How to transfer WhatsApp chats to a new iOS or Android phone
Keep your messages when you switch from one device to another.
Billions of people now use WhatsApp to communicate on their mobile phones, and for good reason. The app is packed with features, provides end-to-end encryption for users, and provides a rich experience across platforms. If you’ve spent a lot of time messaging on WhatsApp, you won’t want to part with it when you move to a new phone. How to quickly transfer WhatsApp chats to a new phone?
Fortunately, WhatsApp has taken care of this, and the migration process is not complicated. There is even a transition from Android to iOS and vice versa. The process of transferring chats in each case is different, but regardless of which devices it takes place on, it will not take more than a few minutes. MigNews will share the instructions.
How to transfer WhatsApp chats to a new phone: from Android to Android
WhatsApp can restore messages from a Google Drive backup, Source: WhatsApp/David Nield
Restoring WhatsApp messages to your new Android phone isn't difficult if your old phone also runs Android. On your old phone, first make sure you have everything backed up to Google Drive. Tap the three dots (top right), then Settings and chats, then Chat backup. Hopefully, you won't need this backup, but you'll be glad you did if something goes wrong.
Then install WhatsApp on your new phone. Once you've signed in with your phone number, the app should recognize that you have chats on another device that you might want to transfer. Tap “Transfer from old device” when prompted, follow the instructions, and a QR code will appear on your screen.
Then you need to go back to WhatsApp on your old phone, which will be ready to scan the QR code on your new phone. Once you've scanned it, accept the invitation to link the devices, and a progress bar will appear on the screen. When you see confirmation that the transfer is complete, tap “Done.” And you'll be ready to go on your new phone.
You can also restore a WhatsApp backup from Google Drive. This option automatically appears if you install (or reinstall) WhatsApp on your Android device and sign in with the phone number associated with your existing backup. Simply tap “Restore” to get your chats back.
How to save all WhatsApp conversations when changing phones: from iOS to iOS
There is a direct connection from iPhone to iPhone, without using iCloud, Source: WhatsApp/David Nield
As with switching from Android to Android, backing up your chats isn't necessarily necessary when switching from one iPhone to another. But we still recommend that you do. On your old iPhone, open WhatsApp and select Settings, Chats, and Chat Backup. For backups on iOS, Apple's iCloud storage service is used.
Return to the chats screen, then select “Transfer Chats to iPhone” and “Start.” A QR code will then appear on the screen. You can now switch your attention to your new iPhone, where you need to install the WhatsApp app and set it up using your existing phone number. Once the number is recognized, you will be prompted to continue the chat transfer process that you have already started, so tap “Continue” to agree.
Scan the QR code that appears on your old iPhone with your new iPhone. This will give WhatsApp all the information it needs to transfer your conversations between your devices. And you'll see a progress bar on your screen while it's happening. When the transfer is complete, tap Next to continue using WhatsApp on your new iPhone.
If the transfer doesn't work, you can restore your WhatsApp backup on iOS. However, the restore option only appears when you first install WhatsApp (so you may have to uninstall and reinstall it). After registering your existing phone number, select the “Restore Chat History” message that appears on your screen.
How to transfer WhatsApp chats to a new phone: from Android to iOS
The Move to iOS app includes a WhatsApp option, Source: Apple
If you're switching from Android to iOS, the only way to transfer your WhatsApp chats is to use the Move to iOS app for Android. It will take care of transferring data across a range of apps, including WhatsApp. It can also transfer all of your Google contacts and calendars.
Download the Move to iOS app and simply follow the on-screen instructions. You'll need to enter the code displayed on your new iPhone to confirm that you want to link the devices. The important screen is the data transfer screen, where you need to make sure that the WhatsApp option is selected, as well as any other types of data that you want to transfer.
The Move to iOS app will take care of signing you in on Android. And once you get confirmation that your data has been transferred, you can install and open WhatsApp for iOS. If you're signed in using the same phone number as before, you'll see a prompt to complete the transfer of your conversations.
It is not possible to restore WhatsApp messages from a Google Drive backup (on Android) to WhatsApp on iPhone. The only option is the Move to iOS app. If you prefer, you can export individual chats from Android to an email archive (via Chats, Chat History, and Export Chats in Settings) and start over on iPhone.
How to save all WhatsApp conversations when changing phones: from iOS to Android
Android can copy data from iOS using a cable, Source: Google
If you're switching from iPhone to Android, compatibility issues still remain. WhatsApp on Android can't read WhatsApp backups in iCloud. So you can't just log in on your new phone and restore the backup. You can export chats to email (Chats, then Export Chat in Settings), but again, you can't restore them to iPhone.
You can use a more general iOS to Android data transfer solution that Google has built into Android and that covers a lot of apps, including WhatsApp. However, you have to do this the first time you start up your new Android phone, during the initial setup – you can't do it later.
During the initial setup process, connecting to Wi-Fi, etc., you'll see a prompt to copy data from your other phone. Make sure you select “Next” and not “Don't copy.” Follow the on-screen instructions and make sure WhatsApp is selected as one of the entries in the “Apps” section (it should be selected by default).
You'll then need to connect the two phones using a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to Lightning cable. The transfer utility will then take care of transferring all your apps and conversations. Although the first time you open WhatsApp on Android, you'll still need to sign in using your existing phone number.
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