Transferring your WhatsApp account from an old phone to a new phone while keeping the same number is easy to do. Here are the steps to seamlessly move your WhatsApp account and chat history from one device to another.
What You’ll Need
Before starting the transfer process, make sure you have the following:
- The old phone with the current WhatsApp account
- The new phone where you want to transfer WhatsApp
- A SIM card with the phone number associated with your WhatsApp account
- The WhatsApp app installed on both devices
- A Google Drive account (recommended)
- A working internet connection on both phones
Back Up WhatsApp Data on Old Phone
The first step is to back up your WhatsApp data from the old device. This preserves your chat history, media files, and settings so they can be transferred to the new phone.
There are two ways to back up WhatsApp on Android:
- Local Backup: This saves a backup file locally on the device storage. Go to WhatsApp > Menu Button > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap Back Up. Choose whether to include videos and other media in the backup.
- Google Drive Backup: This saves a backup to your Google Drive account. Go to WhatsApp > Menu Button > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap Back Up to Google Drive. Select a backup frequency and Google account.
On an iPhone, WhatsApp backups are automatically saved to iCloud but you can force a manual backup by going to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now.
Restore WhatsApp Backup on New Phone
Once you have the backup file from the old phone, it’s time to transfer and restore it on the new phone:
- Install WhatsApp on the new phone and open the app.
- Enter your phone number when prompted and tap OK.
- On the Register your number screen, tap Restore > Next.
- On Android: Tap Restore from Google Drive to fetch the backup from Google Drive. Or tap Restore from local backup to import the local backup file from internal storage or SD card.
- On iPhone: Your backup will be automatically restored from iCloud.
- Select the backup file you want to restore.
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats and media files from the backup. The time required depends on the size of the backup.
Once the restore process finishes, you will see your chat history, groups, and media on the new device.
Transfer WhatsApp Using a Computer
An alternative way to transfer WhatsApp from an old phone to a new one is by using a computer as an intermediary transfer device:
- On your old phone, create a local WhatsApp backup or backup to Google Drive.
- On a computer, install and open WhatsApp Web which will scan a QR code from your old phone to link the accounts.
- On the new phone, install WhatsApp but don’t verify your number yet.
- Open WhatsApp Web on the computer. Scan the QR code displayed there using the new phone’s camera to link it to your WhatsApp account.
- You may need to log out of the old device first. The new phone now has access to your chats.
- On the new phone, verify your number when prompted. The WhatsApp backup will be pulled from the computer to restore your data.
Transfer WhatsApp to New Number
If you are also changing your phone number with the new device, transferring WhatsApp requires a few extra steps:
- Back up your WhatsApp account on the old phone.
- On the new phone, install WhatsApp and enter your new phone number. Verify it when prompted.
- Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Transfer from Android or iPhone.
- On the old phone, open WhatsApp and go to WhatsApp Web/Desktop > Link a Device to scan the QR code from the new phone and link the accounts.
- Go back to the new phone. The backup will transfer from the old account to the new account automatically.
- You may need to tap Restore to apply the backup. All your chats will now be on the new number.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Transfer
Here are some common troubleshooting steps if you encounter problems transferring WhatsApp data between devices:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Backup size too large | Delete large files, clear chat history, reduce backup frequency to weekly or monthly. |
| Backup hangs or fails | Check internet connection. Connect both devices to WiFi. Try via local backup instead. |
| Can’t find backup | On Android, check internal storage and SD card. On iPhone, check iCloud settings. |
| QR code not scanning | Increase screen brightness. Position camera steady directly over code. Try reloading WhatsApp Web. |
| Chats not restoring | Force close and reopen WhatsApp. Clear app data and try again. Make sure you selected the right backup. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my chat history transferred when I move WhatsApp to a new phone?
Yes, the whole purpose of transferring WhatsApp to a new phone is to move your chat history and data seamlessly. Backing up and restoring from the backup preserves your entire chat archive, group info, media files and settings.
Do I need to keep my old SIM card to transfer WhatsApp?
No, you can transfer WhatsApp to a new phone number without the old SIM card. Just link the two accounts using WhatsApp Web/Desktop and the QR code method.
Can I transfer WhatsApp without Google Drive or iCloud?
Yes, you can transfer WhatsApp using just a local backup file saved on your old phone’s storage or SD card. No cloud backup service is required.
How do I transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Android?
To move your WhatsApp data from an iPhone to Android, you need to use WhatsApp’s “Move to Android” app on your iPhone to transfer your chat history. This migrates your account info, chats, and media files.
Will my WhatsApp backup transfer to a new phone automatically?
No, WhatsApp backups do not automatically restore when you move to a new phone. You have to manually select the backup file and trigger the restore process on the new device.
Should I delete WhatsApp from my old phone after transferring it?
Yes, once the WhatsApp account is transferred and restored fully on the new device, you should delete WhatsApp from your old phone. This logs out your account on the old device and secures your chats.
Conclusion
Migrating your WhatsApp data to a new phone while retaining your number is easy with WhatsApp’s built-in backup and restore features. Just remember to create a current backup, link the new device using WhatsApp Web/Desktop, and manually restore the backup. With a few simple steps, you can seamlessly transfer your WhatsApp chats and data to continue messaging uninterrupted.