WhatsApp doesn't store chat backups on its servers. WhatsApp uses iCloud on iPhone and Google Drive on Android to backup your chat data. The entire backup process can take a long time and sometimes fails. Here's how to fix WhatsApp iCloud backup not working.
Failure to back up WhatsApp to iCloud can prevent you from upgrading to a new iPhone. After all, you don't want to leave those precious messages behind when you upgrade to a new iPhone model.
1. CHECK ICLOUD STORAGE
WhatsApp has struck a deal with Google. To exclude WhatsApp chat backups from your default Google Drive storage. That is, a 5GB to 6GB WhatsApp chat backup will not count against your primary Google Drive storage.
The company has no such arrangement with Apple. Every megabyte of your WhatsApp data will count toward your iCloud storage.
iCloud storage comes with only 5GB of storage to start with. If you don't have enough iCloud storage, you may need to go further and subscribe to one of the iCloud+ plans.
Aside from the extra storage space, you also get privacy benefits like: Hide my email and Private Relay.
If you want to check how much data WhatsApp will need to complete the backup process, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open an app WhatsApp on the iPhone.
Step 2: go to the Settings Open the menu Chats.
Step 3: Locate Chat backup.
Step 4: Check the total size of your WhatsApp backups from the following list.
2. Enable WhatsApp in iCloud Backup
This is ideal for restoring a full iPhone data backup using iCloud. You need to enable WhatsApp for iCloud for the service to back up the instant messaging app along with other app data.
Step 1: Open an app Settings on your iPhone.
Step 2: Go to List identification file and select iCloud.
Step 3: Scroll down and enable the toggle. WhatsApp for iCloud.
3. Keep WhatsApp open during the backup process.
Although the background process of the app has improved with the latest iPhones, you still encounter occasional errors when the app is not actively running.
You can manually backup your WhatsApp data to iCloud and keep the app open all the time to make sure of an error-free process.
Step 1: Open WhatsApp on iPhone and go to Settings.
Step 2: Locate Chat Open the menu Backup chat.
Step 3: Click on an option Backup Now keep the app open During the backup process.
If you go home and lock your iPhone, the process may stop in the background.
Make sure you have a high-speed internet connection, as it may take some time before the backup process can be completed.
4. Disable videos from iCloud Backup
If you tend to receive a lot of videos on WhatsApp, the total backup size may increase significantly. If videos aren't important to you, you can exclude them from your iCloud backup and try again.
Step 1: go to the WhatsApp Settings Open the menu Chat.
Step 2: Locate Backup To chat and disable the option Embed videos.
In our case, the backup size was approximately 4.15 GB without videos. With videos enabled, the size increased to 6.5 GB.
5. Check iCloud status
iCloud isn't the industry standard when it comes to reliability. If iCloud servers are down, WhatsApp won't be able to back up your chat data to the cloud.
You can visit Apple's System Status page and make sure that iCloud Backup has a green indicator.
6. Backup using iTunes
If you don't want to pay for iCloud plans, iTunes may be the best option. You won't be able to selectively back up WhatsApp data alone. You'll need to back up your iPhone and store it on a computer.
If you are facing Trouble keeping iPhone connected On your computer, read the troubleshooting guide designed to fix the issue.
Save WhatsApp data to iCloud
There are plenty of third-party software solutions on the web that promise to backup/transfer WhatsApp chats with one click. Before using paid apps, try the above tricks and fix the WhatsApp iCloud backup not working issue. Which troubleshooting method worked for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
