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Backing up your chat history

To restore your chat history after transferring your LINE account, you need to back it up beforehand.

Note: Photos and stickers sent in chats cannot be backed up or restored. If there are photos you'd like to save, consider saving them to Albums or Keep.

Before backing up your chats, be sure that:

• You're using the latest version of LINE. (Update the app here.)

• iCloud Drive/Google Drive is turned on.

Note: This feature is unavailable on Android devices that cannot use Google Drive.

• There is enough free space in iCloud Drive/Google Drive.

Note: For information about clearing space in your storage, see this Apple Support page or this Google Drive Help page.

Even if you cannot back up your chat history because your device was lost or stolen, you can automatically transfer your history from the last 14 days if you set a chat history backup PIN. See this Help article for more information.

For the basic ways to back up your chat history, see below.

iOS users

There are two methods available for backing up your chats to iCloud Drive.

Manually back up chats to iCloud Drive

1. From the Home tab, tap Settings > Chat history backup under Backup and transfer.
2. Tap Back up now.
Note: If you don't see Back up now, you need to set a backup PIN, so tap Create backup PIN to back up chat history.

Automatically back up chats to iCloud Drive

1. From the Home tab, tap Settings > Chat history backup under Backup and transfer.
2. Tap Back up how often.
3. Select how often you want to back up your chats.

You can also watch this video to learn how to configure your settings. (Video only available in Japanese.)

Your chats will only be backed up automatically if your device and settings meet the conditions below when the auto-backup refresh starts.
• Your device is plugged into an outlet.
• Your device is connected to the internet.
• The Background App Refresh setting on your device is ON.
Note: For details on how to turn on Background App Refresh, see this link.

Android users

There are two methods available for backing up your chats to Google Drive.

Manually back up chats

1. From the Home tab, tap Settings > Back up and restore chat history under Backup and transfer.
2. Tap Back up now or Back up to Google Drive.
Note: If you don't see Back up now or Back up to Google Drive, you need to set a backup PIN, so tap Create backup PIN to back up chat history.

You can also watch this video to learn how to configure your settings. (Video only available in Japanese.)

Automatically back up chats

1. From the Home tab, tap Settings > Back up and restore chat history under Backup and transfer.
2. Tap Back up how often and turn Enable auto-backup ON.
3. Select how often you want to back up your chats.

You can also watch this video to learn how to configure your settings. (Video only available in Japanese.)

Your chats will only be backed up automatically if your device and settings meet the conditions below when the auto-backup refresh starts.

• Your device is plugged into an outlet.
• Your device is connected to the internet.
Note: If you can't use a Wi-Fi connection, you can still back up your chats with Use mobile data selected.

Your chats will be backed up automatically when you stop using your device and its screen has turned off.

If an auto-backup fails, you'll receive a chat notification from the LINE official account. For more information about this notification, see this Help article.

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Transferring your chat history

You can transfer your chat history to your new device by backing it up with your old device.

If you still have your old device

Make sure you're using the latest version of LINE. (Update the app here.)

Transferring your chat history to a new device running the same OS

First, check your old device to make sure that:
• There is enough free space in Google Drive.
• It's being used in an area with a strong network connection.

Next, follow the steps below to back up your chats:
1. From the Home tab, tap Settings > Back up and restore chat history.
2. Tap Back up now.
Note:
- If you cannot back up your chat history to Google Drive, you can automatically transfer your history from the last 14 days by setting a backup PIN.
- You can confirm the PIN you set by tapping Backup PIN.

Once you've finished backing up your chats, please transfer your account.

Transferring your chat history to a new device running a different OS

You can automatically transfer your chat history from the last 14 days if you set a backup PIN.
Note: If your new device is running a different OS, you cannot transfer your chat history from before the last 14 days that you backed up to Google Drive.

See this Help article and set a backup PIN on your old device.
Note: You can confirm the PIN you set by tapping Backup PIN.

Once you've finished backing up your chats, please transfer your account.

Depending on whether your new device runs the same OS as your old device, the data that can be transferred along with your account will differ. For details, see this Help article.

If you no longer have your old device

Transferring your chat history to a new device running the same OS

If you backed up your chat history to Google Drive

You can transfer your chat history when transferring your account. See the following Help articles for details.

