In short: On Android, go to Settings, Chats, Chat backup, then choose where to back up and turn backups on. Restoring needs the same phone number and the same cloud account used for the backup. WhatsApp can’t restore chats for you, because chat history isn’t stored on its servers. Facts from WhatsApp’s Help Center, as of November 2026.
Where WhatsApp can back up
- WhatsApp cloud storage, on WhatsApp itself. It’s still being tested and may not be available to you yet.
- Your Google Account, on Android.
- iCloud, on iPhone.
How to turn on backups on Android
From WhatsApp’s steps:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings.
- Tap Chats, then Chat backup.
- Tap Cloud backup.
- Select WhatsApp or Google.
- Tap Turn on backups and follow the prompts.
You’ll need free space on your device, a stable connection and, for Google, an active Google Account with enough storage.
Automatic backups
In Chat backup, choose a daily, weekly or monthly schedule. You can also choose whether to include videos and whether to back up over mobile data.
How to restore your chats
WhatsApp says you must use the same phone number and cloud account that made the backup. Back up again before uninstalling WhatsApp or changing phones, then reinstall and follow the restore prompt during set-up.
If you’re keeping the same type of phone, WhatsApp’s transfer feature is another way to move your chats without a cloud backup.
Things that catch people out
- Only the latest Google backup counts. Each new one replaces the last, so you can’t restore an older copy.
- Old backups can vanish. Google may delete backups that haven’t been updated in five months.
- WhatsApp can’t help after the fact. Chat history isn’t on its servers.
- Bans lock backups. See what to do if your number is banned.
For a business team
A backup protects one phone’s chats. It doesn’t help when an employee leaves with the relationship, or when a manager wants to see what was said. With a team inbox, customer history stays with the business, and depending on your plan, you can export chats, messages, notes and tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Can WhatsApp recover my deleted chats? No. WhatsApp says it can’t restore chats for you, because history isn’t on its servers.
Can I restore a backup to a different number? WhatsApp says you need the same phone number that made the backup.
Does archiving a chat back it up? No. See WhatsApp archived chats.
Customer chats living on one phone? See how Risponse keeps history with the business.