Restore Viber Data: 6 Ways to Recover Chats

To restore Viber data, you must have a backup, because Viber does not store your chat history on its servers. You can restore from a Google Drive backup (Android) or iCloud backup (iPhone), or from a local backup file on your computer. This article explains every official method step by step, what to do if you have no backup, and how to avoid losing data again.

How Viber Backups Work

Viber uses a backup-and-restore model. Your messages, photos, and videos are stored on your device only. When you enable backups, Viber encrypts your chat history and uploads it to your cloud account (Google Drive on Android, iCloud on iPhone) or to your computer via the desktop app. The backup does not include calls, hidden chats, or messages deleted before the backup was made.

Backups happen automatically if you turn them on, but you can also create a manual backup at any time. The backup file is tied to your phone number, so you must verify the same number on the new device to restore it.

Before You Restore: What You Need

Your original phone number (the one used when the backup was created).
Access to the same Google account (Android) or Apple ID (iPhone) that stored the backup.
Enough free storage on your device for the restored data.
A stable Wi-Fi connection, because large backups can take a long time.

If you are moving to a new phone, install Viber first, verify your number, and then follow the restore prompt. If you skip the prompt, you can still restore later from Settings > Account > Viber Backup.

Restore Viber Data on Android (Google Drive)

Install Viber from the Google Play Store and open it.
Verify your phone number. Viber will detect that a backup exists for that number.
Tap Restore when prompted. If you don’t see the prompt, go to More > Settings > Account > Viber Backup and tap Restore.
Wait for the download to finish. Do not close the app or switch to another app during this time.
Once done, your chats and media will appear. Media files may take a few more minutes to fully download.

If the restore fails, check that you are signed into the correct Google account in Viber’s backup settings. Also make sure your device has enough free space.

Restore Viber Data on iPhone (iCloud)

Install Viber from the App Store and open it.
Verify your phone number. Viber will check iCloud for a backup.
Tap Restore when the prompt appears. If not, go to Settings > Account > Viber Backup and tap Restore.
Enter your Apple ID password if prompted (this is normal – Viber needs permission to access iCloud).
Wait for the download to complete. Keep the app open.

Note: iCloud backups are encrypted and can only be restored on the same Apple ID. If you changed your Apple ID, you cannot restore.

Restore Viber Data from a Computer Backup

Viber’s desktop app can create a local backup file (a .viber file) that you can use to restore on a new phone. This is useful if you don’t use cloud backups.

On your computer, open Viber Desktop and go to Settings > Account > Backup.
Click Back Up Now to create a backup file. Note the location (usually Documents/ViberPC/<phone number>/Backups).
Transfer that backup file to your new phone (via USB, email, or cloud storage).
Install Viber on the new phone, verify your number, and when asked to restore, choose Restore from file and select the transferred file.

This method works on both Android and iPhone, but the file must be from the same phone number.

What If You Have No Backup?

If you never enabled backups, there is no official way to recover Viber chats. Viber does not keep copies of your messages on its servers. Third-party tools claiming to recover Viber data without a backup are not reliable and may compromise your privacy. Your only hope is if you have a full device backup (like a full iTunes or Samsung Smart Switch backup) – you could restore that backup to the same phone, but it will replace your current data.

Common Problems and Fixes

Restore button greyed out: You are not signed into the correct account, or no backup exists for that number.
Restore stuck at a percentage: Poor internet connection or low storage. Pause other downloads, connect to Wi-Fi, and free up space.
Restored chats are missing media: Media is downloaded lazily. Tap the image or video to download it, or check your backup settings to ensure media was included.
Restore fails on iPhone: Go to iOS Settings > Apple ID > iCloud and make sure Viber is toggled on. Also check that you have enough iCloud storage.
Restore fails on Android: Clear Viber’s cache (Settings > Apps > Viber > Storage > Clear Cache) and try again. Do not clear data, as that may delete your local history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restore Viber chats without a backup?

No. Viber does not store your chat history on its servers. Without a backup, there is no official way to recover your messages. Some third-party tools claim to do this, but they are not endorsed and often require root or jailbreak access, which poses security risks.

Does Viber backup include hidden chats?

No. Hidden chats are excluded from backups for privacy reasons. If you want to keep a hidden chat, you must unhide it before creating a backup.

Can I restore Viber backup from Google Drive to an iPhone?

No. Google Drive backups only work on Android, and iCloud backups only work on iPhone. There is no cross-platform restore. You would need to use a computer backup file (the .viber file) to transfer between platforms, but that is not officially supported for all media.

How often does Viber auto-backup?

Viber auto-backup frequency depends on your settings: you can choose daily, weekly, or monthly. On Android, it also depends on your Google Drive storage availability. On iPhone, it uses iCloud and may only back up when the device is charging and on Wi-Fi.

Will restoring Viber overwrite my current chats?

Yes. Restoring a backup replaces all current data on the device. If you have new chats you want to keep, create a manual backup first, then restore the older backup. You cannot merge two backups.

Can I restore Viber data after reinstalling the app?

Yes, as long as you have a backup. After reinstalling and verifying your number, Viber will detect the backup and offer to restore. If you skip it, you can restore later from Settings > Account > Viber Backup.

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