Transferring your WhatsApp account to a new phone without a QR code can seem daunting, but it is possible with some preparation and by following the right steps. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to seamlessly move your WhatsApp account and data to a new phone when you don’t have access to the QR code method.
What You’ll Need
Before starting the transfer process, make sure you have the following:
- The old phone with the existing WhatsApp account
- The new phone where you want to transfer WhatsApp
- A USB cable to connect the two phones
- The phones must be compatible – both Android or both iPhones
- Your phones should have the latest WhatsApp version installed
- Your old phone needs to have enough storage space for the backup file
- Your new phone needs enough storage for installing WhatsApp and restoring the backup
- Stable internet connection on both phones
- Your WhatsApp backup on Google Drive or iCloud must be up to date
Back Up WhatsApp Data on Old Phone
The first step is to back up your WhatsApp data from the old phone to your Google Drive or iCloud account. Here are the steps:
On Android:
- Open WhatsApp on your old Android phone
- Tap on the 3-dot menu in the top right and select Settings
- Tap Chats > Chat backup
- Tap Back Up to Google Drive and wait for the backup to complete
- Check that the last backup date and time is recent
On iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp on your old iPhone
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
- Tap Back Up Now and wait for the backup to complete
- Check that the last backup date and time is recent
This backs up your WhatsApp data including messages, media, contacts etc. to the cloud. You can now move to your new phone.
Restore WhatsApp Backup on New Phone
Once you have the backup on the cloud storage, you can restore it on your new phone to transfer WhatsApp:
On Android:
- Install WhatsApp on your new Android phone
- Open WhatsApp > Agree to Terms of Service
- When prompted, tap Restore from Google Drive backup
- Select the backup you want to restore
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats and data from the backup
On iPhone:
- Install WhatsApp on your new iPhone
- Open WhatsApp > Agree to Terms of Service
- Tap Restore when prompted
- Select the iCloud backup you want to restore
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats and data from the backup
That’s it! WhatsApp along with your data will now be transferred to your new phone without needing the QR code.
Transfer Using Local Backup (Optional)
If your WhatsApp backup on cloud storage is not recent, you can also transfer using a local backup:
- On your old phone, backup WhatsApp locally to internal storage or SD card
- Connect old and new phones using a USB cable
- On Android, transfer the WhatsApp backup folder from old phone to new
- On iPhone, use external software to transfer the backup ZIP file
- Restore this local backup on your new phone
This way, you don’t need to upload the backup to cloud servers and can transfer WhatsApp directly between phones.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some tips if you face issues during the WhatsApp transfer process:
- Check for software updates on both phones and update to latest versions
- Check internet connectivity on both phones
- On iPhone, make sure you disable iCloud backup for WhatsApp temporarily
- Check that you have enough storage space on both phones
- Try using a different USB cable if transfer fails between Android phones
- On Android, grant all permissions requested by WhatsApp
- If errors persist, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on both phones
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my WhatsApp data safe when transferring to a new phone?
Yes, your WhatsApp data including messages, media files, contacts etc. will remain safe and secure when transferring to a new phone using the backup and restore method.
Will my chat history transfer as well?
Yes, when you restore your WhatsApp backup on the new phone, your entire chat history will also be transferred over.
Can I transfer from Android to iPhone or vice versa?
Unfortunately, WhatsApp backups are not cross-platform compatible. You can only transfer WhatsApp from an Android phone to another Android or an iPhone to another iPhone.
Do I need to keep both phones together for local backup transfer?
Yes, for the local backup method you will need to have both your old and new phones together connected via USB cable to transfer the backup file.
Will my media files like photos/videos also get transferred?
Yes, your WhatsApp media along with documents will seamlessly get transferred from old phone to new phone with either backup method.
Can I transfer WhatsApp without my old phone?
As long as you have a recent backup on Google Drive or iCloud, you can install WhatsApp on the new phone and restore your data without needing the old phone.
Conclusion
Transferring WhatsApp to a new phone without QR code is simple by using the backup and restore method. Ensure your chats and media are backed up on cloud storage or locally, then install WhatsApp on your new phone and restore data from the backup. This will smoothly transfer over your account information, chat history, media files, and settings to your new phone without hassle. Follow the steps outlined and you will have your WhatsApp running on your new device in no time.