Transferring your LINE account with a phone number
Transferring your account with Facebook
Transferring your account with your Apple ID

Note: If you had a backup PIN set, you'll need to enter it. For more information, see this Help article.

If you didn't back up your chats to Google Drive but had a backup PIN set

You can transfer the last 14 days of your chat history. See this Help article for more information.

If you didn't back up your chats to Google Drive or set a backup PIN

Unfortunately, you will not be able to transfer your chat history.

Transferring your chat history to a new device running a different OS

If you had a backup PIN set

You can transfer the last 14 days of your chat history. See this Help article for more information.
Note: You cannot transfer your chat history from before the last 14 days that was backed up to Google Drive.

If you didn't set a backup PIN

Unfortunately, you will not be able to transfer your chat history.

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About the backup PIN

Setting a backup PIN beforehand lets you smoothly transfer your chat history when you transfer your LINE account.

Note: To transfer your chat history in this way, you need to update LINE to version 12.13.0 or later. (Update the app here.)

The amount of chat history that you can transfer will differ depending on whether you backed up your chats beforehand as well as the OS running on your new device.

If you backed up your chats beforehand and are transferring them to a device running the same OS as your old device:

You can restore all the chats you backed up. See this Help article for more information.

If you didn't back up your chats beforehand or are transferring them to a device running a different OS than your old device:

You can transfer the last 14 days of your chat history by following the steps below.

1. From the Home tab, tap Settings > Back up and restore chat history under Backup and transfer.

2. Tap Back up now or Create backup PIN and back up chat history.

3. Enter a six-digit number.

4. Tap the arrow.

When transferring your LINE account to a new device, you'll need the backup PIN you set to restore your chat history. Be sure to write it down so you don’t forget it.

Also, make sure your backup PIN is a secure combination to prevent it from being used by someone else without your permission.

Here are some tips for setting a hard-to-guess backup PIN:

• Don't use consecutive numbers (e.g. 123456).

• Don't use the same number repetitively (e.g. 111111).

• Don't make the PIN your birthday.

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Restoring chats

Follow the steps below to restore your chats.

Note: Images and stickers that were sent in chats cannot be restored.

iOS users

To restore your chats, turn iCloud Drive on before transferring your LINE account. If you've already transferred your account, please reinstall the LINE app.

Note: You cannot restore your chats by starting LINE and tapping the Home tab > Settings.

To restore your chat history:

1. Turn iCloud Drive ON.

2. Transfer your LINE account with your new device.

3. Once the screen to restore your chat history appears, tap Restore chat history.

Follow the steps below to change your iCloud Drive settings.

Note: Make sure to log in to iCloud with the same Apple ID you used to back up your chat history.

1. From your iOS device, tap Settings > your name at the top of the screen.

2. Tap iCloud and turn iCloud Drive ON.

3. Turn LINE ON.

Note: If different screens appear on your device and you cannot follow these steps, please contact Apple directly.

Android users

1. From the Home tab, tap Settings > Back up and restore chat history under Backup and transfer.
2. Tap Restore.

You can also watch this video to learn how to configure your settings. (Video only available in Japanese.)

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I see an error when backing up my chat history

If an error appears when you try to back up your chat history, check to make sure that:

• You're using the latest version of LINE. (Update the app here.)

• You're connected to Google Drive. (See this Google Drive Help page for details.)

• You're logged in to the right Google account.

• There is enough free space in Google Drive.

If an auto-backup fails because you don't have enough free space in Google Drive or on your device, one of the following error messages will appear in a notification from the app or on the settings screen.

Note: You will not receive a notification if an auto-backup fails for another reason.

• Backup failed at XX:XX on MM/DD. Not enough free space in Google Drive.

• Backup failed at XX:XX on MM/DD. Not enough free space on your device.

If you receive a notification like the ones above, or if you find that you cannot do a periodic backup in the LINE app, make sure that you have enough free space in Google Drive and on your device, then try again.

Note: For information about clearing space in Google Drive, see this Google Drive Help page.

We recommend regularly checking the app to make sure your chat history is successfully backed up.

Even if you're unable to back up your chat history to Google Drive, you can transfer your history from the last 14 days if you set a backup PIN beforehand. For the steps to do so, see this Help article.

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Chat history

Backing up your chat history

Transferring your chat history

About the backup PIN

Restoring chats

I see an error when backing up my chat history

I can only restore some of my chat history