It can be frustrating when your Samsung device is unable to properly back up your WhatsApp data. There are a few potential reasons why this issue may occur.
Insufficient Storage Space
One of the most common reasons for backup failures is not having enough available storage space on your device. WhatsApp backups can take up a significant amount of space, especially if you have a lot of media files and chat history stored. Here are some things to check:
- Open your phone’s Settings app and go to Storage to see how much free space you have available
- Delete unused apps, photos, videos, and other files to free up space
- Check that you don’t have a lot of cached data stored from apps and browsers and clear it out if needed
- Consider upgrading to a device with more internal storage capacity if needed
You typically need at least a few hundred MB of free space for WhatsApp to successfully back up your data. If your phone is constantly running out of storage, WhatsApp may not be able to complete the backup process.
Connection Issues
Your internet connection plays an important role in backing up WhatsApp. Backups are saved to the cloud, so you need a stable internet connection for the backup process to complete. Here are some connectivity checks you can make:
- Check that you have a strong WiFi or cellular data connection
- Try switching between WiFi and mobile data if one is not working properly
- Restart your router if on WiFi to refresh the connection
- If on mobile data, check you have a strong signal and cellular service is turned on
- Disable battery saver/power saving mode which can limit background data
Periodically backing up over a metered cellular connection can also use up a lot of mobile data. You may want to restrict WhatsApp backups to WiFi only if data usage is a concern.
Incorrect Backup Settings
Make sure your WhatsApp backup settings are configured correctly. Here are some backup settings to verify:
- Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and check that backups are enabled
- Select a backup frequency – daily, weekly, etc. More frequent backups will be more up to date but take up more storage
- Check that Include Videos is enabled if you want your media backed up
- You can exclude large files over a certain size limit from the backup if storage is limited
- Verify your Google Drive backup settings meet your preferences for frequency, WiFi only, and video inclusion
If your backup settings are not properly configured, your backups may fail or not contain the full data you want saved.
Corrupt Backup Files
In some cases, your WhatsApp backup files may become corrupted over time, preventing successful backups. Here are some ways to troubleshoot corrupt backup files:
- Force stop the WhatsApp app and clear its cache/data before trying to backup again
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp to start fresh
- Use a file manager to delete the WhatsApp folder from your phone’s internal storage or SD card
- Disable Google Drive backup, then re-enable it to upload a fresh backup file
- Try restarting your device to clear out any software issues
If the backup files themselves have errors, starting over with a clean WhatsApp install and new backup can often resolve backup problems.
Incompatible Android Version
WhatsApp may stop backing up properly if your Android version becomes too outdated. Here is the backup support for different Android versions:
| Android Version | WhatsApp Backup Support |
|---|---|
| Android 5.0+ | Fully Supported |
| Android 4.1 to 4.4 | Partial Support |
| Android 4.0 and below | No Support |
If your Android version is too old, certain WhatsApp features including backup may stop working correctly. Updating to a newer Android version can help resolve this.
Third-party Apps Interfering
Using certain third-party apps related to cleaning out storage or managing app data can sometimes interfere with WhatsApp’s ability to backup properly. Try troubleshooting by:
- Check if any cleaner or antivirus apps are stopping WhatsApp from backing up and add exceptions for WhatsApp
- Disable any third-party battery saver apps that may aggressively restrict WhatsApp’s background data
- Turn off any apps that clear out your app data or storage if they are deleting WhatsApp files
It’s a good idea to selectively disable other apps that might conflict with WhatsApp to see if backups start working properly again.
WhatsApp Verification Issue
If your phone number is unverified in WhatsApp, this can prevent backups from completing successfully. Here are some tips for verifying your number:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Account > Verification
- Check the status and verify your number if needed
- If verification gets stuck, try disabling and re-enabling your mobile data or WiFi
- Make sure to enter the correct country code when verifying your number
- You may need to contact your mobile carrier if unable to receive the verification SMS
Successfully verifying and activating your phone number in WhatsApp is required for full app functionality including backup services.
Factory Reset Without Backup
Performing a factory reset on your Samsung device without properly backing up WhatsApp can result in lost chat history and messages. Before resetting your device:
- Manually trigger a WhatsApp backup in Settings
- Check that the last WhatsApp backup date is current
- Backup other important phone data and files separately
- Double check Google Drive has a recent copy of your WhatsApp backup
Resetting your device deletes all local app data including WhatsApp. Ensure backups are up to date before proceeding with a factory reset.
Transferring to New Device
When migrating to a new Samsung device, you need to properly transfer your WhatsApp backup for full continuity:
- Backup WhatsApp on your old device before switching
- Use Samsung Smart Switch to transfer over apps and data
- Alternatively, manually move your WhatsApp backup file to the new phone
- On the new device, install WhatsApp and select to restore chat history
With proper backup and transfer steps, you can move to a new device without losing WhatsApp messages and history.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Samsung devices unable to properly backup WhatsApp involves checking for issues like insufficient storage, connection problems, incorrect settings, corrupt files, incompatible Android versions, third-party app conflicts, unverified numbers, improperly handled factory resets, and improper transfers to new devices. Following the troubleshooting tips outlined for each of these common backup problems can help you resolve backup issues and get WhatsApp reliably backing up your important chat data again.
