iCloud is the service WhatsApp uses to back up your chats, media, and attachments on iPhone. Once the right settings are enabled, you can bring that data back whenever you need to restore WhatsApp from iCloud. If you’ve switched to a new phone, accidentally uninstalled WhatsApp and lost your chats, or reset your device, there’s still a good chance you can recover everything.
Method 1. Restore WhatsApp from iCloud Using the In-App Feature
This is the most common method and the one WhatsApp officially supports.
What you need is an existing WhatsApp chat backup stored in iCloud.
Check whether you have a backup by going to: WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. The backup size and date help you guess what’s inside.
If you’re not sure whether a backup exists, just start the restore process. WhatsApp will automatically check iCloud. You can also use Gbyte Recovery to scan your iCloud account and directly extract any stored WhatsApp chats.
If you want the most recent version of your chats, tap Back Up Now before reinstalling or switching devices.
How to Restore WhatsApp from iCloud
Step 1. Uninstall WhatsApp on your iPhone and reinstall it from the App Store. Note: This wipes all chats on the device and sends you back to the setup page.
Step 2. Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
Step 3. If prompted, enable iCloud Drive in Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive.
Step 4. Return to WhatsApp and choose Restore.
Step 5. Wait for the restore to finish. Your chats and media from that backup will appear on your iPhone.
Important: You must use the same phone number and the same iCloud account that created the backup.
Method 2: Restore WhatsApp via Full iCloud Device Backup
WhatsApp data can also be included inside a full iCloud device backup, not just the standalone WhatsApp chat backup. Restoring this type of backup brings your WhatsApp messages and attachments back as part of your whole device.
What you need
1.An iCloud device backup that includes WhatsApp data
Check it in: Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup > [your device]. And make sure WhatsApp is toggled on.
2.Your iPhone must be reset to restore the device backup.
How to Restore from iCloud Device Backup:
Step 1. Reset your iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
Step 2. During setup, choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
Step 3. Select the backup that contains your WhatsApp data.
Step 4. After setup, open WhatsApp and verify your number. Your chats will appear automatically.
Tip: If you prefer restoring WhatsApp using an iTunes / Finder backup, follow this guide: Restore WhatsApp Chats from an iTunes Backup
Method 3: Recover WhatsApp from iCloud Without Uninstalling or Resetting
What if you want to recover WhatsApp messages but don’t want to delete the app or factory reset your phone? That’s where Gbyte Recovery comes in.
Unlike the standard restore which requires reinstallation and only shows your latest backup, Gbyte Recovery lets you access WhatsApp chats directly from your iCloud including the WhatsApp messages you've deleted.
Why It Works
Gbyte Recovery is a professional WhatsApp recovery software. It securely connects to your iCloud account, scans your iCloud data, and finds WhatsApp chats, attachments, and deleted items still stored in your cloud archives. It doesn’t overwrite your phone and doesn’t require uninstalling WhatsApp.
When to Use Gbyte Recovery
Your in-app restore fails or shows “No backup found.”
You’ve lost access to your WhatsApp account (e.g., due to inactivity or number change).
You need older messages not included in your latest backup.
You want to preview your backup before deciding what to restore.
You’re trying to recover deleted chats that vanished before the last backup.
💡Good news: The scan and preview are 100% free both on mobile and PC/Mac. You can see exactly which messages and media are recoverable before recovery.
How to use Gbyte Recovery
Step 1. Open Gbyte Recovery on your Windows PC, Mac, or mobile browser. Select “WhatsApp & Attachments” as the data type.
Step 2. Connect your iPhone to Gbyte Recovery using Apple ID and start the scan.
Step 3. Preview your chats for free, then choose specific conversations or attachments to recover.
Step 4. Save recovered data to your computer—or send it directly back to your iPhone.
✅ Safe & Private: Gbyte Recovery never stores your data. All iCloud access is encrypted, and processing happens either locally or through secure, temporary connections.
🚨 Common WhatsApp Restore Problems & Fixes
Even with a backup, restoring WhatsApp from iCloud doesn’t always go smoothly. Here are the most frequent issues—and how to solve them:
Issue | What’s Happening | How to Fix |
Messages are missing after restore | Your latest chats weren’t included in the backup—either because it’s outdated, or you deleted WhatsApp before backing up. | Always tap “Back Up Now” in WhatsApp before uninstalling or switching phones. If you’ve already lost data, try Gbyte Recovery—it can scan iCloud for overwritten or older backups that the in-app restore misses. |
“Not enough storage” error | iPhone doesn’t have enough free space to download and unpack the backup. | Free up space by deleting unused apps, photos, or videos. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see what’s taking up room. |
Restore fails or gets stuck | Weak or unstable Wi-Fi | Connect to a strong, reliable Wi-Fi network. Avoid using cellular data or public hotspots. |
WhatsApp won’t start the restore | You might be running an outdated version of WhatsApp or iOS. | Update both WhatsApp (via App Store) and iOS (via Settings > General > Software Update). |
Deleted messages don’t come back | Standard iCloud restore only recovers what was in the backup at the time it was made. Deleted messages after that point are gone. | Use Gbyte Recovery to deeply scan your WhatsApp chats from iCloud. It can often recover deleted and overwritten chats that aren’t visible in WhatsApp’s restore screen. |
Restoring on a new device with a different phone number | WhatsApp ties backups to your phone number. If you verify a new number, it won’t see your old backup. | You must use the exact same phone number that created the backup. If you’ve changed numbers, the in-app restore won’t work. |
“No backup found” message | Either iCloud Drive is off for WhatsApp, or no backup was ever created. | Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive and turn it on. Then check WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. |
Account deleted due to inactivity | WhatsApp automatically deletes accounts after 120 days of inactivity. If this happens, you’ll be treated as a new user and won’t see the “Restore” prompt. | The in-app restore won’t work in this case. But your iCloud backup may still be there. Use Gbyte Recovery to access and extract your chat history directly from iCloud, bypassing WhatsApp’s account check. |
Two Types of WhatsApp iCloud Backups: What's the Difference?
WhatsApp on iOS uses two different backup mechanisms. Which one you used determines how your data is restored.
WhatsApp Standalone Chat Backup (Default & Recommended)
Created manually or automatically inside WhatsApp.
Where it’s stored: iCloud Drive as a separate file.
How it restores: After setting up your device, open WhatsApp. The app detects the standalone backup stored on iCloud and prompts you to restore it.
Requirements: Same phone number + same iCloud account
Advantages: Fast, independent of device backups, easier to manage
WhatsApp Data Inside the iCloud Device Backup
Created when your iPhone backs up with WhatsApp included.
Where it’s stored: inside your full iCloud device backup
How it restores: When you choose “Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup,” WhatsApp’s app data is restored to your device as part of the full system backup. WhatsApp will be automatically reinstalled, and its data will be imported along with it.
Advantages: Useful if your WhatsApp account is locked or unavailable
Final Thoughts
In most cases, the built-in in-app restore does the job quickly and securely.
But real life isn’t always ideal. Maybe you forgot to back up before uninstalling. Maybe your account went inactive. Or maybe your latest messages are missing because the backup was too old. When the official method falls short, you shouldn’t have to lose your data for good.
That’s where deeper recovery tools like Gbyte Recovery come in. It gives you a way to access your iCloud backups directly—whether to recover deleted messages, extract chats from an old account, or restore iCloud Backup without resetting your phone.
No matter what went wrong, your WhatsApp history is often still there in iCloud. You just need the right method to get it back.
