WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, used by over 2 billion people worldwide. It allows users to easily communicate with friends, family and coworkers through messaging, voice and video calls. One of WhatsApp’s key features is the ability to backup chats to cloud storage like Google Drive and iCloud. This allows you to restore your chat history if you ever lose your phone or switch devices. However, sometimes users encounter the frustrating “Backup not found” error message in WhatsApp, preventing them from restoring their chat backups. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore all the potential reasons why WhatsApp can’t find your backup and show you how to fix the problem on both Android and iOS devices.
Why Does WhatsApp Say “Backup Not Found”?
There are a few common reasons why WhatsApp might fail to locate your backup when you try to restore chats on a new device:
- Your internet connection dropped while the backup was in progress.
- Your backup is stored in a different cloud service than you’re checking.
- Your backup is outdated and WhatsApp can no longer locate it.
- There’s a technical issue or glitch preventing WhatsApp from finding the backup.
- Your phone lacks enough storage space for the backup.
- Your Google/iCloud account credentials changed since the last backup.
Understanding the cause of the “Backup not found” message is key to resolving the problem. Let’s look at the most common reasons in more detail:
Unstable Internet Connection
WhatsApp requires an active internet connection to backup and restore your chat history. If the internet drops out mid-backup, it can cause errors and prevent WhatsApp from completing the backup properly. Partially uploaded backups may fail to sync with Google Drive or iCloud, leading to the “Backup not found” message.
Wrong Backup Location
WhatsApp gives you the option to backup your chats to either Google Drive (for Android users) or iCloud (for iPhone users). If you recently switched between Android and iOS, or changed your backup location, WhatsApp may be looking for your backup in the wrong cloud storage service.
Outdated Backup
Your WhatsApp backups can become outdated over time. WhatsApp maintains only the most recent backup. If you haven’t backed up your chats in over a month, your previous backups may have been deleted from Google Drive or iCloud to free up space. In this case, WhatsApp won’t be able to find the outdated backup when you try to restore.
Technical Issues
In some cases, a bug or glitch in WhatsApp’s servers may prevent the app from retrieving your backup properly even though it still exists. Server outages or changes to WhatsApp’s backup procedures can also sometimes lead to the “Backup not found” message.
Insufficient Phone Storage
WhatsApp requires free local storage space on your phone to create a backup of your chat history. If your phone is completely out of storage, WhatsApp can’t create a new backup to sync to the cloud. This will result in errors when trying to restore your chats on a new device.
Changed Cloud Account Credentials
Your WhatsApp chats are linked to the Google Drive or iCloud account configured in your phone’s settings. If you changed your account password or authentication credentials since your last backup, WhatsApp may no longer be able to access your cloud storage to locate the backup.
How to Fix “Backup Not Found” Error on Android
If you can’t restore your WhatsApp backup on a new Android phone, here are some troubleshooting steps to resolve the “Backup not found” error:
Check Your Internet Connection
Make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. Backup and restore requires internet access. Try disconnecting and reconnecting to refresh the connection.
Verify Backup Location
Confirm WhatsApp is configured to backup your chats to the correct Google Drive account:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Backup Account and make sure the right Google account is selected.
Manually Backup Chats
Attempt to manually backup your chats to Google Drive:
- In WhatsApp go to More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Tap Back Up to force a manual backup.
Clear Cache & Data
Wipe the app’s data and cache to eliminate any corrupted files:
- Go to Android Settings > Apps.
- Select WhatsApp > Storage > Clear Data and Clear Cache.
Update Google Drive App
Make sure you have the latest version of the Google Drive app installed. Older versions may have compatibility issues.
Free Up Phone Storage
Check that your Android device has at least 100-200 MB of free internal storage available. WhatsApp requires free space to create backups.
Re-login to Google Account
If your Google account credentials changed recently, log out and back in to WhatsApp:
- In WhatsApp go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Backup Account > Remove Account.
- Then tap Backup Account again and re-enter your Google credentials.
Contact WhatsApp Support
If all else fails, contact WhatsApp directly via in-app support or Twitter for further troubleshooting assistance.
Fixing “Backup Not Found” on iPhone
For iPhone users seeing the “Backup not found” message, here are some things to try:
Ensure Stable Internet
As above, you need an active Wi-Fi or mobile data connection for WhatsApp chat backups. Make sure your internet is working properly.
Check iCloud Settings
Verify WhatsApp is configured for the correct iCloud account:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Backup Account and confirm the right iCloud account is set.
Force Manual Backup
Try forcing a manual backup of your chat history:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now to instantly back up chats.
Update to Latest iOS Version
Ensure your iPhone is running the latest iOS software version. Older iOS versions may have WhatsApp integration issues.
Restart Your iPhone
Power your iPhone down completely and restart it to eliminate any temporary glitches.
Re-install WhatsApp
Uninstall and reinstall the WhatsApp app from the App Store to wipe all app data cleanly.
Log Out of iCloud
If your iCloud credentials changed recently, log out and back in:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Backup Account > Log Out of iCloud.
- Log back into your iCloud account when prompted.
Contact Apple Support
For continued issues, contact Apple Support directly for assistance troubleshooting iCloud backup problems.
Preventing “Backup Not Found” Errors
To avoid “Backup not found” errors when restoring your chats in the future, here are some tips:
- Configure WhatsApp to backup chats daily.
- Ensure your phone has enough storage space for backups.
- Backup over Wi-Fi instead of mobile data to avoid interrupted backups.
- Never logout of your Google/iCloud account configured in WhatsApp.
- Check backup status periodically to confirm backups are working.
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version for optimal performance.
Conclusion
The “Backup not found” message in WhatsApp can be alarming but is usually fixable. In most cases, the issue is caused by an interrupted internet connection, changed cloud account credentials, or a simple app glitch. Follow our troubleshooting guide above to resolve the error and get your chat history restored. With the right steps, you’ll have your WhatsApp chats backed up and accessible across devices in no time.