Back up and restore Watusi chats manually
iCloud backup doesn't work on a sideloaded WhatsApp, but you can copy your chats yourself with the Files app.
Updated
iCloud backup doesn't work on a sideloaded WhatsApp. If you installed the Watusi build that replaces WhatsApp, you can still keep a copy of your chats by copying WhatsApp's folder in the Files app.
Tip
Using Watusi as a linked duplicate, as in the sideload guide? You don't need this — your chats live in the App Store WhatsApp, which backs up to iCloud as normal.
Back up your chats
Open the Files app and go to the WhatsApp folder.
Select everything inside it and tap Copy.
Make a new folder somewhere else — call it something like "WhatsApp Backup" — and paste everything there.
Restore your chats
- Delete WhatsApp from your iPhone.
- Install the latest Watusi build, open it once, then close it.
- In Files, copy everything from your backup folder.
- Go to the new WhatsApp folder, delete what's inside, and paste your backup in.
- Open WhatsApp and finish registering. Your chats should be back.
This works because every Watusi build has the Document Browser feature turned on, which is what makes WhatsApp's folder visible in Files.
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