WhatsApp Restore from iCloud Gets Stuck? 7 Tips to Try

by J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young Updated On Jul 10, 2024 Published On May 19, 2022 WhatsApp

Restoring your old WhatsApp backup is a crucial step when setting up a new device with the WhatsApp app, and most of the time, the process works smoothly. However, some users report that restoring WhatsApp data gets stuck or doesn't work.

If you are experiencing this or something similar, this article will show you how to fix a WhatsApp restore process that is stuck.

whatsapp restore from icloud stuck

Why is My WhatsApp Restore from iCloud Getting Stuck?

Several reasons can cause your WhatsApp data restore from iCloud to fail. The most common include:

  • You may not be using the same Apple ID that you used to create the WhatsApp backup on the old device.
  • An unstable internet connection can cause the restore process to get stuck.
  • There might not be adequate storage space available on iCloud.

Whatever the reason, the following solutions should help:

Check the Following Settings

First, check these settings:

  • Ensure you are using the same phone number and iCloud account that was used to create the backup.
  • Ensure your device has enough storage to restore the backup. You need at least 2.05 times the space available on the iPhone and iCloud account than the size of the backup.
  • If the backup was end-to-end encrypted, make sure you are using the correct password.
  • Check that iCloud Drive is turned on for WhatsApp.
  • If you used iCloud Drive to create the backup, you can only restore the backup on iOS 9 and later.
  • Check that your device's battery is fully charged or plugged into a power source.

Turn Off and On the Following Settings

  • Turn Wi-Fi off and on (or connect to a different network).
  • Close and reopen WhatsApp.
  • Turn off and on iCloud Drive (Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Drive).
  • Toggle WhatsApp in iCloud Drive off and then back on (Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Apps Syncing to iCloud Drive > WhatsApp).

Turn off and on iCloud Drive

Update WhatsApp and iOS to the Latest Version

If the version of WhatsApp and iOS you are using are outdated, you may experience problems restoring your data. A quick update of the app from the App Store should fix the problem. Here's how:

  1. Open the App Store on your iPhone and tap on your photo at the top-right.
  2. Scroll down to see pending app updates. Tap "Update" next to WhatsApp or select "Update All" to update all apps with pending updates.

Update WhatsApp to the Latest Version

To update your iOS to the latest version:

  1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone and then select "General."
  2. Tap "Software Update."
  3. If an update is available, tap "Install" and wait for your device to install the latest version of iOS.

Update Your iPhone to the Latest Version

Sign Out of iCloud and Back In

If the restoring process is still stuck, try signing out of your iCloud account and back in. To do this:

  1. Sign out of iCloud entirely.
  2. Restart your iPhone.
  3. Then sign back into iCloud.
  4. After signing back in, wait several minutes to ensure everything is synced properly.
  5. Then, back up your WhatsApp one more time and try restoring again.

Sign out of iCloud

Delete the Backup and Start a New One

If backing up continues to fail or gets stuck, try deleting your backup from iCloud and starting a new one. Your chats won't be deleted as long as you don't uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. Here's how to delete the WhatsApp backup from iCloud:

  1. Go to Settings > Tap on [your name] > Click iCloud > Select Manage Storage.
  2. Find WhatsApp Messenger from the list and tap on it.
  3. Tap on the Delete Data option to delete all WhatsApp data stored on iCloud storage.

delete the WhatsApp backup from iCloud

To start a new WhatsApp backup:

  1. Open WhatsApp Settings.
  2. Tap Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now.

start a new WhatsApp backup

Force Restart Your iPhone

Force restarting your iPhone can fix many common system errors that could be preventing you from restoring a WhatsApp backup to your device.

Here's how to force restart your iPhone depending on the model:

iPhone 6S and earlier models: Press and hold both the Home and the Power buttons at the same time. Continue to press both buttons until the Apple logo appears.

Force Restart iPhone 6S

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume Down and the Power buttons at the same time. Let go when you see the Apple Logo.

Force Restart iPhone 7

iPhone 8 and newer models: Press the Volume Up button, release it and then press the Volume Down button and release it quickly. Then press and hold the Power button. Continue to hold it until the Apple logo appears.

Force Restart iPhone 8

After your iPhone restarts, try to restore your WhatsApp backup one more time.

Restore from WhatsApp Still Gets Stuck?

If you've tried all the troubleshooting steps and still can't restore your backup, it might be corrupted. This can happen if the backup process was interrupted, such as WhatsApp was force-closed, or you sent or received corrupted files. Unfortunately, WhatsApp can't fix a corrupted backup or find out what caused it.

Backups can also be incomplete if you have a bad internet connection, not enough storage space, or interruptions during the backup. Remember, iCloud only keeps one backup per account, so each new backup replaces the old one. According to WhatsApp, if your backup is corrupted, you won't be able to restore your backup.

It may be time to consider using a different WhatsApp backup and restore solution. One of the best ways to successfully back up and restore WhatsApp is to use a WhatsApp Transfer tool.

This tool can be used to back up WhatsApp to your computer, restore the backup to your device, and even transfer WhatsApp from one device to another. Backing up WhatsApp using this WhatsApp Transfer tool is simple: connect the device to a computer with this tool installed and click "Backup WhatsApp messages." Similarly, you can easily restore the backup to your device.

Here's a breakdown of the different ways you can use the WhatsApp Transfer tool to manage WhatsApp data on your device:

  • You can use it to back up and restore WhatsApp by connecting the device to the computer. The restore process will not overwrite existing data on the device.
  • It can also be used to export WhatsApp chats in various formats, including HTML, PDF, and Excel files, ideal for when you want to print out or share the chats.
  • It is one of the best ways to transfer WhatsApp data from one device to another, even when the devices are on different platforms such as Android to iPhone or iPhone to Android.
  • It is a safe solution that will not affect other data on your device.

Try Alternative Way to Restore WhatsApp

Conclusion

It is not uncommon to encounter problems when trying to restore WhatsApp from an iCloud backup. When that happens, try the solutions outlined above to fix the issue once and for all.

However, if you want to avoid this problem in the future, consider investing in a different solution to back up and restore WhatsApp. The best option is the WhatsApp Transfer tool.

J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young

Mako is a technical writer with a passion for all things tech. Whether you're wondering about how to fix your iPhone or Android device or trying to get something to work in your settings, Mako is your go-to for professional help. He loves writing, testing solutions, and most of all, making sure his research is factually accurate.

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