WhatsApp uses iCloud to backup your chats to the cloud. Your chat logs and account data are secure in case you ever lose your phone and need to pick back up where you left off.

How to turn on iCloud Drive for WhatsApp backups on iPhone

First off, you'll want to confirm that you've got iCloud turned on and set up to back up WhatsApp data.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap the Apple ID banner.

  3. Tap iCloud.

    Open Settings, tap Apple ID banner, tap iCloud

  4. Scroll down towards the bottom of the page.

  5. Tap the switch next to WhatsApp to the green 'on' position to turn on iCloud access.

    Scroll down, turn WhatsApp on

How to back up your data to iCloud

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap on Settings. It's the gear icon in the bottom right corner.
  3. Tap the Chats button.

  4. Tap on Chat backup.

  5. Tap Back Up Now to upload your chat data to your iCloud storage. If you'd prefer to set up iCloud to automatically store your chat data, you can do so on this screen.

  6. Tap Auto Backup.
  7. Tap the backup frequency you'd prefer. Your options are Daily, Weekly and Monthly.
  8. Tap Chat Backup to go back to the last Settings menu.

  9. Tap the switch next to "Include videos" to toggle whether or not to backup video messages.

Now that everything's backed up, you'll be able to restore your chats if you reinstall WhatsApp on any iOS device. If you want to migrate your data to a new phone, you will have to make sure everything is backed up to iCloud first. Then when you are going through the WhatsApp set up process on your new phone, simply restore your chat history when prompted.

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Updated January 2019: Updated steps to reflect changes to the process in iOS 12.

Backing up: The ultimate guide

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