How to restore contacts via WhatsApp on Android - briefly?
To restore contacts via WhatsApp on Android, you need to ensure that your contacts are backed up to Google Drive. When setting up WhatsApp for the first time or after a reinstallation, the app will automatically detect and prompt you to restore these contacts from your Google Drive backup.
How to restore contacts via WhatsApp on Android - in detail?
Restoring contacts via 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 Your Contacts: The first step is to ensure that your contacts are backed up. By default, WhatsApp backs up your chats, media, and settings to Google Drive. However, this does not include your contacts list. To back up your contacts, go to your Android device's Settings > Accounts > Google > Contacts Sync. Make sure the sync option is turned on.
- Install WhatsApp: If you haven’t already installed WhatsApp, download it from the Google Play Store and set it up with your phone number. During the setup process, WhatsApp will automatically search for any existing backups in Google Drive.
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Restore from Backup: When prompted, choose to restore your chat history from a backup. This will include all of your previous messages but not your contacts list. To restore your contacts, proceed as follows:
- Once WhatsApp is set up and you’ve restored your chats, go to the app’s settings by tapping on the three dots in the upper right corner and selecting “Settings.”
- Navigate to “Chats” > “Chat Backup.” Here you can see when your last backup was created.
- To restore contacts specifically, you need to ensure that your phone's contact list is synced with Google. Go to your phone’s Settings > Accounts > Google and make sure the Contacts option is turned on for syncing.
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Merge Contacts: If you have multiple accounts (e.g., Google, Exchange) set up on your device that contain contacts, it's possible that your contacts are not merged. To merge them:
- Go to your phone’s Settings > Accounts > Google > People & Sharing Services.
- Tap on “Manage Contacts” and then select “Merge Contacts.” This will combine all the contacts from different accounts into a single list.
- Verify Restoration: After following these steps, open WhatsApp and check if your contacts have been restored. You should see all your previous chats along with your contact list.
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Troubleshooting: If you encounter any issues during the restoration process:
- Ensure that your Google account is up to date and has sufficient storage for backups.
- Check if there are any conflicting settings or apps that might be interfering with the contact sync process.
- Restart your device after performing these steps to ensure all changes take effect.
By following these detailed steps, you should be able to successfully restore your contacts via WhatsApp on an Android device.