your Android phone(usually named 'WhatsApp,' if not, please modify it). The directory structure of the folder is as follows:
4. For Android 11 or higher: Move your 'WhatsApp' folder to the Android phone's sd card directory 'Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp'. Note: If the directory path does not exist, you need to create it manually.

   For Android 10 or lower: Move your 'WhatsApp' folder to the SD Card of your Android phone.

5. Open your WhatsApp, and also verify your phone number.


Launch WhatsApp and verify phone number

6. Click Restore when prompted to restore your data from the local backup


Restore backup from local back

After those steps, give WhatsApp time to rebuild the local chat database. Large media libraries can take longer even after the restore prompt completes.

Pros

• Backing up and restoring via Internal storage is easy and fast to process.

Cons

• Local backups are rotated on the phone, so they are better for short-term recovery than for long-term archiving.
• The restore path is more manual because folder placement, Android version, and file location all need to line up correctly.
• If you reinstall WhatsApp before moving or copying the backup correctly, you can lose the local copy you planned to restore from.

9. How to Backup WhatsApp to iCloud and Restore

You can store your iPhone WhatsApp backup in iCloud, but the free 5 GB tier fills quickly once chat media and videos are included. That makes backup size management important on iPhone too.

Here's how to backup WhatsApp on iPhone to iCloud:

1. Log in to Apple Account you use to access iCloud. Turn on your iCloud Drive.
2. Launch WhatsApp.
3. Tap Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.


trun on iCloud Backup

4. Turn on Include Videos to save your videos as well.
5. Tap Back Up Now to run a backup onto iCloud.


back up to iCloud

Steps to restore WhatsApp backup from iCloud to iPhone:

1. Uninstall WhatsApp.
2. Go to the Apple store and install WhatsApp on your iPhone.
3. Open your WhatsApp.
4. Tap Agree and Continue, and then Enter your phone number and iCloud ID for verification.


Launch WhatsApp to Restore Backup from iCloud

5. Tap Restore > Restore Now to restore from iCloud.


Restore WhatsApp from iCloud

6. All your WhatsApp chats will be restored to your iPhone.

Pros:

• It's WhatsApp's official solution for backing up and restoring WhatsApp on iOS.

Cons:

• If your chat and media size exceed the free 5 GB space, you will need more iCloud storage or a leaner backup with less media.
• If you're switching to Android, the iCloud backup is not a direct restore source there, so you will need a different migration route.

10. How to Backup WhatsApp Chats to PC and Restore via iTunes

You can also back up iPhone WhatsApp data to a computer through iTunes, but this is really a full-device backup method rather than a WhatsApp-only tool.

That matters because restore time, storage use, and backup size are tied to the whole iPhone, not just your chat history.

Steps to use iTunes to backup and restore your WhatsApp:

1. Ensure that the version of iTunes you're running on your computer and iPhone is up to date.
2. Now connect your iPhone to the computer using the device's lightning cable and open iTunes if it doesn't open automatically. Click on the 'Device icon' from the left-hand side.
3. Click on 'Back up Now' in iTunes to begin the backup process. Keep the device connected to the computer until the process is complete. Your WhatsApp messages will be included in the backup.


Back up Now

4. By clicking on Restore Backup, you can restore them to the iPhone.

Pros:

• Backing up through a computer avoids the free iCloud storage cap, which can help if your phone backup is already media-heavy.

Cons:

• You cannot target WhatsApp alone. iTunes backs up the whole iPhone, which consumes more computer space than a chat-only backup would.
• If your next phone is Android, an iTunes backup is still not a direct restore source for that move.

11. How to Backup WhatsApp via Email

Email export is a simple free way to save WhatsApp conversations on Android or iPhone, but it works better as a readable archive than as a full backup you can restore into the app later.

Here is how to backup WhatsApp chats using Email:

1. Open WhatsApp and choose the conversations you want to transfer.
2. Tap on 'Settings > More > Export Chat > Email' and choose whether you'd like to attach media or not.
3. Now, enter the email recipient, and tap Send.
4. Log in to the recipient email on your iPhone. You can download the attached chats and media.


Transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone using Email

That completes the export.

Note: the content is saved as a '.TXT' document, so you can read it later but you cannot import that file back into WhatsApp as an in-app chat restore.

Pros

• Easy to apply.
• Transfer WhatsApp chats for Free.

Cons

• The saved chats do not sync with the iPhone WhatsApp app.
• Only transfer one chat at a time.
• Takes ample time.

Compared to other solutions, using Email is straightforward, but it is quite time-consuming and you end up with a .txt file.