How to Transfer Your WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive to iCloud in 2024

How Does a Third-party Transfer Tool Work?

Just so you know, WhatsApp doesn't allow you to switch data across board if you're changing operating platforms completely. Therefore, iPhone users can only back up and restore their WhatsApp data using iCloud, while Android users must use Google Drive for these actions.

A third-party tool, however, works by helping you transfer WhatsApp backup from Google Drive to iCloud in 3 simple phases.

To show you how it’s done, I’ll take Mobitrix as an example, since this software is free to download and backup WhatsApp data, and very easy to use. You can even try it out, following this article.

Restore WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive to Your Android Device

Before you transfer WhatsApp backup from Google Drive to iCloud, you’ll need to first restore it to your current Android device from Google Drive.

Here’s how to go about it:

1. Uninstall the WhatsApp package on your Android device and then re-install.
2. Open WhatsApp on your Android device and follow the on-screen prompts that come up to set up WhatsApp and also confirm your phone number.
3. Click on “Restore” when prompted in the next window to start restoring the backup to your device.
4. Once the restoration process is complete, tap “Next” to continue and finish setting up WhatsApp.

Note: You must use the same phone number that you used in creating the backup, not a different phone number.

Here’s what you’ll need to succeed during this phase. Otherwise it would be almost impossible for you to move ahead with restoring your WhatsApp backup from Google Drive:

• Adequate Storage: Google drive has made it possible for you to store large data files up to 15GB for free but if you don’t have enough storage, the process of restoring your WhatsApp backup would get disrupted.
• An Activated Phone: You’ll need to activate your phone with your connected email address and password. You’ll also need to ensure that you’re using and have access to the same Google account and original phone number for your WhatsApp account.

Use Mobitrix to Transfer WhatsApp Backup from Your Android to the iPhone

To make this phase super easy, usually we’ll need a third-party transfer alternative for moving our WhatsApp data between devices whether they’re run by the same cloud services or not.

Now I am just going to demonstrate this step with Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer .

Step 1: Download and install Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer to your computer.

Step 2: Connect both the Android device and the iPhone to your computer using USB cables. Then, wait for the program to detect both devices.

Step 3: Click on “Transfer” to begin the transfer process when you’ve confirmed that the devices are connected and in their right order.

Note: Keep the devices connected to your computer until the transfer process is complete. Once the transfer process is complete, all your WhatsApp messages will be immediately made available on your iPhone.

What to Look for in Selecting a Third-party Transfer Tool?

Knowing the importance of a third-party transfer tool is not enough. You still need to make sure that you can find one that really suits your needs .

Based on my survey of 1876 iPhone new users as well as my personal experience, I find these factors are important to consider in using a third-party transfer solution, to transfer whatsapp backup from Google Drive to iCloud:

• Whether it is simple to use: It sucks when you pay for a tool that’s supposed to give you a quick fix, but in the end requires you to become a coding expert, with knowledge of different data formats to use it. And you’ll have to spend time researching how to do it, because there are no good tutorials offered.
• Whether it can transfer all your chats, files & attachments:Some tools only transfer your WhatsApp chat from the past 3 months, or only support migrating messages, not videos or files. Some even put restrictions on the way you transfer files, like one contact after another. Some only allow you to view the data in TXT format. They are all horrible experiences to avoid.
• Whether it provides FREE backup for WhatsApp: Backing up our WhatsApp data should never be a costly thing. Better look for an alternative with no limits on the storage capacity for all your memorable WhatsApp messages.
• Whether it can protect your privacy: How can anyone bear the shivers running through the spine, when knowing their secret photos, chat history, videos and business secrets are leaked online, during the transfer? You have to make sure that the tool you choose stores your phone data on your computer only, so it won’t be shared around.
• Whether it supports your phone model: No matter how amazing a third-party tool is, in terms of data range, size and security, if it doesn’t support your model, it’s a wasted effort. Be sure to make this a priority.

I am still in the process of testing more tools for now, but Motribix WhatsApp Transfer looks like the most reliable one so far.

It’s very simple to use, with free video tutorials, and has helped me transfer all my chat history, like files, video, voice recordings, stickers, onto my new iPhone in a much shorter period than other similar products. Additionally, it stores my data on my own computer only.

Some of my readers tried it as well and gave good feedback. You can take a try if needed.

Transfer WhatsApp Data from the iPhone Back to WhatsApp and Back-up to iCloud

Now that you’ve successfully transferred your WhatsApp messages and files to your iPhone, it’s time to back them up to iCloud:

Making this phase the final, successful step in completing the process of transferring your WhatsApp backup from Google Drive to iCloud.

1. First, ensure that your iPhone is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network and that it’s also well charged. Next, open the Settings on your iPhone and tap on your name.
2. Scroll down to locate “iCloud” and tap on it. Then, tap on “iCloud Drive” to turn it “On”.


enable icloud backup iphone

3. Sign in to your iCloud account if you aren’t already signed in. If you are signed in, skip this step to the next.
4. Go back to Settings > iCloud and the turn-on "Backup iCloud" section to select “Backup now”. Immediately, your device will begin to back-up all the data on your device including your WhatsApp data.


transfer whatsapp to iphone via icloud

Once this backup process is complete, all the data that was originally on your Google Drive account will be made available on your iCloud account.

Now, you can restore the backup to your iPhone if you need to.

Extra Tips: How Can You Free up Space on iCloud without Buying More Space

As I kept using WhatsApp, my iCloud backup kept expanding.

All the gifs, stickers, videos, etc generated logged up my iCloud space faster than expected. I couldn’t even make extra space for other important data.

You probably have had similar experiences too. It’s just way too common to avoid.

My solution before was just to delete some files or buy more iCloud storage.

Yet recently while I was testing Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer, I was surprised to discover that it actually has an add-on allowing me to backup data on my private computer for free.

In this case all my privacy wouldn’t risk being released or shared, and thus staying protected.

And I could choose which period’s data I want to backup.