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 replied to this.
    16 days later

    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.

      17 days later

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

        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.

        2 months later
        9 months later

        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...?

            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.

              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).

              3 months later

              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:

              1. Install WhatsApp using Google Play Store but don't start the setup.
              2. Navigate to Settings > Passwords and Accounts > Delete the Google account associated with the google drive where your WhatsApp backup is stored.
              3. Grant all permissions to Google Play Services (reverse this after installing WhatsApp).
              4. Complete WhatsApp setup > enter Google account info when prompted
              5. WhatsApp will then prompt you to restore from backup. (enter your encryption key if you encrypted your back up)
              6. 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
                8 days later
                a month later

                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.

                  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.

                  a month later