Nowadays, managing WhatsApp backup on iPhone is essential to keep your chats and media safe. While iCloud is the default backup option, many users want to use Google Drive for more storage flexibility. This guide will help you understand how to back up WhatsApp from your iPhone to Google Drive easily and securely.
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Hey guys, I’m using an iPhone now, but I’m struggling to back up my WhatsApp to Google Drive like I used to on Android. On iPhone, it only lets me back up to iCloud, and I don’t have much space there. Is there any way to save my WhatsApp backup to Google Drive from an iPhone? Or maybe a workaround? Would appreciate any help!
- Question from Reddit
Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not support backing up data directly to Google Drive on iPhones. Unlike Android devices, where WhatsApp offers seamless Google Drive backup, iPhones rely solely on iCloud for WhatsApp backups. This is because iOS integrates tightly with iCloud for app data storage, and Google Drive backup is not an option within the iPhone version of WhatsApp.
However, if you want to store your WhatsApp data on Google Drive, you can use some indirect methods—like transferring your chats to an Android device first or using third-party tools—to back up your WhatsApp to Google Drive.
As mentioned in the previous part, iPhones don’t support direct Google Drive backups for WhatsApp. However, some effective workarounds and tools can help you safely store your chats on Google Drive. Let’s explore how to back up WhatsApp chat to Google Drive in an iPhone using these methods.
Since WhatsApp on iPhone doesn’t support direct backup to Google Drive, a popular workaround is to save your WhatsApp photos and videos to your iPhone’s Camera Roll. After that, you can manually upload these media files to Google Drive using the Google Drive app.
This method allows you to back up important WhatsApp media to Google Drive, keeping your photos and videos safe in the cloud. However, note that this approach does not back up contacts or chat history. It’s a simple and effective way to protect your WhatsApp media when backing up to Google Drive on iPhone.
Here is how to back up WhatsApp to Google Drive on iPhone via 'Save to Camera Roll':
Step 1. On your iPhone, open WhatsApp, and tap on Settings.
Step 2. In the settings, locate the chats option and proceed to it. Turn on the “Save to Camera Roll” slider. This will make WhatsApp save all the photos and videos directly to the camera roll.
Step 3. Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone and tap on the Settings > Backup button.
Step 4. Then go to Photos and tap the toggle switch to turn on auto backup. Go back to the Backup Page, click START BACKUP to start backing up your photos and videos to Google Photos.
To back up your full WhatsApp chat and media to Google Drive, you need to move your data from your iPhone to an Android device first. After transferring, use WhatsApp’s backup feature on the Android phone to upload everything directly to Google Drive. This process lets you secure your complete WhatsApp history and files on Google Drive, overcoming the iPhone’s backup limitations.
How to Transfer WhatsApp Chat from iPhone to Android:
Then, you can manually back up WhatsApp to Google Drive from your Android phone or simply set up automatic backup on WhatsApp.
➤ How to Backup WhatsApp Chat to Google Drive Manually:
Step 1. Open WhatsApp.
Step 2. Tap "More options", then go to "Settings", select "Chats", choose "Chat backup", and finally tap "BACK UP".
➤ How to Set Up Automatic Backup on WhatsApp:
Step 1. Open your WhatsApp app.
Step 2. Tap "More options", go to "Settings", select "Chats", then "Chat backup", and choose "Back up to Google Drive".
Step 3. Select a backup frequency other than Never.
Step 4. Select the Google account you’d like to back up your data to.
Step 5. Tap Backup over to choose the network you want to use for backups.
After transferring your WhatsApp data to your computer, you can also back it up to Google Drive using CBackup. This method offers a simple and secure way to store your WhatsApp files in the cloud without relying solely on your phone’s backup options. CBackup lets you combine many cloud drives for more storage and automatically syncs your data, ensuring your WhatsApp backup stays safe and easily accessible anytime you need it.
Besides increasing Google Drive storage, it can also sync your WhatsApp exports across any linked clouds—Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive—on a real‑time or scheduled basis. CBackup’s cloud‑to‑cloud sync, versioning, and 256‑bit AES encryption ensure your chat files stay up to date, secure, and recoverable without manual uploads or storage limits.
Here are the simple steps to increase Google Drive storage space for free with CBackup:
Step 1. Create a CBackup account for free and sign in to the CBackup desktop app.
Step 2. Navigate to the Storage tab, select "Google Drive", and click "Authorize Now". Follow the steps to grant authority to CBackup and edit the Google Drive settings. You can add Google Drive accounts as many as you have.
Step 3. Select the Storage tab > + Add Combined Cloud.
Step 4. Tick all your Google Drive accounts, and click Next.
Step 5. Determine the order of all your Google Drive accounts, and click Combine. Then your Google Drive storage space has been increased successfully.
Now, you could enjoy the combined backup space by clicking Backup > Backup PC to Combined Cloud.
If you’ve backed up your WhatsApp data to Google Drive on an Android device, but now use an iPhone, you might wonder how to access that backup. Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not support direct restoration from Google Drive to iOS, as iPhone backups are typically linked to iCloud.
However, you can still restore the backup with a workaround:
This method ensures you can still access your old messages even after switching platforms.
Click to get more detailed guidance: >> How to Restore WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive
In conclusion, understanding how to back up WhatsApp chat in an iPhone to Google Drive is essential for anyone wanting more storage flexibility beyond iCloud. While iCloud is the default backup option for iPhone users, Google Drive offers additional space and convenience, especially for those with large chat histories or media files.
The methods in this guide help you securely transfer, back up, and protect your WhatsApp data. This ensures your important conversations and memories stay safe and easy to restore whenever needed.
Now that you’ve explored the main methods for backing up WhatsApp on iPhone, you might still have a few questions. In this section, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about WhatsApp backup on iPhone to help you clear up any confusion and ensure your data stays protected across devices and cloud services.
WhatsApp doesn’t offer a direct way to switch backup from iCloud to Google Drive because iOS uses iCloud and Android uses Google Drive by default. To change the backup destination, you’ll need to:
This indirect method helps you move your WhatsApp data from iCloud to Google Drive.
To back up WhatsApp photos to Google Photos on iPhone, follow these steps:
This ensures your WhatsApp photos are safely stored in Google Photos.
If you want to back up WhatsApp without using iCloud storage, you can use alternative methods like:
➤ Export Chats Manually: Open a chat in WhatsApp, tap the contact's name > Export Chat, and send the chat to your email. This doesn’t include media unless you choose to attach it.
➤ Transfer to Computer: Use tools like iTunes or third-party software (e.g., iCareFone, MobileTrans) to transfer and save WhatsApp data to your PC or Mac.
➤ Use Third-Party Cloud Backup Tools: After exporting or transferring WhatsApp data to your computer, use a cloud backup service like CBackup to upload your files to Google Drive or other cloud storage without iCloud limitations.
These options help preserve your WhatsApp data even if your iCloud storage is full or unavailable.
