WhatsApp Backup and Blocked Chats: What You Need to Know

When it comes to managing your messages on WhatsApp, one of the most important features is the ability to create backups of your chat history. But with the diverse range of features and settings available, it's natural to have questions about what exactly gets backed up, and how this affects your blocked contacts.

What Is a WhatsApp Backup?

A WhatsApp backup is a feature that allows you to save your chat history, along with certain other information, to your device or cloud storage. This backup can be restored to a different device or to a new version of WhatsApp on the same device in case you need to recover your data. While the primary focus of a backup is your chat history, there are some nuances to know, especially when it comes to your blocked chats.

Do WhatsApp Backups Include Blocked Chats?

The short answer is yes, WhatsApp backups generally do include your chat history, which includes conversations with blocked contacts. When you restore a backup, the chats with blocked contacts will be restored exactly as they were at the time of the backup. This can be particularly useful if you need to recover deleted messages or if you have switched devices and want to restore your chat history.

Important Considerations

Blocked Status Not Included

It's important to note that the blocked status of your contacts is not stored in the WhatsApp backup. This means that after you restore your backup, you will need to re-block any contacts that you had previously blocked. This can be particularly useful if you had accidental unblocked someone or if you want to re-evaluate your blocked contacts list.

Useful for Recovery

While the blocked status is not included, the benefit of including chat history with blocked contacts is that you can easily recover conversations you might have been actively involved in. This can be invaluable for personal or business communication, as it allows you to pick up right where you left off.

Regular Backups

Making regular backups is a good practice for maintaining your data security and ensuring you don't lose important messages. However, it's also important to be aware of the limitations, such as the blocked contacts status, to manage your contacts effectively.

Steps to Take While Backing Up and Restoring Chats

Backup Your Chats

To ensure that your chat history with blocked contacts is backed up, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app on your WhatsApp.

Navigate to the Chats section and tap on Backup and Restore.

Select your preferred backup location, either internal storage or the cloud.

Click the Backup Now button to start the backup process.

Restore Your Chats

If you need to restore your chats, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app.

Navigate to the Chats section and tap on Backup and Restore.

Select Restore from a Backup you created in the past.

Choose your backup file and tap on Restore.

After restoration, you may need to re-block contacts to maintain your privacy and security. However, the restored chat history will reflect the conversations you had with these contacts.

Conclusion

While WhatsApp backups do include chat history with blocked contacts, it's important to be aware that the blocked status is not stored. This means you'll need to re-block contacts after restoring your backup. However, the benefits of having your chat history available can be substantial, especially for recovery purposes. Regular backups are crucial for maintaining your data and ensuring you never lose critical information.

Proactively managing your blocked contacts and creating regular backups can help you maintain a secure and organized communication system on WhatsApp. By understanding this feature, you can better utilize it to your advantage for personal and professional use.