To back up WhatsApp to iCloud on an iPhone, go to WhatsApp Settings, tap Chats, then Chat backup, choose iCloud as your backup provider and tap Turn on backups or Back up now. The rule to remember is that iCloud keeps only one WhatsApp backup per account, so every new backup replaces the last one and old backups can't be restored.
WhatsApp is also testing its own cloud storage as an alternative to iCloud, so your Chat backup screen may show two options. Here's how each works, how to restore and the settings that decide what's saved.
Before you back up
- Use the same phone number and iCloud account the backup will be restored with.
- Update your iPhone to the latest iOS.
- Make sure your iCloud account has enough storage for the backup.
- Leave free space on the iPhone for temporary files. If WhatsApp says there isn't enough, free up at least the amount it shows.
- Use a strong, stable internet connection.
How to turn on WhatsApp iCloud backup
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Chats, then Chat backup.
- Tap Cloud backup and select iCloud.
- Tap Turn on backups.
- Choose how often WhatsApp backs up: daily, weekly or monthly.
To back up straight away, go to Chats, then Chat backup, then Back up now. You can also switch Include videos in chats and Include status archive on or off from the same screen.
iCloud vs WhatsApp cloud storage
| iCloud | WhatsApp cloud storage | |
|---|---|---|
| Who stores it | Apple, through your iCloud account | WhatsApp directly |
| Encryption | Optional end-to-end encryption you turn on | Always end-to-end encrypted |
| Free space | Uses your iCloud storage | Free accounts include 2 GB |
| Availability | Available now | A new feature WhatsApp is still testing |
You can't use both: if you choose WhatsApp cloud storage, you can't also create an iCloud backup. You can change provider at any time from Chats, Chat backup, then Backup provider. Your iPhone's own iCloud backup is a separate thing again, which WhatsApp's help page points to Apple for.
How to restore WhatsApp from iCloud
- Check a backup exists: in WhatsApp go to Settings, Chats, Chat Backup and look for the time and size of your last backup.
- On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Drive, and turn on Sync this iPhone.
- Make sure WhatsApp is on under Apps Syncing to iCloud Drive.
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Verify your phone number and Apple ID, then tap Restore Chat History.
Keep WhatsApp open until your chats appear, because closing it early can restart the message restore. Photos and videos then restore in the background, and WhatsApp suggests staying on Wi-Fi and plugged in. Don't tap Skip media restore unless you're sure, because you can't restore that media later and your next backup replaces the old one. If it's crawling, here's why WhatsApp backups take so long.
Rules that decide whether you get your chats back
| Rule | What WhatsApp says |
|---|---|
| One backup only | You can store only one backup per iCloud account, and each new one replaces the old |
| Missing chats | Don't create a new backup, delete your backup or factory reset while trying to recover them |
| Same number | The number you back up with and restore with must match |
| Android and iPhone | You can't restore an iPhone backup on Android or an Android backup on iPhone |
| Old backups | If your latest backup is more than 120 days old, restoring may not be possible |
| Videos | Restored only if Include videos was on before your latest backup |
| Channels | Channel updates are backed up, but not their media unless you're the channel admin |
If you're moving from Android, an iCloud backup won't help, so use a chat transfer instead. I've covered moving WhatsApp from Android to iPhone separately.
Encrypting your iCloud backup
Go to Chats, Chat backup, End-to-end encrypted backup, then End-to-end encryption. You can protect it with a passkey, a password you create or a 64-digit encryption key. Passkeys need iOS 18 or higher and a screen lock. Write your password or key down somewhere safe, because WhatsApp can't send you a copy, reset it or restore an encrypted backup for you if you lose it.
My verdict
Turn on daily iCloud backups, include videos if your storage allows, and add end-to-end encryption with a passkey. The habit that matters most is this: if chats ever go missing, stop and don't back up again until you've restored, because that new backup overwrites the only copy you've got. To clear space afterwards, see how to delete an old WhatsApp backup.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I back up WhatsApp to iCloud?
Go to WhatsApp Settings, tap Chats, then Chat backup, select iCloud as your cloud backup, then tap Turn on backups or Back up now.
How many WhatsApp backups does iCloud keep?
Only one. WhatsApp says you can store one backup per iCloud account, and each new backup replaces the old one.
Can I restore a WhatsApp iCloud backup on Android?
No. WhatsApp says backups created on an iPhone can't be restored on Android, and Android backups can't be restored on an iPhone.
Is WhatsApp iCloud backup encrypted?
Only if you turn on end-to-end encrypted backup and protect it with a passkey, password or 64-digit key. WhatsApp's own cloud storage is always end-to-end encrypted.
Why didn't my videos restore from iCloud?
WhatsApp only restores videos if Include videos was turned on before your latest backup was created.
