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Losing your years of sentimental chats and critical work documents due to a failed WhatsApp transfer is a common nightmare. You may find yourself stuck in a loop where the app fails to detect the Google Drive Backup, or perhaps you've realized your most recent messages weren't saved at all.
Regardless of the situation, knowing how to restore WhatsApp backup from Google Drive is important, and this guide will explore the process and roadblocks. While doing so, learn how tools like Dr.Fone - Data Recovery can help when the standard process fails.
In this article
Part 1. Can You Recover WhatsApp from Google Drive Without a Factory Reset?
While learning how to download WhatsApp backup from Google Drive, note that restoration without a reset is possible. Since a factory reset deletes everything on your phone, this process only resets your WhatsApp, and you need to reinstall or clear its app data to get the "Restore" option. This does not remove your apps, photos, or other files, but it will delete any WhatsApp messages that came after the backup date.
Simply, WhatsApp Help Center says that: You can restore WhatsApp chats from Google Drive only when you reinstall or reset the app and verify the same phone number.
However, if you have reset the app and skipped the restore option, you can't restore the backup later without resetting the app again. You must choose between keeping current chats and resetting WhatsApp to restore the old backup, which removes newer chats.
Part 2. How to Find WhatsApp Backup in Google Drive?
On Google support, most of the users have shared concerns about locating and restoring the WhatsApp Google Drive backup, saying that:
I backed up my WhatsApp to Google Drive on May 8, 2023, but I cannot find it now. I did not delete it, so please help me restore it.
- Indrawati
Just like them, if you also wonder how to find WhatsApp backup on Google Drive, this section has listed options for the App and Website below:
From App: Google Drive
Instructions: Press the "Hamburger" icon on the app and pick the "Backup" option. Now, you can locate the WhatsApp backup with the date and time it was last updated.
From the Google Drive website (PC or Browser)
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Step 1
In Google Drive, select the "Storage" option in the left toolbar, then press the "Backups" option at the top.
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Step 2
If you have a WhatsApp backup saved in Google Drive, it will be listed under the "Android Backups" section.
Part 3. How to Restore WhatsApp Chats from Google Drive
Now that you know how to find WhatsApp backup in Google Drive, let's see how to restore it. According to WhatsApp, you can restore chats only from an existing backup, and anything not included in that backup cannot be recovered. Thus, this section will offer backup and non-backup options, helping you restore conversations regardless of the backup situation.
Method 1: Official Way: Uninstall & Reinstall
This is the safe and reliable option as your data stays within WhatsApp and Google, and no third party can access it. WhatsApp Help Center also states that you can restore WhatsApp Chats from Google Drive only after reinstalling or resetting the app and verifying the same phone number. Since the steps are simple, review the guide mentioned below to learn how to get WhatsApp backup from Google Drive:
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Step 1
Uninstall and reinstall the app, and press the "Agree & Continue" button to add the phone number details. Add the code you received, choose the "Continue" and "Allow" options on the new interface.
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Step 2
After that, pick the "Restore from Backups" option and choose the "Continue" option. On the automatically detected WhatsApp backup, select the "Restore" option and tap "Done" when it ends. Later, complete the setup, and you can locate lost chats with the "Restoring Media" progress bar showing.
Method 2. Third-Party Recovery: Using Dr.Fone - Data Recovery
Let's say you have accidentally pressed the "Skip" button while setting up WhatsApp, or your backup is inaccessible. In this situation, if you wonder how to restore WhatsApp chats from Google Drive, you can use recovery tools like Dr.Fone - Data Recovery. Even from your broken phones, the tool can retrieve the WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business data, including View - Once media.
Such recovery tools are not limited to WhatsApp only and allow you to recover 14+ data types with a selective restoration option. Users can also use it to extract WhatsApp data from Google Drive or previous Dr.Fone backups and later export it to a PC or to HTML or CSV format. Furthermore, all restored chats and media files are stored at original quality, and the process requires only WhatsApp verification, taking 2-3 restoration steps.
Scan Android phones and tablets directly.- Preview and recover only what you want.
- Supports WhatsApp, photos, videos, contacts, and more.
- Works with 6000+ Android devices.
How to Recover WhatsApp Chat from Google Drive with Dr.Fone
After knowing how can I see WhatsApp backup on Google Drive, follow this ultimate guide. Here, this recovery tool is tested in detail to help you verify its success rate and WhatsApp chat recovery claims.
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Step 1 Choose the Data Recovery Tool & Login Drive
On the Data Recovery Android tool, pick the "Recover Google Drive Data" option and sign in to Google Drive to choose "Recover WhatsApp Data."
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Step 2 Download the WhatsApp Backup on the Tool
Wait until the tool searches the Google Drive backups, then click the "Download" button. Follow the on-screen instructions and verify the WhatsApp details, and the downloaded WhatsApp data will be parsed.
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Step 3 Preview and Export the Recovered WhatsApp Chats
At this point, review the WhatsApp chats you want to recover, then press the "Recover" button. In the popup menu, pick the "Select Export Path" and choose the "Export" button to save retrieved chats.
Conclusion
Securing your WhatsApp history is simple when you know how to restore WhatsApp backup from Google Drive. Therefore, this guide has explained how to find the Google Drive backup and restore it using the 2 methods mentioned. So, if you have a backup, the official method is the best choice. However, if you skip the restore option or there is no backup, recovery tools like Dr.Fone - Data Recovery can help.
FAQs
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1. Why is my backup stuck at 99%?
This usually occurs due to storage and sync issues, so ensure you have twice as much free space on your phone as the backup size. Furthermore, updating Google Play Services often clears this final processing hurdle. -
2. What happens if I forget my End-to-End Encryption password?
If you enabled an encrypted backup and lost the passcode or key, WhatsApp cannot reset it. Without that key, the backup file in Google Drive remains permanently locked, but tools like Dr.Fone can still restore it. -
3. Do WhatsApp backups on Google Drive expire?
Yes, Google may automatically delete WhatsApp backups that have not been updated for more than 5 to 12 months. Thus, regular backups are essential to keep storage active.
Add Wondershare Dr.Fone as a preferred source on Google
