How to restore a WhatsApp backup?

paneos

shorty Thanks, did not work...

Shados

paneos Thanks, did not work...

I had the same experience, and found I needed to grant WhatsApp itself the Contact permission. Not via Contact Scopes, it needed the full permission before it'd pick up my existing Google account =/.

Anyone know if it can be limited more than that? What does it actually need from Contacts for this to work...?

riX

I had the same problem a few days ago, it's the same for all apps requiring access to local google accounts.

It worked to back up Whatsapp to a local file on a normal Android installation, then just transfer the file manually.

Yann

riX
Do you mean there is also local backup? I have my backup in Drive and Whatsapp is disconnected from my former phone.

sam1

Hi, I'm having a problem restoring my WhatsApp backup. I tried putting the backup file in /WhatsApp/Databases (I had to create the directory, I think WhatsApp has access to it - I set up the WhatsApp dir with storage scopes), and also in /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases, which is where WhatsApp seems to be writing its backups, but either way, WhatsApp isn't noticing the backup and triggering a restore. Any ideas on what I should be doing different? Thanks.

lova7

sam1 Hi, I'm having a problem restoring my WhatsApp backup. I tried putting the backup file in /WhatsApp/Databases (I had to create the directory, I think WhatsApp has access to it - I set up the WhatsApp dir with storage scopes), and also in /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases, which is where WhatsApp seems to be writing its backups, but either way, WhatsApp isn't noticing the backup and triggering a restore. Any ideas on what I should be doing different? Thanks.

Try clearing the WhatsApp cache and data. Then, move the backup file to the /WhatsApp/Databases directory again. This might help WhatsApp recognize the backup and trigger a restore. If not, try restarting your device. With this I am giving some great app advice which will never let you face any problem. That is whatsapp plus apk, I am very happy that I am still using this app.

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alex_herrero

I just gave up my whatsapp history. Inconvenient? Sure. A fresh start. Then I started doing it from time to time. Just uninstall and reinstall without restoring. Feels fresh, you should try it.

Let it go.

MetropleX

Plenty of guides available to try: https://www.startpage.com/do/dsearch?query=restoring+whatsapp+backup+without+google+play

Yann

I follow this guide https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/whatsapp-local-db-restore-android-11.html and it worked, got all the chat history and media

Matth

Yann Awesome, exactly what I needed!!

treequell

Shados Open the App info for WhatsApp > Permissions > 3 dots > All permissions. You'll notice that the permission "find accounts on your device" is listed under Contacts.

So it seems it requires the contacts permission to be able to see your Google account.

This seems to be something specific to the way that WhatsApp does backups to Google Drive.

I say that because Cryptomator can also integrate with Google Drive for backups, and doesn't require the Contacts permission to do that.

I haven't looked into it any further than this, but this hopefully helps to provide you some additional context.

Shados

Kinda interesting. I don't think it helps re. contact scopes, though... there doesn't appear to be any specific contact I can add to the scope that will let it pick up my google account (including a contact w/ the same email as my google account).

smx73

This worked for me for the "This account already exists on your device" issue:
After 2 days of trial and error, I was finally able to restore my chat history. Here's what I did:

Install WhatsApp using Google Play Store but don't start the setup.
Navigate to Settings > Passwords and Accounts > Delete the Google account associated with the google drive where your WhatsApp backup is stored.
Grant all permissions to Google Play Services (reverse this after installing WhatsApp).
Complete WhatsApp setup > enter Google account info when prompted
WhatsApp will then prompt you to restore from backup. (enter your encryption key if you encrypted your back up)
Revoke all permissions granted to Google Play Services in step 3.
All chat history should be restored
Worked for me... hope it helps someone recover their history

esakki

smx73
Worked !!

Hwmpunk

smx73

I'd like to point out how i got mine to work.

I tried installing whatsapp by doing a restore from google, after typing in the email it asked to add account again. When i did it said "already in use".

I gave google play store, google services framework, and google play services permission to contacts via the "apps" app in grapheneos.

gave whatsapp every single permission possible

I went into play store, and logged out of all my google accounts.

went back to whatsapp and entered the google email to restore again, and it worked like a charm.

go back and disable every permission possible that you don't want on those apps.

WukZarathustra

smx73
Thank you smx73. I had the same problem. Fortunately it worked.

asadkhan7865571

smx73 Thankyou meri jaan 🤎 May God bless you

de0u

esakki Welcome, and thanks for the report!

treequell

There's no need to grant every single permission. Google Play Services requires the contacts and network permissions, and WhatsApp requires both the contacts permission and the media permission (can simply set up storage scopes instead), as well as of course the network permission.

treequell

For more details please refer to https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/1122