How can I backup my WhatsApp when my iPhone screen is broken?

Having a broken iPhone screen can be very frustrating, especially if you can’t access important data like your WhatsApp messages. The good news is that even with a cracked or broken screen, there are still ways to backup and restore your WhatsApp data.

Can I backup WhatsApp if my iPhone screen is broken or cracked?

Yes, you can still backup your WhatsApp messages and data even if your iPhone’s screen is cracked or broken. The key is to leverage iTunes or iCloud backups which don’t require you to actually use the iPhone’s screen or access the WhatsApp app directly.

Using iTunes Backups

One way is to connect your iPhone to a computer and do an iTunes backup. As long as the phone is still functioning and can connect to the computer, iTunes will be able to fully back up the device, including all your WhatsApp data.

Here are the steps to backup WhatsApp messages using iTunes:

Connect your iPhone to your computer using the USB cable.
Open iTunes on the computer.

Select your iPhone in the iTunes sidebar.
Go to the Summary tab and click “Back Up Now” to start a manual backup.
Wait for the backup to complete. This can take awhile depending on how much data needs to be backed up.

Your WhatsApp messages, media, and settings will all be included in this iTunes backup. Just make sure to encrypt your backups for an extra layer of security.

Using iCloud Backups

You can also leverage iCloud backups to save your WhatsApp data. As long as your iPhone is connected to WiFi, it will automatically backup to iCloud on a regular basis.

To make sure WhatsApp data is included, here are the steps:

Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud.
Make sure iCloud Backup is enabled.
Tap on “Back Up Now” to manually trigger a backup to iCloud.

Wait for the iCloud backup process to fully complete.

This will make sure your latest WhatsApp messages are saved in iCloud. You can check when your last successful iCloud backup was completed in the Settings.

How do I restore my WhatsApp data on a new iPhone?

Once you have a backup of your WhatsApp messages either in iTunes or iCloud, you can then restore and get back your WhatsApp data if you switch to a new iPhone or after fixing your broken screen.

Restoring from an iTunes Backup

If you have your WhatsApp messages backed up in iTunes, follow these steps to restore them on a new or repaired iPhone:

Connect your new iPhone to the computer with the iTunes backup.
Open iTunes and select your new iPhone.

Go to the Summary page and click “Restore Backup.”
Select the backup file you want to restore from. Make sure it’s the latest backup.
Click Restore and wait for the process to complete.

Your WhatsApp messages, history, media files will all be restored on your new iPhone.

Restoring from iCloud

For iCloud backups, follow these steps:

Set up your new or repaired iPhone and sign in with your Apple ID.

On the Apps & Data screen, tap “Restore from iCloud Backup.”
Select the desired backup file from the list.
Wait for the restore to complete.

Your iPhone will download the iCloud backup from the cloud and restore your WhatsApp data.

How to Transfer WhatsApp from Broken iPhone to New iPhone

If you’re switching to a completely new iPhone due to a broken screen, you can also transfer WhatsApp during the initial setup process using Quick Start.

Here’s how Quick Start works for WhatsApp:

Get your new iPhone set up and ready for activation.
Place the new iPhone next to your old iPhone that has the broken screen.
On your new iPhone, choose the option to set up your new phone and follow the prompts.

When asked, select “Move Data from Android or iPhone” and then choose your old iPhone from the list.
Tap Continue and follow the steps to transfer WhatsApp and other data.
Wait for Quick Start to fully transfer your WhatsApp messages and content.

As long as the old iPhone still turns on, Quick Start provides a fast way to move your WhatsApp data to a new iPhone without needing the old screen. You end up with the same WhatsApp account, messages, groups, and media on your new device.

Other WhatsApp Transfer Options

Aside from iTunes, iCloud, and Quick Start, there are also third-party apps that can transfer WhatsApp from one iPhone to another if you can’t use the above methods:

AnyTrans: This app lets you selectively move WhatsApp chats and history from one iOS device to another wirelessly.

MobileTrans: Allows direct phone-to-phone WhatsApp transfer between iPhones without the need for backups.
iMyFone iTransor: Can transfer WhatsApp and 50+ other apps data between iPhones with a simple click.

