How to Back Up Viber Chats on iPhone and Android

A Viber backup can help you restore chat history if you move to a new phone or reinstall the app. Before you begin, make sure Viber is updated, you can access the Google or Apple account tied to your phone, and you have a reliable internet connection. Menu names can vary slightly by app version.

What You’ll Need

An Android phone with Google Drive available, or an iPhone with iCloud Drive enabled.
The Google account or Apple Account you intend to use for the backup, signed in on the phone.
Enough free cloud storage for the backup, plus a stable Wi-Fi connection. Viber backup data may use your Google Drive or iCloud storage allowance.
Your current phone number and access to it, especially if you are preparing to activate Viber on another device.

Step-by-Step

Check which phone you use. Viber’s built-in chat backup works with Google Drive on Android and iCloud on iPhone. A backup created on one platform cannot be restored directly onto the other, so check this before switching between Android and iPhone.
Confirm the cloud account. On Android, open the phone’s Settings and check that the Google account you want is signed in and available for Drive. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, and confirm iCloud Drive is enabled. These system paths can differ slightly by version.
Allow Viber to use cloud storage. If your phone asks for permission to access Google Drive or iCloud, allow it. If Viber cannot connect, check the phone’s account and app permissions rather than repeatedly tapping the backup button.
Open Viber’s backup controls. Open Viber and go to More, then Settings, then Account, then Viber Backup. On some versions, labels or placement may differ slightly; look in Account settings for the backup option.
Choose whether to include photos and videos. Review the media option before starting. Including media can make a backup larger and take longer; leaving it out may mean those files are not restored as part of the chat backup. Keep separate copies of important media if you need them.
Start a manual backup. Tap Back Up or Back Up Now, then leave Viber open and the phone connected to the internet while it runs. Use Wi-Fi when possible, particularly if you are including media or have a limited mobile data plan.
Check the completion status. Wait for Viber to show that the backup finished or display a recent backup time. Do not assume the backup succeeded just because you tapped the button. If it stalls, see Troubleshooting below.
Set a schedule if offered. In the same backup screen, select an automatic backup frequency if the option is available. Choose a frequency that suits how often you use Viber, and keep the phone connected to its cloud account so scheduled backups can run.
Restore carefully on a replacement phone. Install Viber on the new phone, activate it with the same phone number, and sign in to the same Google or Apple account used for the backup. When prompted, choose the restore option. Follow the on-screen instructions and allow the restore to complete before relying on the chat history.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong cloud account: A backup saved to a different Google account or Apple Account may not appear during restore. Verify the account before backing up and use that same account on the new phone.
Expecting cross-platform transfer: Android Google Drive backups do not restore directly to iPhone, and iCloud backups do not restore directly to Android. Plan for the platform limitation before replacing your phone.
Assuming media is included: Photos and videos may be controlled separately from chat text. Check the media setting and the completed backup details; keep independent copies of anything especially important.
Removing the old app too soon: Do not erase or trade in the old phone until you have confirmed a recent successful backup and, if possible, checked that the new phone restores it.
Confusing a backup with message delivery: A backup is for restoring supported chat history, not a way to retrieve deleted messages from someone else’s account or to guarantee that every item will be recoverable.

Tips

Run a manual backup shortly before you change phones, then verify its completion time. A scheduled backup may not have run recently enough to include your latest conversations.
Keep your phone number active and available for Viber activation. Access to the cloud account alone may not be enough to set up Viber on a replacement device.
Make room in Google Drive or iCloud before backing up. If storage is nearly full, remove unneeded files using the cloud provider’s own tools or adjust Viber’s media inclusion setting.
Keep Viber and your phone’s operating system reasonably up to date, and use a secure screen lock. Cloud backups can contain private conversations, so protect access to the device and account.
For especially important photos, documents, or videos, keep a separate copy outside Viber. A chat backup is not a substitute for an independent archive.

Troubleshooting

Backup option is missing: Update Viber from your phone’s official app store, then check More > Settings > Account again. The exact labels can vary slightly by version. Confirm you are using Viber on a supported phone rather than a desktop installation.

Backup will not start or keeps failing: Check your internet connection, available cloud storage, and that the correct Google or Apple account is signed in. On iPhone, confirm iCloud Drive is enabled; on Android, confirm Google services and Drive access are available. Restart the phone and try again on a stable Wi-Fi connection.

Backup appears stuck: Large chat histories or included media can take time. Keep the phone powered and connected, and avoid closing Viber while it is working. If it repeatedly stops, try again with media excluded, then separately save important media.

Restore is not offered: Check that Viber is activated with the same phone number and that the phone is signed in to the same cloud account used to create the backup. Also confirm you are restoring on the same platform. If setup is already complete, look for the restore option in Viber Backup settings; available choices depend on the app version and backup state.

Some chats or files are missing: Check the date of the last completed backup and whether media was included. A backup cannot restore content that was not captured in it, and deleted or unsynced items may not be recoverable. Avoid creating a new backup until you understand whether it could replace an older one you still need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Viber back up chats automatically?

It can, if you select an automatic schedule in Viber Backup settings and the phone can access its cloud account. Check the displayed backup time rather than assuming an automatic backup has run.

Can I back up Viber without Google Drive or iCloud?

Viber’s built-in mobile chat backup uses Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone. You can save individual media files separately, but that is not the same as a restorable Viber chat backup.

Can I move my Viber backup from Android to iPhone?

Viber’s Google Drive and iCloud chat backups are platform-specific and do not restore directly across Android and iPhone. Check Viber’s current in-app transfer options before switching platforms.

Will my Viber backup include photos and videos?

Media inclusion depends on the backup settings and the options available in your version of Viber. Review the media setting before backing up, and save important files separately if you need another copy.

Does backing up Viber save my messages to my computer?

No. The built-in backup is stored through the phone’s linked cloud service, not as a regular computer file you can browse. Follow the cloud provider’s account and security settings to protect it.

Further reading: Viber Help. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.