Check whether a recent WhatsApp backup exists on Google Drive or iCloud
Reinstall WhatsApp on the same phone number
Verify the same Google account on Android or the same Apple ID on iPhone
Open WhatsApp and complete phone number verification
Tap Restore when prompted to recover chats from backup
Wait for the chat history to finish restoring
Make sure enough storage is available on the device
Update WhatsApp to the latest version before restoring
On Android, check local backups in the WhatsApp folder if cloud backup is unavailable
On Android, copy the desired local backup file to the Databases folder before reinstalling
Restore from the local backup during WhatsApp setup if prompted
On iPhone, ensure iCloud Drive and WhatsApp iCloud access are enabled
Use the same phone number used when the backup was created
If no backup exists, try restoring from a device transfer or phone migration backup
Avoid uninstalling WhatsApp before confirming a backup is available
If media is missing, allow time for photos and videos to re-download after chat restoration