Unable to backup WhatsApp messages and videos? Here’s how to fix backup and restore problems

What to do if your WhatsApp backup is stuck

• Restart your device.
• Log out of your Google Account and then log in again.
• Turn your Wi-Fi off and back on, or connect to a different Wi-Fi network, or use mobile data. (Note: If you switch to a different Wi-Fi network, the backup might timeout.)
• Reduce the size of your backup, as your phone may not have the necessary space for a backup or restore. Read this article to learn how.
• Check if your device's battery is fully charged or if your device is charging.
• Force stop or close WhatsApp.
• If you're using a dual SIM phone, check that the SIM linked to your WhatsApp phone number is active.
• Check if the Google Play Services app needs to be updated.
• Open your device's Settings > Apps > tap Google Play Services .
• Scroll to the bottom. Tap App info > Update .

What to do if you see error messages during WhatsApp backup

• 'This account already exists on your device.'
• 'Your account cannot be accessed at this time.'
• 'Your messages cannot be backed up.'
• 'The backup could not be taken. Tap to allow WhatsApp to save the backup to Google storage.'

• Check WhatsApp's permissions and make sure the Photos and Videos permission is set to Allow .
• Go to your device's Settings > Accounts > tap Manage accounts > select your Google Account.
• Tap Sync account > Menu > Sync now . Allow syncing to keep your data up-to-date.
• Go back to the previous screen and tap Remove Account .
• To add a previously removed account, open WhatsApp.
• Tap More options >Settings>Chats>Chat backup>Google account. Alternatively, you can add an account after installing WhatsApp.

Troubleshooting a Corrupted Backup

• If these steps don't solve your problem, check your permissions settings for WhatsApp and Google Drive.
• If your progress bar shows 100% and the notification doesn't go away, there may still be a process running in the background, including uploading or downloading media. Wait a few hours for the notification to go away.
• Incomplete backups can occur due to a number of reasons, such as poor internet connection, low storage space on the device, or interruptions during the backup process.
• Only one backup can be stored on your Google Account per WhatsApp phone number. Creating a new backup deletes the previous one, so the previous backup cannot be restored from your Google Account.
• If you've restored a backup but some of your chats still aren't visible, you may have restored a backup file that didn't contain those chats. Before changing devices or restoring, be sure to manually back up your chats so you have an up-to-date chat history.
• If you can't restore your backup using the methods above, your backup may be corrupted. Backups can become corrupted due to interruptions, closing WhatsApp, sending or receiving corrupted files, or a variety of other reasons. We regret that WhatsApp cannot restore a corrupt backup or diagnose the cause of the corruption.