WhatsApp backups are an important way to save your chat history, media, and settings. A failed backup can be frustrating and lead to data loss if your phone is damaged, lost or replaced. Here are some common reasons why WhatsApp backups fail and steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issues.
Insufficient iCloud/Google Drive Storage
WhatsApp backups are stored in your iCloud account for iOS devices and Google Drive for Android. If you don’t have enough free storage space in your cloud account, the backup will fail.
– Check your available iCloud or Google Drive storage. You may need to upgrade your storage plan or free up space by deleting unused files and data.
– WhatsApp suggests having at least 1.5x the size of your most recent backup available as free storage. Clear old backups from your cloud account if needed.
– If your phone storage is full, delete apps, photos and videos to free up space so the backup can run.
Weak Internet Connection
WhatsApp backups require a stable internet connection to transfer and sync your data to the cloud. Slow, unstable or intermittent connections often cause failed backups.
– Connect your phone to a strong WiFi network or use mobile data if the WiFi is poor. Avoid public WiFi which can be unreliable.
– Check for any internet connectivity issues with your ISP if problems persist. Restart your phone and router if needed.
– Set backups to run when connected to WiFi to avoid mobile data limits and connectivity issues.
– Verify internet speed on your phone’s network connection. If consistently slow, contact carrier support.
Incorrect Backup Settings
The backup settings in WhatsApp can sometimes be incorrectly configured or disabled, leading to failed backups.
– Open WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup to check your backup settings.
– Ensure backup frequency is not set to ‘Never’ and backups are enabled.
– If backup size is set to zero, change to include media to back up your full chat history.
– Disable battery optimizations for WhatsApp which can interfere with scheduled backups.
– Check that your Google Drive or iCloud account is still linked properly in WhatsApp.
Outdated WhatsApp Version
Using an outdated version of WhatsApp can cause problems with backups in some cases. Keeping WhatsApp updated ensures maximum compatibility.
– Update to the latest version of WhatsApp from your phone’s app store.
– On Android, enable auto-update for WhatsApp in the Play Store settings. On iOS, enable auto-updates in your Apple ID account settings.
– Restart your phone after updating to allow changes to take effect. Check if backups now work normally.
Corrupt Backup Data
In rare cases, a corrupt backup file can prevent WhatsApp from backing up properly. This is often fixed by resetting and restarting the backups.
– Delete the existing backup data from your iCloud or Google Drive account.
– Force stop and clear cache/data for WhatsApp app, then restart phone.
– When opening WhatsApp again, it will create a fresh backup file to replace any corrupted data.
– If the issue persists, you may need to perform a factory reset on your phone to eliminate any corrupted residual data.
Incorrect Date/Time Settings
The date and time set incorrectly on your phone can interfere with scheduled backup processes. Always maintain correct settings.
– Go to Date & Time settings on your phone and set both to automatic network-provided values.
– If incorrect date/time persists, sync date and time from network by toggling Airplane mode on and off.
– Ensure accurate Timezone is set based on your location. Daylight savings time should adjust automatically.
– Check if any third party apps are causing override of default date/time settings on your device.
Disabled Background App Refresh (iOS)
On iOS devices, WhatsApp relies on background app refresh functionality to run backups when the app is closed. If disabled, backups will fail.
– Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and ensure WhatsApp is set to either Wi-Fi or WiFi & Mobile Data.
– Background App Refresh must be enabled for all apps for WhatsApp backup to work properly in the background.
App Failures or Crashes
If WhatsApp is repeatedly crashing or force closing on your phone, it may disrupt the backup processes leading to failed backups.
– Update WhatsApp to the latest version in case your version has a bug causing crashes.
– Restart your phone to eliminate any glitched processes disrupting WhatsApp.
– Clear cache and data for WhatsApp to remove corrupt files then reconfigure the app from scratch.
– Check for any OS or firmware updates available for your Android or iOS device and install them.
Jailbroken or Rooted Device
Jailbroken iOS or rooted Android devices can sometimes experience issues with WhatsApp backups and connectivity due to security changes.
– Consider unrooting/unjailbreaking your phone to restore original firmware if backups fail persistently.
– WhatsApp may block functions on modified devices in some situations due to security policies.
– Try using a different backup service other than iCloud or Google Drive which may be blocked.
Wrong Google Account Configured
On Android devices, WhatsApp can run into issues if trying to backup to a different Google account than your phone.
– Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and check the Google account configured.
– It should match the account your phone is set up with for seamless integration.
– Sign out then reconnect the correct Google account that matches your device.
Insufficient Device Storage
Your phone needs adequate free storage space for WhatsApp to create temporary backup files before uploading to the cloud.
– Check storage usage in phone settings. Delete unused apps, media files and downloads to free up space.
– Move photos, videos and other media to cloud storage rather than phone memory.
– WhatsApp may compress backups to save space if your device storage is almost full. Leave minimum 1-2 GB free.