These third-party transfer tools provide alternative options if you can’t rely on iTunes, iCloud or Quick Start to move your WhatsApp contents.

Backup WhatsApp Media Files

In addition to backing up your WhatsApp chats and conversations, you’ll also want to make sure any media files sent and received on WhatsApp are backed up properly. This includes photos, videos, voice messages, documents and other files.

The best way to backup your WhatsApp media is to use a third-party app like AnyTrans or iMyFone iTransor. WhatsApp’s built-in backups do not include media by default due to their large size.

Here are some tips for backing up WhatsApp media:

Use AnyTrans or iMyFone iTransor to back up all WhatsApp media to your computer.
You can then transfer the WhatsApp media files to a new phone.
Connect your iPhone to your computer and directly transfer WhatsApp images and videos to your PC.

Manually save important WhatsApp photos/videos to your Camera Roll photo album.
Enable Google Photos to automatically back up all photos/videos including WhatsApp media.

Following these tips will make sure you have separate backups of your WhatsApp media files like photos, videos, documents, audio messages and more.

Conclusion

Here are some key takeaways for backing up and restoring WhatsApp when your iPhone’s screen is broken:

Leverage iTunes or iCloud backups to save your WhatsApp chats and history.
Use Quick Start to move WhatsApp to a new iPhone.

Rely on third-party apps for phone-to-phone WhatsApp transfer.
Make separate backups of WhatsApp media files.
Restore WhatsApp during new iPhone setup or from a backup.

With the right backup strategy, you can keep your WhatsApp data safe and recover it on a new iPhone even with a broken or cracked screen. Be diligent about regular backups so your WhatsApp messages and media are always protected.

Backup Method	Pros	Cons
iTunes Backup	Backs up full WhatsApp data Encrypts backup Stores on computer	Need working USB port Time consuming Doesn’t include media
iCloud Backup	Automatic backups Stores in cloud Easier to enable	Omits media files Space limits Needs WiFi
WhatsApp Transfer Apps	Transfers chats & media Works wirelessly Selective transfer	Slow for large files Reliant on app Paid versions

This comparison table summarizes the main pros and cons of using iTunes, iCloud or third-party apps to backup and transfer WhatsApp data from a broken iPhone. iTunes provides full backups but is slower while iCloud is more automatic but omits media. Transfer apps offer wireless selective transfers but can have limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still receive WhatsApp messages if my screen is broken?

Yes, you will still receive WhatsApp messages and notifications even with a broken screen on your iPhone. The messages will continue to be delivered to your account and device. However, you just won’t be able to open, view or respond to the messages until you fix the screen or restore your backup.

Do my WhatsApp backups include media files?

WhatsApp’s built-in backups through iTunes and iCloud do not include your media by default. Only your conversations and message history are backed up. You’ll need to use a third-party backup tool to include your WhatsApp photos, videos and other media files.

Can I restore WhatsApp if I lost my old iPhone?

If you lost your old iPhone but had an active iCloud backup, you can still restore and recover your WhatsApp messages on a new iPhone using that iCloud backup. Just make sure to restore during setup and your WhatsApp data will transfer from the cloud.

How do I transfer WhatsApp to a new Android phone?

To move your WhatsApp data from an iPhone to a new Android phone, you’ll need to use the Move to Android app from Google. This will transfer your WhatsApp messages as long as you have your old iPhone available. Media files may need to be moved separately.

Can I backup WhatsApp while my screen is blacked out?

If your iPhone’s screen is fully blacked out or non-functional, you cannot manually backup WhatsApp while in that state. You would need to be able to navigate the phone to enable backups. But any existing backups should still have your latest WhatsApp data.

Summary

Backing up WhatsApp when your iPhone’s screen is cracked or broken is very doable as long as the phone still turns on and connects to a PC or WiFi. Leverage iTunes or iCloud backups first, transferring media separately. Restore these backups to your new or repaired iPhone. Quick Start and third-party apps provide additional options to transfer WhatsApp and ensure you don’t lose valuable message history and conversations.