Quick Answer
Yes, it is possible to restore a WhatsApp backup from a different phone number, but you need to meet certain requirements in order for it to work properly. The key factors are:
- The backup must be stored on Google Drive or locally on the device.
- You need access to the old phone number that created the backup.
- The backup should be less than 1 year old.
- Your new phone number must be on the same operating system (Android/iPhone) as the old number.
Follow these steps:
- Uninstall WhatsApp on your new phone.
- Install WhatsApp again and verify your new phone number.
- On the setup screen, when prompted to restore from a backup, select the backup from your old number stored on Google Drive or your device.
- Enter the verification code sent to your old number to restore the backup.
Once the backup is restored, you will have your full WhatsApp chat history from the old number on your device with the new number.
What happens when you restore WhatsApp backup from a different number?
When you restore a WhatsApp backup from a different number, all of your WhatsApp data like chats, media, settings etc. get transferred from the old number to your new number.
Here is what gets restored:
- Your entire chat history and media from chats
- Your WhatsApp settings like privacy, notification preferences etc.
- Your WhatsApp call history
- Any starred messages
- WhatsApp group memberships
- Your profile name, about section and profile photo
Basically, your entire WhatsApp account from the old number is replicated on the new number after restore.
However, there are a couple of things that do NOT get restored:
- Your contacts list does not get transferred over for privacy reasons.
- Any messages you received on your new number before restoring the backup will not be there.
You will have to add contacts again and sync new messages from the time you activated your new number. But all your older chats and data from the time on your old number will be intact.
Requirements for restoring WhatsApp backup on a new number
Here are the key requirements to successfully restore WhatsApp backup from an old number to a new number:
- The backup must be stored on Google Drive or your phone storage. WhatsApp backups stored on external SD cards cannot be restored.
- You need to have access to the old phone number in order to receive the verification code during restore.
- The backup must be less than 1 year old. WhatsApp does not allow restoring from backups older than 1 year.
- Your old and new phone numbers must be on the same operating system – Android to Android or iPhone to iPhone.
- Your old and new phones should be compatible models capable of running the latest WhatsApp version.
As long as these requirements are met, you can seamlessly transfer your WhatsApp data from an old number to a new number by restoring your chat backup.
Step-by-step guide to restore WhatsApp backup on new number
Follow these steps carefully to restore your WhatsApp backup from an old number to a new number:
- Backup WhatsApp data from old number – On your old phone, ensure your chat history is backed up to Google Drive or locally on the device storage. WhatsApp backs up data automatically by default, but you can also manually backup anytime.
- Remove WhatsApp from new phone – If you already installed WhatsApp using your new number, uninstall it first. This ensures the restore process works without conflicts.
- Install and verify WhatsApp on new phone – Download and install latest WhatsApp version on your new phone. When prompted, enter your new phone number and verify it.
- Select backup to restore – On the ‘Restore from backup’ screen, select the backup from your old number that you want to restore from Google Drive or device storage.
- Enter verification code – WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code to your old number. Enter this code to verify identity and restore the backup.
- Wait for restore to complete – It may take some time depending on size of your backup. Do not interrupt the process until restore is 100% complete.
Once the restore is complete, all your old WhatsApp chats and data will be migrated to your device with the new number. You can now start using WhatsApp on the new phone.
Can I restore WhatsApp backup from Android to iPhone?
No, you cannot restore a WhatsApp backup from an Android phone to an iPhone, or vice versa. WhatsApp backups are platform-specific and can only be restored on a device with the same operating system.
So an Android backup can only be restored on an Android phone, while an iPhone backup can only be restored on an iPhone. WhatsApp does not allow cross-platform restore between Android and iOS.
This limitation is due to differences in how Android and iOS systems store data, making their backup files incompatible. The requirement to have the same OS on old and new phone is mandatory for WhatsApp backup & restore.
Troubleshooting tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you face any issues while trying to restore WhatsApp backup from another number:
- Check if the backup is stored on Google Drive or your local storage. Backups on external SD card cannot be restored.
- Make sure your old number is still active and you can receive the verification code on it when restoring.
- Confirm the backup is less than 1 year old. WhatsApp cannot restore really old backups.
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp if restore gets stuck midway.
- Check for any OS or WhatsApp version incompatibilities between old and new phone.
- Disable battery optimizations for WhatsApp if the restore process is killing the app.
- Try switching between WiFi and cellular data if you face network issues.
If you still face restore problems, contact WhatsApp support for further assistance on troubleshooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I restore WhatsApp backup from another phone?
Yes, you can restore WhatsApp chats and data from a backup created on another phone, as long as it is on the same operating system (Android or iPhone) and meets the other requirements like backup age, Google Drive storage etc.
Will my old WhatsApp number still work after restoring backup?
No, once you restore the backup on your new number, your old number will stop working on WhatsApp. Your account is transferred fully to the new number.
Do I lose my existing chats if I restore WhatsApp backup?
Any new chats on your number from before the time of backup restore will be lost. Only the chats till the date of backup on your old number will be restored.
Can I merge WhatsApp chats from two numbers?
No, you cannot merge WhatsApp chats from two different numbers. You can only restore the whole backup of one number to another number, replacing all existing data.
How many days does WhatsApp backup work?
WhatsApp backups remain valid for restore up to 1 year from the date of backup. Any backup older than 1 year cannot be restored on WhatsApp.
Conclusion
Restoring WhatsApp backup from an old number to a new number allows you to seamlessly transfer your chat history, media, settings and other data. This migrates your account to the new number so you can continue where you left off.
As long as your backup is recent, stored properly, and meets WhatsApp’s cross-platform requirements, you can restore it even on a new phone number. Just be sure to uninstall WhatsApp from your new phone before starting the restore process for best results.