How to Delete WhatsApp Backup: Android, iPhone & Google Drive

This guide shows you how to delete WhatsApp backups from Google Drive, iCloud, and your local device storage. You’ll clear up cloud space and remove old chat history from WhatsApp’s servers, whether you’re on Android or iPhone. No special tools are needed—just your phone and access to your cloud account settings.

What You’ll Need

• Your Android phone or iPhone with WhatsApp installed
• Access to the Google Drive account (if you use Android) or iCloud account (if you use iPhone) where the backup is stored
• Your phone’s storage settings to delete local backups (optional)

Step-by-Step

Delete WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive (Android)

1. Open the Google Drive app on your phone or go to drive.google.com on a computer.
2. In the left menu (or the hamburger icon), tap Storage.
3. Look for a folder named WhatsApp or a file named WhatsApp Backup. It may be under “Backups” in the storage view.
4. Tap the three-dot menu next to the file or folder and select Delete.
5. Confirm the deletion. This removes the backup from Google Drive, but it does not delete your WhatsApp chats on your phone.

Delete WhatsApp Backup from iCloud (iPhone)

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Your Name → iCloud → Manage Account Storage (or iCloud Storage).
2. Tap Backups.
3. You’ll see a list of devices with backups. Find your iPhone (or the device that has WhatsApp data).
4. Tap the device name, then look for WhatsApp in the list of apps.
5. Toggle off WhatsApp, or tap Delete Backup if you want to remove the entire device backup. If you only want to delete the WhatsApp part, toggle it off and confirm.
6. If you want to completely remove the WhatsApp backup from iCloud, you can also go to iCloud Drive and delete the WhatsApp folder if it exists, but the toggle method is the standard way.

Delete Local WhatsApp Backups (Android and iPhone)

1. Open your phone’s file manager (Android) or the Files app (iPhone).
2. Navigate to the WhatsApp folder. On Android, it’s usually in Internal Storage/WhatsApp/Databases. On iPhone, it’s under On My iPhone/WhatsApp.
3. Delete the files with names like msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14 (Android) or ChatStorage.sqlite (iPhone).
4. Confirm deletion. This removes local backup copies, freeing up phone storage.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting the wrong file: On Google Drive, you might delete the entire WhatsApp folder, which could include media files you want to keep. Double-check the file name before deleting.
• Forgetting to disable auto-backup: Even after you delete a backup, WhatsApp will create a new one automatically if auto-backup is on. You must turn off auto-backup in WhatsApp settings to prevent new backups.
• Deleting the local backup instead of cloud: If you only delete the local backup, the cloud backup remains and will still be used for restore. Make sure you delete the cloud one if that’s your goal.
• Not clearing the WhatsApp folder on iCloud: Toggling off WhatsApp in iCloud backup sometimes doesn’t remove the data immediately. You may need to also delete the WhatsApp folder in iCloud Drive if it exists.

Tips

• Turn off auto-backup first: Go to WhatsApp Settings → Chats → Chat backup and set “Back up to Google Drive” or “iCloud” to Never. This prevents new backups from being created after you delete the old ones.
• Use a computer for Google Drive: It’s often easier to find and delete backups on a desktop browser than on the mobile app.
• Check your cloud storage usage: After deletion, verify in Google Drive or iCloud that the storage space has been freed. Sometimes it takes a few minutes.
• Keep a local backup if you want to restore: If you delete the cloud backup but keep the local one, you can still restore chats on the same phone, but not on a new phone.

Troubleshooting

• Backup still shows after deletion: Wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If it persists, log out of Google Drive/iCloud and log back in. Also, check if auto-backup created a new backup.
• Cannot find the WhatsApp folder on Google Drive: The backup might be stored under “Backups” in the storage view, not as a regular folder. Look for a file named “WhatsApp Backup” or a folder with your phone’s name.
• iCloud toggle is greyed out: Make sure you have an active iCloud backup. If you never backed up, there’s nothing to delete. Also, ensure you’re using the correct Apple ID.
• Deleting local backup fails: Some files may be in use. Close WhatsApp completely (swipe it away from the app switcher) before trying to delete.
• Storage space not freed: Check if there are multiple backups (e.g., one from an old phone). Delete all of them. Also, empty the trash in Google Drive or iCloud after deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting the backup delete my chats?

No. Deleting the backup only removes the backup copy. Your current chats on your phone remain untouched.

How do I delete a WhatsApp backup from Google Drive without deleting everything?

In Google Drive, go to Storage, find the WhatsApp folder or backup file, and delete just that item. Do not delete your entire Drive.

Can I delete a WhatsApp backup from iCloud without deleting my iPhone backup?

Yes. Go to iCloud Storage → Backups → tap your device → toggle off WhatsApp. This removes WhatsApp data from the backup while keeping other app backups.

What happens if I delete the backup and then reinstall WhatsApp?

You’ll lose the ability to restore from that backup. If you have no other backup, your chat history will be lost. You’ll start fresh.

How do I stop WhatsApp from backing up automatically?

Open WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat backup → change “Back up to Google Drive” or “iCloud” to Never.

Does deleting the WhatsApp backup free up space on my phone?

It frees up space in your cloud storage (Google Drive or iCloud), not on your phone. To free phone space, delete local backups in the WhatsApp/Databases folder.

Related

• iPhone Messages Background: Set or Remove
• Stop Bixby From Opening on Samsung Side Button
• Quick Analysis Tool in Excel: Step-by-Step Guide