Backing up KakaoTalk is one of the first things you should do before switching to a new phone or resetting your device. KakaoTalk doesn’t keep your chat history on its servers permanently, so switching phones without a backup can mean losing everything. This guide covers the difference between free and paid backups, how to restore your chats on a new device, and how to fix the most common backup errors.
๐ฆ Free vs. Paid Backup
KakaoTalk offers two backup options.
| Free temporary chat backup | TalkCloud (formerly Talk Drawer Plus, paid) | |
|---|---|---|
| What’s backed up | Text chats only (excludes photos, videos, messages over 4,000 characters, secret chats, and open chats) | Text + photos + files + video and most other data |
| How it’s saved | You have to manually trigger a backup | Automatic, real-time backup after signing up |
| Retention | Deleted automatically 14 days after backup | Kept for as long as you stay subscribed |
| Restoring after a phone switch | Works even across Android โ iPhone, as long as it’s the same Kakao account | Same โ works as long as it’s the same account |
| Cost | Free | Paid (tiered by storage) |
๐ก If all you need is your recent text chats, the free backup is enough. If you want to keep your photos and files safely as well, you’ll need the paid cloud service, TalkCloud.
๐ How to Back Up Chats for Free
1๏ธโฃ Open KakaoTalk โ tap “More (ยทยทยท)” at the bottom โ tap the Settings (โ๏ธ) icon in the top corner.
2๏ธโฃ Go to “Backup” and select “Temporary chat backup.”
3๏ธโฃ Set a backup password. (โ You’ll need this to restore later, so make sure to remember it โ it can’t be reset if lost.)
4๏ธโฃ Run the backup, and you’ll see a confirmation screen once it’s done.
โ ๏ธ The free backup only saves text chats โ photos, videos, messages over 4,000 characters, secret chats, and open chats are excluded. It’s also automatically deleted 14 days after you create it, so if you’re planning to switch phones, it’s safest to back up right before setting up the new device.
โ๏ธ TalkCloud: The Paid Option for Photos and Files
Kakao’s former “Talk Drawer Plus” was rebranded as TalkCloud after an August 2025 overhaul. It’s a subscription cloud service that automatically and continuously backs up your text chats along with photos, videos, and files.
- Where to sign up: KakaoTalk โ More โ Settings โ Backup (or TalkCloud) menu.
- How to pay: Subscribing through a PC or mobile web browser at my.kakao.com, instead of paying inside the app, avoids in-app payment fees and tends to be cheaper.
- Pricing: Storage tiers and prices have changed before and may change again, and existing subscribers can sometimes keep older pricing. For the most accurate, current rates, check the official TalkCloud page.
๐ก If you’re at risk of losing or having to replace your phone while abroad, subscribing to TalkCloud ahead of time is the most reliable way to keep your chats and photos safe.
๐ Restoring Chats After Switching Phones
Here’s how to bring your chats back on a new phone:
1๏ธโฃ Install the KakaoTalk app on your new device.
2๏ธโฃ Log in with the same Kakao account you used on your old device, and complete phone number verification.
3๏ธโฃ If a backup exists, a restore screen appears automatically during profile setup. Check the backup date and select “Restore.”
4๏ธโฃ Enter the password you set when creating the backup, and the restore will begin. Don’t close the app until it finishes.
Even with the free backup, switching from Android to iPhone (or vice versa) works fine for restoring, as long as you’re using the same Kakao account. Just remember that backups older than 14 days are automatically deleted and can no longer be restored.
โ ๏ธ If you forget your backup password, that particular backup can’t be restored โ your only option is to create a new backup with a new password.
๐จ Fixing “Backup Failed” or “Storage Full” Errors
If a backup fails, check these common causes first:
- Unstable network connection: A shaky Wi-Fi or mobile data connection can interrupt the backup mid-process. Try again on a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- Low storage on your device: If your phone itself is low on storage, the backup file may fail to be created. Free up some space by removing unneeded apps or files.
- Too much cached media in chat rooms: Under KakaoTalk’s storage management settings, you can clear cached photos and videos per chat room without deleting the actual chat history โ this frees up device storage.
- Very large group chats: Chats with a lot of shared photos and files can make the free backup more likely to fail. If you need to keep the media in a chat like that, TalkCloud is the safer option.
- Wrong backup password: If the password you enter during restore doesn’t match the one set at backup time, the restore won’t proceed.
Kakao doesn’t publish an exact storage limit for the free backup, so heavy chat histories may occasionally trigger something resembling a “storage full” error. If this happens often, switching to the paid TalkCloud service is the more reliable long-term fix.
๐ How to Cancel TalkCloud
If you no longer want to keep paying for TalkCloud, you can cancel it here:
- From the app (Android/iPhone): More โ Settings (โ๏ธ) โ Manage โ Subscription Management โ select “KakaoTalk TalkCloud” โ Cancel.
- From the web: Log in to my.kakao.com with your Kakao account โ My Subscriptions โ find TalkCloud (formerly Talk Drawer Plus) โ Cancel.
โ ๏ธ Canceling doesn’t delete your data immediately, but after a grace period, everything stored in the cloud โ photos, files, and chat history โ is permanently deleted. Download anything important before you cancel. Refund terms can vary depending on how long you’ve used the service, so check the cancellation screen or Kakao Customer Service for exact conditions.
๐ FAQ
Q. Can I use the free backup and TalkCloud at the same time? A. Yes โ they’re separate services, so there’s no conflict using both.
Q. Will my photos be restored too? A. No, the free backup only covers text chats. To restore photos, you’ll need a TalkCloud backup.
Q. Will my chats restore if I switch from Android to iPhone? A. Yes, as long as you log in with the same Kakao account, text chats restore fine across Android and iPhone. Just make sure it’s within 14 days of the backup.
Q. I forgot my backup password. A. That backup can’t be recovered. If you still have access to your old device, create a new backup there and set a new password.
โจ Wrapping Up
A few minutes spent backing up before you switch phones or reset a device can save you from losing chats you care about. The free backup covers you if you only need text, but if photos and files matter too, TalkCloud is worth considering.
