How to restore chats in WhatsApp on Android - briefly?
To restore chats in WhatsApp on Android, you need to ensure that your conversations are backed up regularly. If you've lost your chat history, reinstalling the app and using the backup feature can help retrieve your messages.
How to restore chats in WhatsApp on Android - in detail?
Restoring chats in WhatsApp on an Android device can be a straightforward process if you follow the correct steps. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it:
Backup and Restore Using Google Drive
WhatsApp automatically backs up your chats to Google Drive every day at 2 AM. To restore these chats, follow these steps:
- Uninstall WhatsApp: First, uninstall the WhatsApp application from your device. This is necessary because the restoration process requires a fresh installation of the app.
- Reinstall WhatsApp: Go to the Google Play Store and reinstall WhatsApp on your device.
- Open WhatsApp: Once installed, open WhatsApp. You will be prompted with the terms and conditions screen. Accept them to proceed.
- Verify Your Number: Enter your phone number when prompted. This should be the same number you used for WhatsApp previously.
- Restore from Backup: After verifying your number, WhatsApp will automatically look for backups in Google Drive. If a backup is found, you will see an option to restore it. Tap on "Restore" to proceed with the restoration process.
- Wait for Restoration: The restoration process may take some time depending on the size of your chat history and the speed of your internet connection. Wait patiently until WhatsApp completes the restoration.
- Complete Setup: After the restoration is complete, you can proceed with setting up your profile picture, name, etc., just as you did when you first installed WhatsApp.
Manual Backup and Restore
If for some reason you didn’t have automatic backups enabled or if you want to manually back up your chats, follow these steps:
- Create a Manual Backup: Open WhatsApp, go to the menu (three dots in the upper right corner), select "Settings" > "Chats" > "Chat backup". Tap on "BACK UP" to create a manual backup. This will be stored locally on your device.
- Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp: Follow the same steps as mentioned above to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Open WhatsApp: Open WhatsApp after reinstalling it and follow the setup process until you reach the screen that prompts you for a backup restore.
- Restore from Local Backup: If WhatsApp finds a local backup, it will prompt you to restore it. Tap on "RESTORE" to proceed with the restoration.
- Wait for Restoration: Similar to the Google Drive method, wait until the restoration process is complete before proceeding with setting up your profile.
Tips and Precautions
- Ensure that your Google account is properly set up on your Android device for the Google Drive backup to work seamlessly.
- Make sure you have enough storage space in your Google Drive to accommodate the WhatsApp backup.
- If you are switching from an iPhone to an Android device, note that transferring chats directly between these platforms is not supported by WhatsApp. You would need to use a third-party service or manually transfer important data.
By following these steps, you should be able to successfully restore your WhatsApp chats on an Android device and continue your conversations seamlessly.