How to Backup WhatsApp Messages on iPhone and Android
Your WhatsApp chat history can be backed up for free from within the WhatsApp app by using Apple’s iCloud service on iPhone or Google Drive if you own an Android smartphone. The process for backing up WhatsApp messages is identical for both mobile operating systems. The WhatsApp chat backup is usually set to automatically backup your chat history in the background on a monthly basis but you can also manually make a backup whenever you like. Here’s how to do it.
How to Backup an Individual WhatsApp Chat History
If you just want to save messages from a single chat conversation with an individual or group, the Android and iPhone WhatsApp apps both support the option to send an entire chat thread to yourself or anyone else who wants a copy via an email or messaging app or via a cloud service such as Dropbox.
Why Back Up WhatsApp?
Unlike rival chat apps which store a user’s chat history on a company’s servers in the cloud, WhatsApp chats are saved locally to the device being used. While this does increase data security, it also means you may want to back up your chat history on a regular basis in case you break your phone or computer. On Android: Tap the icon which looks like three dots to open a menu and then tap More. On Android, the exported data will automatically be attached to an email which you can send either to yourself or someone else. A WhatsApp backup can also be used to restore conversations on a new device if you upgrade to a new Android smartphone or iPhone and don’t want to lose anything.
Can I Make a WhatsApp Chat Backup on Windows?
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to backup or export chats on the Windows WhatsApp app but this isn’t cause for alarm as the Windows version is essentially just a mirror of your main WhatsApp account which resides on your smartphone. The WhatsApp chat history on your desktop should be identical to the one on your iPhone or Android smartphone as they sync data in real-time. So to back up what you see on your computer screen, all you need to do is back up the chat history on the connected smartphone which is synced to the account in use in the Windows app.
Is it Possible to Backup WhatsApp Messages on the Web?
The web version of WhatsApp, which is available within most internet browsers, works in much the same way as the Windows app and just allows you to access an account that’s tied to a smartphone. As with the Windows WhatsApp app, to update a WhatsApp chat history from the web, you’ll need to create a backup via the associated Android smartphone or iPhone.
