6 Solutions to WhatsApp Couldn't Restore Chat History

Why are WhatsApp messages not loading?

WhatsApp is used by billions of people worldwide for personal and business use. You use WhatsApp to keep in contact with your friends, colleagues, and business partners. When you have new iPhone, you will restore WhatsApp from iCloud to keep your Chat history and important attachments. But sometimes, the process may fail and get an error like WhatsApp couldn't restore chat history.

Why would that happen? Generally, there are 5 reasons why you cannot restore WhatsApp messages.

►Your network is not working or not stable.

►The source and targeted iPhones are using different Apple accounts.

►WhatsApp option is disabled on iCloud.

►iOS version is old.

►iCloud Storage space is getting full, and it is not enough for WhatsApp backup and restoration.

What to do if  WhatsApp not loading chat history on iPhone?

Here are some common solutions to this issue. If you get the WhatsApp chat history recover error by checking your network, iCloud storage, iOS version, etc. You can turn to Solution 6 to use a third-party tool to transfer WhatsApp messages (chat history and attachments) from iPhone to iPhone more easily.

Solution 1. Make sure your iPhone has a stable network

A stable and strong Wi-Fi or network condition is necessary for restoring WhatsApp data to new iPhone with iCloud. You may get a WhatsApp error-"Couldn't restore messages: Check your Internet connection", Please make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi network or cellular data.

If your network is working well, and the problem is still there, you can turn off and turn on your network. Then try restore WhatsApp chat history again.

Solution 2. Enable the WhatsApp app on iCloud

iCloud provides a service that syncs app data, including WhatsApp among your different devices. Sometimes, if you turn off the WhatsApp option, you couldn't restore WhatsApp messages from iCloud. You can follow the steps to enable iCloud and WhatsApp.

Step 1. Go to “Settings” on your old iPhone.

Step 2. Tap the Apple ID banner > Choose “iCloud”.

Step 3. Activate the iCloud Drive and toggle on the WhatsApp option.

Now you can go to WhatsApp settings again and restore the chat history again.

Solution 3. Upgrade iOS version.

If you don’t find the WhatsApp option on iCloud Drive, it is probably because the iOS version is too low. Besides, the “WhatsApp couldn’t restore chat history” is probably because of a bug, and it may be fixed on the new iOS version. You can upgrade your iOS to fix it.

To upgrade iOS, go to “Settings” on iPhone > choose “General” > “Software Update” > “Download and Install”.

Then download the iOS package and follow the prompt to install the last iOS version.

Solution 4. Check and free up your iCloud storage

Apple only gives 5GB of free storage space for each user. If WhatsApp couldn’t restore chat history from iCloud, you can check if your iCloud storage is full. You can buy more storage space. If you don’t want to, follow the steps to free up iCloud storage.

Step 1. You can go to “Settings” app > tap “Your Name” banner > “iCloud” > “Manage Storage”

Step 2. Now you can check the specific back information. Then you can choose an item that takes up the most storage space. Choose “Disable & Delete” to release iCloud storage.

Solution 5. Make sure both iPhones are using the same Apple ID

If iCloud data is only allowed to transfer to one account. It won’t work if you have another Apple ID/iCloud on the new iPhone. When you have a new Apple ID on your new iPhone and need to transfer WhatsApp from one Apple ID to another, you can refer to this post: How to Transfer WhatsApp from One Apple ID to Another.

Solution 6. Alternative way to transfer WhatsApp to new iPhone

If all the solutions can’t help you fix the “WhatsApp couldn't restore chat history” on iPhone 16/15, you can use a third-party tool to backup and restore WhatsApp.

In this case, you can rely on FoneTool, which is a powerful WhatsApp transfer and backup software enabling you easily backup and restore WhatsApp chat, photos, videos, sticker, etc. easily.

Here are some features of FoneTool making it to be the best way to transfer WhatsApp.

Now you can connect your two iPhones with a computer, and download and install FoneTool. And follow the steps below.

Part 1. Backup WhatsApp to PC

Step 1. Run FoneTool on your iPhone. Click “Whatsapp Manager” on the left pane. Choose WhatsApp or WA Business. Move the cursor to "Backup WhatsApp" and click "Get Started".

Step 2. This window allows you to encrypt the backup process, and specify a backup location. Then click "Start Backup" to wait for the backup process to get finished.

Part 2. Restore WhatsApp to iPhone

Step 4.  Connect the targeted device to the iPhone. Enter My Backups and click the Restore icon.

Step 5. Select your backup files, and click the "Start Restore" button.

Conclusion

Now you have known how to fix WhatsApp couldn't restore chat history" issue.  When you can't recover WhatsApp chat history from iCloud on your iPhone 16/15 (iOS 18/17), you can try these methods one by one until it gets fixed.

 Or you can directly turn to FoneTool-a great WhatsApp data transfer tool, to avoid this problem. Besides, after transferring data, you can also use FoneTool to completely wipe old iPhone to protect your data from leakage.