WhatsApp Backup and Restore: Move Chats to a New Phone Safely

To move WhatsApp to a new phone without losing chats, make a fresh backup on the old phone, install WhatsApp on the new one using the same phone number, and tap Restore when WhatsApp offers it. On Android the backup goes to your Google Account, and WhatsApp says it can only restore chats from the last successful backup. Do the backup immediately before the switch, because anything sent afterwards is not included.

Who this is for and what you will have at the end

This is for anyone replacing or resetting a phone who wants their WhatsApp chat history and media on the new device. At the end you will have a current backup, a restored WhatsApp on the new phone, and a short list of the limits that explain most "missing chats" problems. The Android steps below come from WhatsApp's Help Center pages on backing up to a Google Account and restoring a chat history. For iPhone, only the general rules WhatsApp publishes are described, so follow WhatsApp's own iCloud page for the exact menu steps on your iOS version.

Before you start

• Keep the same phone number. WhatsApp says the number used for backing up and the one used for restoring must be the same. Keep the SIM, or the number, available for the verification step.
• Check Android requirements. WhatsApp lists a Google Account activated on your device, Google Play services installed, enough free space in your Google Account, enough free space on your device to create the backup, and a strong and stable internet connection.
• Use Wi-Fi. Backup size varies and may use mobile data, so connect to Wi-Fi to avoid possible charges.
• Do not wipe the old phone yet. Keep it until the new phone shows your chats.

Step 1: Back up on the old Android phone

Turn on Google Account backup

WhatsApp's steps are:

1. Go to WhatsApp Settings.
2. Tap Chats, then Chat backup.
3. Tap Cloud backup.
4. Select Google.
5. Tap Turn on backups and follow the prompts.

Choose automatic backup settings

1. Go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup, then Back up.
2. Choose a schedule other than Never or Only when I tap "Back up."
3. Select the Google Account to back up to. If none is connected, add one when prompted.
4. Choose whether to turn on Include videos in chats, Back up using cellular, and the status archive option.

WhatsApp notes that with a Daily schedule, chats are saved to your Google Account every night after the local backup.

Run a manual backup before switching

1. Go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup.
2. Tap Back up.

Do this last thing before you move to the new phone. If you want videos on the new phone, make sure Include videos in chats is on before this backup, because WhatsApp says videos are restored only if that option was on before the latest backup.

Switch the Google Account if needed

Go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup, then Google Account. Tap Add account, sign in to the account you want, then tap Back up and choose an interval.

What the backup covers

The backup contains your chats and, depending on your settings, media. Check WhatsApp's Help Center for exactly what is and is not included, as this can change between versions.

Step 2: Restore on the new Android phone

1. Install WhatsApp and open it. Verify the same phone number.
2. If a backup is found, tap Restore when prompted. Do not tap Skip if you want your old chats.
3. If asked for a verification code, wait for the text or call. WhatsApp says you may need a code unless you have enabled two-step verification or end-to-end encrypted backups.
4. Keep WhatsApp open until your chats appear. WhatsApp says messages restore first, and media restores in the background.

To confirm a backup exists on the old phone before you reinstall, go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup. The time and size of your last backup appear there if one exists.

Requirements for a successful restore

Limits that explain missing chats

• New messages are not included. Messages sent or received after the latest backup cannot be restored.
• One backup per account. WhatsApp keeps only one backup. Do not create a new backup, delete the existing one or factory reset while you are trying to recover missing chats.
• Android backups are tied to the phone's last successful backup. WhatsApp says chats and media can only be restored from the last successful backup that occurred on your Android.
• Your Google Account or WhatsApp cloud storage is the route. WhatsApp describes these as the only way to recover your backup or move it to another Android phone.

iPhone notes

On iPhone, WhatsApp backs up to iCloud, and its Help Center describes the same pattern: the backup can only be restored with the same phone number and the same iCloud account, and a new backup replaces the previous one. Check that you have enough free space in iCloud and on the phone, because a restore needs room for the backup. The menu for creating a backup is under WhatsApp Settings, then Chats, then Chat Backup. If you use an end-to-end encrypted backup, keep the password or key safe, as you will need it to restore.

Open WhatsApp's iCloud backup page and compare the steps with your iOS version before you rely on them.

Moving between Android and iPhone

WhatsApp, Apple and Google each publish pages on moving chat history between Android and iPhone. These flows normally require the same phone number, a cable or a setup tool, and doing the transfer before you open WhatsApp on the new phone. Because the exact steps depend on the phones and software versions, use the vendor pages rather than a generic guide, and keep the old phone untouched until you have confirmed the transfer.

Verification

1. On the new phone, open WhatsApp and scroll through a few chats to confirm recent messages are present.
2. Open a chat with photos and check that media is appearing. It may take time because media restores in the background.
3. Check your groups and communities are listed.
4. Go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup and set up backup on the new phone so future chats are protected.
5. Only after all this, consider erasing or selling the old phone.

Troubleshooting

• No backup found on the new phone. Confirm you used the same phone number and the same Google Account, and check that a backup exists on the old phone under Chat backup.
• Restore is partial or fails. Free up space on the phone. WhatsApp says the phone needs more free space than the backup size.
• Chats are missing after restore. Check the date of the last backup. Anything after that cannot be restored.
• Videos missing. They are restored only if Include videos in chats was on before the latest backup.
• Verification code does not arrive. Check the SIM is active and has signal, and request the code again.

Run backups regularly rather than only at switch time, so the last backup is never far behind.

Checklist

• Keep the same phone number and SIM for the new phone.
• Connect to Wi-Fi and plug in the old phone.
• Turn on Include videos in chats if you want videos restored.
• Run Settings, Chats, Chat backup, Back up.
• Install WhatsApp on the new phone, verify the number and tap Restore.
• Keep WhatsApp open until messages appear, then give media time to finish.
• Set up backup on the new phone, and keep the old phone until you are sure.

For the wider phone move, see Back up an Android phone and restore it on a new one and iPhone backup: iCloud vs computer.

References

• WhatsApp Help Center, How to back up to a Google Account (Android): https://faq.whatsapp.com/android/chats/how-to-back-up-to-google-drive
• WhatsApp Help Center, How to restore your chat history (Android): https://faq.whatsapp.com/android/chats/how-to-restore-your-chat-history
• WhatsApp Help Center, How to back up to iCloud: https://faq.whatsapp.com/180225246548988/?locale=en_US
• WhatsApp Help Center, Can't transfer chat history: https://faq.whatsapp.com/1039228717453239