How to Restore WhatsApp from Backup to Android & iPhone

Updated on Jun 19, 2024 | by Woodward

Backing up your WhatsApp data is a worthwhile investment, ensuring it's never lost even if you lose your iPhone, drop it in the toilet, or experience data loss for any reason. Depending on where you back up your data and the phone model you're using, you can restore it through different methods.

PAGE CONTENT:

Part 1. How to Restore WhatsApp from Backup to iPhone
Part 2. How to Restore WhatsApp from Backup to Android

Part 1. How to Restore WhatsApp from Backup to iPhone

Here are four ways to restore WhatsApp backup to your iPhone:

Way 1. Restore WhatsApp from Local Backup to iPhone

While Google Drive is a convenient tool for backing up and restoring WhatsApp data, it may not always be helpful for iOS devices. If you're looking for a more flexible and easier backup and restore method, you might want to try using a professional WhatsApp backup and restore tool like Qiling MobiMover, which allows you to back up your WhatsApp chat history with one click and export or restore specific conversations or all chat at once.

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To transfer WhatsApp data from one phone to another or create a backup, follow these steps: Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup on your old phone. Select the type of backup you want and tap 'Backup'.
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If you've previously backed up your WhatsApp data using Qiling MobiMover, you can now restore it to your iPhone.

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Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable, then launch Qiling MobiMover, select "WhatsApp" and "Restore" from the options.

Step 2. Select the backup you want to restore WhatsApp from, check the target device, and click "Restore". A prompt will appear warning that WhatsApp data will be erased after restore, click "Restore" in the window to continue.

Step 3. Wait for the restore process to complete, which takes time based on the size of the backup.

Step 4. After backing up WhatsApp data, you can view the backup history in the WhatsApp app, specifically in the "Backup History" section, to confirm that the messages and attachments have been successfully backed up.

Way 2. Restore WhatsApp Chats from iCloud

If you've used an iPhone for a long time, you may have known that iCloud is a better option for WhatsApp data backup than Google Drive. If you've already made a backup with iCloud, here are the steps to restore this backup to your iPhone.

Step 1. To resolve the issue, delete WhatsApp from your device and reinstall it. This should resolve the problem.

Step 2. You'll need to set up your WhatsApp the first time you install it: Enter the same phone number that you used previously and log into the same iCloud account as before.

Step 3. The app will then detect all existing iCloud backups. To retrieve your chats, simply tap "Restore Chat History".

Way 3. Restore WhatsApp Backup from iTunes

To back up and restore WhatsApp data, you can use iTunes, which requires backing up your entire device. This method is suitable for users who plan to reset their iPhone/iPad or purchase a new device.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch iTunes.

Step 2. Tap "Trust this computer" on your iPhone if required.

Step 3. The user needs to click on their device icon in the upper left corner of the iTunes window.

Step 4. Click on "Summary" from the menu on the left side.

Step 5. Make sure "This computer" is ticked.

Step 6. Click "Restore Backup."

Step 7. You will be prompted to select a device to restore your data to, and then click "Restore" to proceed.

Restore WhatsApp from iTunes

 Notice:: Apart from the above-To recover WhatsApp data, you can either restore a specific backup or restore the entire device to its initial state, which will erase all data. You can do this by factory resetting your iPhone, setting it up, and then choosing to restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup. This method is irreversible and will erase all data on the device.

Way 4. Restore WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive to iPhone

To restore your WhatsApp chats from a Google Drive backup to a new iPhone, you'll need to follow a slightly complicated process. First, restore your WhatsApp backup to an Android device, and then export the chats from the Android device to your iPhone, as Google Drive is not compatible with the iOS platform.

To restore your WhatsApp backup from Google Drive to your iPhone, get both your Android and iPhone ready and follow the steps below.

Step 1. Restore WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive to Android

Install WhatsApp on your Android device.
Set your WhatsApp as you did before.
When you're on the "Restore backup" page, click the "Restore" button.

Step 2. Export Backup from Android to iPhone

Open WhatsApp on the Android.
To open the settings page, tap the dotted line on the top right of the screen.
From the drop-down list, click "Email Chat."
Select the individual or group chat that you want to export.
A window will appear asking you to select either "Without Media" or "Attach Media". You can choose the option that suits your needs.
After taking a screenshot of the Whatsapp chats, you can choose your preferred email app and send the chats to yourself or others.

Part 2. How to Restore WhatsApp from Backup to Android

There are two options for restoring WhatsApp from a backup: one is to restore from a local backup and the other is to restore from Google Drive.

Way 1. Restore WhatsApp from a Local Backup

If you have an SD card, WhatsApp messages will be backed up by default, allowing you to transfer them to another device. If not, conversations are stored in your device's internal memory at /sdcard/WhatsApp/, which you can transfer to another device using a computer.

Step 1. Download a file manager app on your Android device.

Step 2. Go to the sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases folder, which is where WhatsApp stores its database files, unless your data is stored on the internal storage instead.

Step 3. Rename your backup file to msgstore.db.crypt12 (the former is msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12). If your backup is made earlier, its name might be crypt9 or crypt10. If you're using a version of WhatsApp older than 2.

Step 4. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp > Set it up and tap "Restore" when prompted.

Way 2. Restore WhatsApp from Google Drive

If you're an Android user, you can restore your WhatsApp backup from Google Drive. First, make sure you've made a backup of your WhatsApp chat history. To do this, follow the steps to back up your chats. Once you've done this, you can restore the backup from Google Drive to your new device.

Step 1. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your device.

Step 2. Open WhatsApp and input your phone number. When prompted, tap "Restore" to restore your chats and media from Google Drive.

Step 3. After restoring, tap "Next" to access your WhatsApp chats on your phone.

The Bottom Line

To restore WhatsApp backup from Google Drive to an iPhone, there is no direct way to do so. Instead, you can restore the backup to an Android device first and then export it to your iPhone, or use a tool like Qiling MobiMover to simplify the process.

If you're an Android user, you have two options to restore your WhatsApp data: either from a local backup or from Google Drive.