How to get the new WhatsApp update with Google Drive backup enabled

WhatsApp seems to be on a huge feature-updating spree. Recently, the developers updated the voice calling feature for all users and then came in news about video chat mode. However, the video chats are yet to be enabled. Earlier, there were some rumours about WhatsApp to enable message backups to Google Drive. Well, it looks like it is finally here.

If you are using WhatsApp, you could always save and restore your old messages. Though the procedure was a tad complicated for a common user, it was not impossible. The messages are stored in an encrypted database file within the smartphone itself. The encrypted backup database is stored in the WhatsApp folder on the internal storage drive of Android. You need to periodically keep a safe copy of the folder on your microSD card or transfer it to your PC. If you change or upgrade your smartphone, you need to copy the saved folder back to the same location before installing WhatsApp, to restore your old chats. But if you lost your smartphone, you can say goodbye to your old messages.

Now WhatsApp has enabled the option to backup your messaged online, to your own Google cloud. The chat settings, in the new version of WhatsApp (version 2.12.45), features an option to backup your WhatsApp data to Google Drive. You can set the Google account existing on the phone or add a new one to backup your messages. The new version of WhatsApp (version 2.12.45) is not yet available for download on the WhatsApp website (or even the Google Play Store), but if you are interested to download the new version (unofficially), click on this link. Download the new update and sideload the app. WhatsApp will be updated to the latest version. Once updated, you can head to the app’s settings and enable the necessary backup settings to your preference.

Though the Google Drive backup option is available on WhatsApp, we have noticed that there does not seem to be any files stored on the Google Drive cloud. Unless WhatsApp is storing the files in a hidden location on your cloud account or they have a tie-up with Google to mask the backup files by default so that you don’t accidentally delete the file. This could also be a security option so that if anyone hacks into your account, does not have access to the chat backups. There is no information about the same from WhatsApp as yet. We also did notice that there was no option in WhatsApp for restoring the backup from Google. Assuming that WhatsApp will automatically restore (or ask) from the Google cloud when it detects a new installation.

Note: If you delete your WhatsApp account, the backup on your Google Drive will also be deleted.