WhatsApp Backup Not Found on Android? Check the Account and Number

If you still have the old phone, open WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat backup. Check the Google Account address and the date of the last completed backup. If the new phone has several Google Accounts, compare the full address. A backup made before a conversation took place cannot contain that conversation. If the old phone still has the chats and the cloud backup is missing or stale, you can use Transfer from old phone during setup instead.

Install WhatsApp from Google Play and register with the same number. Choose Restore from backup when prompted. If WhatsApp asks you to unlock an end-to-end encrypted backup, use the password, encryption key or passkey you set up. Keep the phone connected to stable Wi-Fi and power while it restores. Chats may appear while photos and videos are still downloading.

Verify the account and number before starting setup again. If you already receive messages on the new phone, decide which history you need to keep before reinstalling WhatsApp there. Restoring the old history replaces chats created on the new phone. The histories cannot be merged. Avoid starting a fresh backup while the chats you need are missing, because a new backup can overwrite the previous copy.

Open an older conversation and check a photo or video you expect to find. If media is still restoring, leave the app time to finish. If you have no usable backup but your old phone still holds the chats, try direct transfer or contact WhatsApp support before clearing anything. These steps cover Android-to-Android moves using the same number.