How to update WhatsApp Plus without losing chats
Updating matters for one concrete reason: anti-ban protection weakens over time as WhatsApp learns to detect older builds. Staying on a year-old version multiplies the chance of restriction.
The good news is that updating preserves everything — chats, media, themes and privacy settings — provided you respect one detail: never uninstall the previous version.
Step by step
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1
Check your current version
Open the mod and go to Settings, Help or About. If it already reads 18.80, there is nothing to do.
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2
Back up
Settings, Chats, Backup, Save. Although updating preserves data, this safety net costs two minutes.
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3
Download the new release
Return to the main page and download APK 18.80. Confirm the size matches the stated 98 MB.
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4
Do not uninstall anything
This is the critical step. Uninstalling before installing wipes the data folder and your local conversations go with it.
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5
Install over the top
Open the downloaded APK. Android recognises it as an update to the existing app. Confirm and wait.
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6
Open and verify
On launch the app asks permission to migrate data. Accept, then check your chats and privacy settings survived.
Tips and warnings
- If the APK signature does not match the installed build, Android refuses the update. Back up, uninstall and install fresh, restoring the backup.
- Always update from the same site you first installed from, so the digital signature matches.
- Check this page every one or two months; that is the usual cadence for new releases.
Questions about this guide
Can it update automatically?
No. Because it is not on Google Play, the mod never receives automatic updates. You download and install each APK by hand.
Do themes survive an update?
Yes. Themes and customisation are part of the app data and are preserved.