The short answer
On Android, open WhatsApp › three-dot menu › Settings › Chats › Chat backup, choose your Google Account and a backup frequency, then tap Back up. On iPhone, go to WhatsApp › Settings › Chats › Chat Backup and tap Back Up Now, with iCloud Drive turned on. To restore, reinstall WhatsApp with the same number and account.
Your WhatsApp chats aren’t stored on WhatsApp’s servers, so if you lose or replace your phone without a backup, they’re gone. WhatsApp backs up to your Google Account on Android and to iCloud on iPhone.
Back up on Android
WhatsApp’s Help Center says you’ll need a Google Account on the phone and enough storage in it.
- Open WhatsApp and tap the three-dot menu › Settings.
- Tap Chats › Chat backup.
- Tap Back up to your Google Account (or Google Account / Back up to Google Drive on older versions) and choose a schedule other than Never, such as Daily.
- Choose the Google Account to back up to.
- Decide whether to include videos and whether to back up using mobile data.
- Tap Back up to make a backup now.
If the schedule is Daily, WhatsApp also saves to your Google Account each night after its local backup.
Back up on iPhone
- Make sure you’re signed in to iCloud and iCloud Drive is on in Settings › [your name] › iCloud.
- Open WhatsApp and tap Settings › Chats › Chat Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now.
- Tap Auto Backup and choose Daily, Weekly or Monthly.
- Choose whether to include videos.
Your iPhone’s iCloud storage must have room for the backup.
Protect your backup with encryption
In Chat backup, turn on End-to-end encrypted backup and create a password or 64-digit key. Store it safely, for example in your password manager. Without it, you can’t restore.
Restore your chats on a new phone
- Make sure the backup is on the same Google Account (Android) or same Apple Account (iPhone) as the new phone.
- Install WhatsApp and verify the same phone number.
- When asked, tap Restore and wait for it to finish.
If the backup won’t work
- Check you have enough Google or iCloud storage. See how to free up Google storage.
- Use a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- Update WhatsApp and your phone’s software.
Related guides
Want a backup of the rest of your phone too? See how to back up your iPhone or how to back up an Android phone. You can also use WhatsApp on your computer.
The bottom line
Turn on daily automatic backups in Settings › Chats › Chat backup, check that the last backup time is recent before you change phones, and keep your encryption password safe.
Frequently asked questions
Do WhatsApp backups include photos and videos?
Photos are included, and you can choose whether to include videos. Videos make backups much larger and slower.
Can I move WhatsApp chats between iPhone and Android?
Yes, but not through a normal cloud backup, since iPhone uses iCloud and Android uses Google. WhatsApp offers a chat transfer option when you set up a new phone; follow the in-app steps or WhatsApp's Help Center.
Can I protect my backup with a password?
Yes. Turn on end-to-end encrypted backup in Chat backup settings and set a password or encryption key. Don't lose it: without it, WhatsApp can't restore your backup.
Why you can trust this guide
- Based on official sources. The steps here are checked against the 2 official sources listed below, such as the help pages of the companies involved.
- Checked and dated. Last checked on November 10, 2026. We update guides when software or advice changes.
- Independent. No company paid for or reviewed this guide. We don't sell products, and ads never influence our advice.
- Open to corrections. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it. Read how we research.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help Center — How to back up your chat history (Android)
- Apple Support — How to back up your iPhone or iPad
This guide is general information. Menus and features can change with software updates, and steps may differ on your device or version. Back up important data before making big changes. Read our disclaimer.
