WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. As we continue to upgrade to new phones, many WhatsApp users wonder if they can transfer their WhatsApp data from one phone to another.
Can I move my WhatsApp chats to a new phone?
Yes, it is possible to transfer your WhatsApp chats and data from one phone to another. WhatsApp provides a built-in chat transfer feature that allows you to move your chats when you change phones. Here are the key things to know about transferring WhatsApp chats between phones:
- WhatsApp must be installed on both the old and new phones. Make sure you have the latest version installed.
- The transfer is initiated from the new phone, not the old one.
- Your phone numbers on the old and new phone must be the same.
- You can transfer chats and media between Android phones and iPhones.
- You can transfer over Wi-Fi or your phone’s data connection.
- End-to-end encrypted chats will remain encrypted during the transfer.
How to transfer WhatsApp from Android to Android
Follow these steps to transfer WhatsApp data from an old Android phone to a new Android phone:
- Back up your chats on your old Android phone. Open WhatsApp > Tap More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup. Tap BACK UP to Google Drive.
- On your new phone, install the latest version of WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
- On the new phone, open WhatsApp and tap More options > Settings > Chats > Chat restore. Tap RESTORE when prompted.
- WhatsApp will now transfer and restore your chats and data from Google Drive to your new Android phone.
How to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to iPhone
To move your WhatsApp data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone, follow these steps:
- Back up your iPhone chats either to iCloud or locally to iTunes on your computer. This saves a copy of your WhatsApp data.
- On your new iPhone, install the latest version of WhatsApp and log in with your phone number.
- On the new phone, open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Restore.
- Tap Restore and select either the iCloud backup or local iTunes backup to transfer chats & data to your new iPhone.
How to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone
Switching from Android to iPhone? Here is how to move your WhatsApp data:
- On your Android phone, back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive. (WhatsApp > More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup)
- On your new iPhone, install WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
- On the iPhone, open WhatsApp and go through the setup prompts until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
- On the Apps & Data screen, tap Move Data from Android and follow the instructions.
- WhatsApp will find the Google Drive backup associated with your account and restore your chats to your new iPhone.
How to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Android
To move WhatsApp from an iPhone to an Android phone:
- On your iPhone, back up your WhatsApp chats to iCloud.
- On your Android phone, install WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
- On the Android phone, open WhatsApp > More options > Settings > Chats > Chat restore.
- Tap RESTORE when prompted and select the iCloud backup to restore chats & data from iPhone to Android.
What gets transferred when moving WhatsApp to a new phone?
When you use WhatsApp’s chat transfer or move option, here are the key items that get transferred from your old phone to your new phone:
- Your entire WhatsApp chat history and messages
- Your WhatsApp contacts list
- Your WhatsApp groups
- Your media files – photos, videos, voice messages, documents
- Your WhatsApp call history
- Your chat backups and schedules
- Your WhatsApp settings
In short, the chat history move aims to get your full WhatsApp account and data moved over seamlessly to continue chatting where you left off.
What does not transfer between phones?
While most of your WhatsApp data moves over, there are some items that do not transfer between phones:
- Your phone call history and text messages stored on your phone’s local storage do not move over. The transfer is limited to WhatsApp data only.
- Any files or media stored only locally on your phone and not uploaded to WhatsApp do not transfer.
- Your WhatsApp payment transaction data does not currently transfer cross-platform between Android and iPhone.
Tips for a successful WhatsApp transfer
Follow these tips to ensure a smooth and successful transfer of your WhatsApp data between phones:
- Back up your WhatsApp chats on your old phone before beginning the transfer process.
- Ensure you have enough storage space on your new phone to restore the WhatsApp backup.
- Connect both phones to a power source during the transfer to avoid interruptions.
- Use a stable WiFi or cellular data connection for the transfer.
- Keep your phones close to each other during the transfer process.
- Do not use your phones excessively during the transfer.
- Be patient! Depending on chat history size, transfers can take some time to complete.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp transfers
In some cases, you may encounter issues when trying to transfer WhatsApp chats between phones. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- If transfer is not initiating, make sure WhatsApp versions on both phones are up-to-date.
- Check that your phones have a reliable internet connection during transfer.
- If restore is stuck, force close and restart WhatsApp, then try again.
- For Android, check that you performed a proper Google Drive backup before transferring.
- For iPhones, ensure proper iCloud or iTunes backup before transferring.
- Make sure your phone numbers are the same on both phones.
- Contact WhatsApp support if issues persist after multiple transfer attempts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WhatsApp transfer free?
Yes, transferring your WhatsApp chat history between phones is entirely free.
Can I transfer WhatsApp without Google Drive or iCloud?
For Android to Android transfers, Google Drive backup is required. For iPhone transfers, you need an iCloud or iTunes backup. There is no device-to-device WhatsApp transfer option.
Will my chat history be deleted from my old phone?
No, your WhatsApp chats on your old phone will remain intact after the transfer. You can choose to delete them manually after transfer.
Can I transfer WhatsApp from very old phones?
Phone must be running Android OS 4.0+ or iOS 10+ to transfer WhatsApp. Very old phones likely cannot transfer due to software limitations.
How long does WhatsApp transfer take?
WhatsApp transfer time depends on your chat history size. Small backups may take minutes, while large backups with media can take hours to complete.
Summary
Transferring WhatsApp between phones is easy and straightforward when using the built-in chat transfer or move option. Just remember to back up chats on your old phone, install WhatsApp on your new phone, and restore from the backup. With reliable internet connectivity and proper backups, you can move your full chat history across Android and iPhone devices.
Following WhatsApp’s transfer steps carefully, checking for common issues, and allowing adequate time for large transfers will ensure your chat history moves successfully to continue messaging on your new phone.