Quick Answer
There are a few different ways to backup your iPhone WhatsApp chats to your laptop:
- Use iCloud Backup – This backs up your WhatsApp chats along with all your other iPhone data to iCloud. You can then access and restore the WhatsApp backup from iCloud on your new device.
- Use iTunes Backup – Connect your iPhone to your laptop via USB and backup to iTunes. This will save a local backup on your laptop that includes WhatsApp data.
- Use WhatsApp’s Built-In Chat Export – Go into WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Export Chat. This will let you export chats to email or other apps.
- Use a Third-Party App – Apps like iMazing, iExplorer, PhoneView, etc. allow you to access and extract WhatsApp chats and media from iPhone backups.
Of these, iCloud and iTunes backups are the most comprehensive ways to backup your full WhatsApp data. The built-in WhatsApp export and third-party apps offer more selective ways to export chats.
In-Depth Steps
Here is a more in-depth look at the steps for each method:
Use iCloud Backup
- Make sure you are signed in to iCloud on your iPhone and have iCloud Backup enabled under Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Connect your iPhone to power and WiFi to trigger an iCloud backup. You can check backup status under Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- On your laptop, sign in to iCloud.com using the same Apple ID as your iPhone.
- Go to the iCloud Backup section and you will see the latest backup of your iPhone. Click on it to view contents.
- Navigate to Apps > WhatsApp to find your full WhatsApp backup data including chats, media, and documents.
- You can browse through the WhatsApp data and even download the files to your laptop.
Use iTunes Backup
- Connect your iPhone to your laptop using the USB cable.
- Open iTunes on your laptop and select your iPhone.
- Under Backups, click “This Computer” and then Backup Now to start a manual backup.
- When the backup completes, you will see the backup file date/time update.
- The iTunes backup folder location will vary by OS. On Windows it’s in a AppData > Roaming > Apple Computer > MobileSync > Backup folder. On Mac it’s in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup.
- Navigate to the iTunes backup folder on your laptop and locate the most recent backup.
- Right click on the backup file and select “Show Package Contents”.
- Drill down to AppDomain > Bundle > WhatsApp. This contains your WhatsApp chats, media, and documents.
- Copy out any WhatsApp files you need from this WhatsApp backup folder to another location on your laptop.
Use WhatsApp’s Chat Export
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and go to Settings.
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup > Export Chat.
- Select the chat you want to export and tap Export.
- Choose whether to export the chat With Media or Without Media.
- Select the export method – Email Chat or Save to Files.
- For email, enter the email address to send the chat to. For Files, allow WhatsApp access to Files.
- Tap Export to complete the process. Check your email or Files app to access the exported chat.
Use Third-Party Apps
Here are some popular apps for accessing iPhone/iTunes backups and exporting WhatsApp chats:
- iMazing – Connect your iPhone or access iTunes backups. Export individual WhatsApp chats or entire WhatsApp data.
- iExplorer – Browse and extract files from iTunes backups. Selectively export WhatsApp chats and attachments.
- PhoneView – Access iPhone/iTunes backups. Allows browsing and exporting WhatsApp database and media files.
- AnyTrans – Manage iPhone and iTunes backups. Can selectively recover WhatsApp chats and attachments.
The process will vary for each app but generally involves:
- Install and launch the app on your laptop.
- Connect your iPhone or access the iTunes backup.
- Navigate to the WhatsApp data files.
- Select the chats or files you want to export.
- Choose export location on your laptop to save the WhatsApp data.
Which Method Should I Use?
– Use iCloud or iTunes backup if you want a complete backup of your iPhone including WhatsApp. This preserves your full chat history.
– Use WhatsApp’s built-in export if you only need to transfer a few specific chats with or without media.
– Use a third-party app for more flexibility in browsing and selectively exporting WhatsApp chats and attachments.
– Avoid tools that claim to hack or decrypt WhatsApp chats as they may violate WhatsApp’s policies.
Important WhatsApp Backup Tips
- Regularly backup your WhatsApp chats – Automate iCloud backup or manually backup to iTunes periodically.
- Backups are stored securely – WhatsApp secures chat databases with encryption.
- Verify successful backups – After backing up, check WhatsApp is included in the backup.
- Lookout for large backups – Videos and media can make WhatsApp backups huge.
- Delete old backups – Prune iCloud Backup or old iTunes backups to save storage space.
- Private chats are excluded – WhatsApp excludes private/encrypted chats from backups.
- Update to latest WhatsApp version – Always run latest WhatsApp version for best performance.
- If migrating phones, use same number – When moving to a new phone, retain same number to restore chats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my WhatsApp chat history backed up on my iPhone?
Your WhatsApp chat history is automatically included in any iCloud or iTunes backups from your iPhone. To check, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups to see contents.
Do I need internet to backup WhatsApp chats?
For iCloud backup you need an internet connection as backups sync to iCloud. For iTunes backup to your computer, an internet connection is not required.
Can I restore WhatsApp if I get a new phone?
Yes, during new phone setup you can restore an iCloud or iTunes backup to bring over your WhatsApp data including entire chat history.
How do I export only some WhatsApp chats?
Use WhatsApp’s built-in Chat Export option or a third-party app like iMazing to selectively export only certain WhatsApp conversations instead of your entire chat history.
Can I view my iCloud WhatsApp backup?
On iCloud.com you can browse and view your full iCloud iPhone backup including WhatsApp chats, media files, documents etc. Download any files you need.
Conclusion
Backing up your iPhone WhatsApp chats ensures you have a saved copy of your chat history. iCloud and iTunes provide full backups while WhatsApp export and third-party apps allow more selective chat backups. Remember to backup regularly before migrating phones or reinstalling WhatsApp.