Problems with SD Card (Android)
On Android, WhatsApp backup problems can occur if trying to save backups to external SD card. SD cards are not always reliable.
– Make sure backups are configured to save only to your main phone storage or Google Drive, not external SD.
– SD cards can sometimes become corrupted, so run error checks on the card using your phone’s built-in tools.
– Format your SD card to repair and restore proper file system structure to fix corruptions.
Third-party Apps Interfering
Some third party apps, launchers, cleaners or optimizers can disrupt the default WhatsApp backup processes and settings on Android.
– Try disabling or removing any suspicious apps that may be killing WhatsApp processes or clearing data.
– Perform a clean uninstall and reinstall of WhatsApp after removing other apps causing potential issues.
– WhatsApp backups should work normally if no other apps are improperly modifying files or settings.
Backup File Too Large
WhatsApp has a backup size limit of 2GB on Android. If your backup file exceeds this limit, the backup may fail to complete.
– Open WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup to check current backup size.
– Exclude media or clear old chats and messages to reduce backup size under 2GB limit.
– Take manual backups regularly to avoid backups becoming too large and unmanageable.
Solutions When WhatsApp Backups Repeatedly Fail
If the usual troubleshooting steps don’t resolve your backup issues, here are some solutions to force backups to work again when repeatedly failing:
Factory Reset Your Phone
As a last resort, a full factory reset will wipe your phone and allow WhatsApp to start backups from scratch. Backup phone data externally first.
Use WhatsApp Tools to Transfer Chats
You can use the Change Number or Share Chat History options in WhatsApp to manually transfer chats to a new device.
Export Chat History from iCloud Drive or Google Takeout
On iOS or Android, you can download your chat history files from the cloud to view previous messages.
Contact WhatsApp Support
WhatsApp technical support may be able to provide specialized troubleshooting tips or solutions for backup problems not fixed by standard methods.
Preventing Failed Backups
Once you have resolved your backup issues, follow these tips to prevent failed backups going forward:
– Maintain adequate free cloud storage and regularly clear old backups.
– Use strong WiFi for backups and ensure phone has sufficient storage.
– Configure backups to run only on WiFi if mobile data connectivity is poor.
– Periodically force manual backups to supplement automatic backups.
– Keep WhatsApp updated to latest version and maintain accurate date/time on your device.
– Avoid rooting/jailbreaking phone which can cause WhatsApp integration issues.
– Disable battery optimizations, automatic cache clearing or phone cleaner apps that may interfere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my WhatsApp backup get stuck at 100%?
If your WhatsApp backup gets stuck at 100% completion, it is likely caused by poor internet connectivity interrupting the backup before it finishes syncing to the cloud completely. Try switching to a better WiFi network or using mobile data instead to resolve this.
How can I speed up slow WhatsApp backups?
To speed up slow WhatsApp backups, connect to stable fast WiFi connection and disable battery optimizations for WhatsApp. Reduce backup size by excluding videos or clearing old chats, which speeds up the backup process.
Where are WhatsApp backups stored on Android and iPhone?
WhatsApp backups are saved in Google Drive for Android devices and iCloud Drive for iPhones. Ensure you have enough free storage in Google Drive or iCloud and that WhatsApp backup settings are configured correctly.
Why does my WhatsApp backup size keep increasing?
Frequent large media sharing and group messaging causes WhatsApp backup size to grow quickly over time. Manage backup size by changing chat history time, excluding large videos and taking regular manual backups to supplement automatic backups.
How do I restore WhatsApp backup from Google Drive?
On Android, install WhatsApp with the same phone number used for the backup. Tap Restore when prompted and select the Google Drive backup to restore your chats. Verify backup date and size before restoring.
Can I transfer WhatsApp backup from Android to iPhone?
Unfortunately, you cannot directly transfer WhatsApp backups between Android and iOS due to platform differences. You will need to use a third party data transfer app to move chat history between operating systems.
| Error Message | Possible Cause | Fixes |
|---|---|---|
| Backup could not be completed | Insufficient iCloud/Google Drive storage | Clear old backups, upgrade storage plan |
| Creating backup failed | Network connectivity issues | Switch to better WiFi, disable battery optimizations |
| Backup aborted: Too old version | Outdated WhatsApp version | Update WhatsApp to latest version |
| Backup corrupt | Damaged backup file | Delete backup and restart. Factory reset if needed. |
Conclusion
WhatsApp backups failing can lead to frustrating data loss, but the problem can usually be resolved by troubleshooting the most common causes. Ensure adequate cloud and device storage, stable internet connectivity, up-to-date app versions and correct settings to successfully complete backups. Additionally, prevent failed backups by regularly managing your backup size, running manual backups and avoiding device modifications. Contact WhatsApp support if you are still unable to resolve repeated backup failures through standard troubleshooting. With the right fixes, you can get your valuable chat history and data backing up properly again.