Changing your phone number can be a hassle, especially when it comes to messaging apps like WhatsApp. Your entire chat history is tied to your old number, so when you get a new number, it can seem like you’ve lost all your conversations. But there are a few different ways to transfer and restore your WhatsApp chats to a new phone number, keeping your chat history intact.
What happens to WhatsApp chats when you change numbers?
By default, your WhatsApp account and chat history are tied to your phone number. So when you get a new number, WhatsApp treats it like a completely new account. Your old chats will not automatically transfer over to the new number.
When you install WhatsApp on your phone with the new number, it will start you off with a fresh account, with no chat history from your old number. Your contacts will not see your old chat history either. It will be as if you are starting WhatsApp for the first time.
Can you restore WhatsApp chat history on a new number?
Yes, it is possible to restore your WhatsApp chat history and messages when you change phone numbers. There are a few different methods to do this, depending on your specific situation:
- Transfer using Google Drive backup – This works if you have a recent backup saved
- Transfer from old phone to new phone – Use this if both phones are accessible
- Export chat history to email – Manual but useful as a last resort
The easiest way is to use your Google Drive backup. As long as you have chat backups enabled in WhatsApp’s settings, this method will transfer your entire message history to the new number.
Below we will explore these WhatsApp chat transfer options in more detail, along with step-by-step instructions for each method.
Method 1: Transfer Using Google Drive Backup
This is the most convenient way to restore WhatsApp chat history on a new phone number, as long as you have chat backup enabled:
- First, ensure WhatsApp chat backups are being saved to your Google Drive.
- On your old phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
- Tap Back Up to Google Drive and select a backup frequency (daily, weekly etc).
- Leave your old phone number’s WhatsApp account logged in.
- On your new phone, install WhatsApp and verify your new phone number.
- On the ‘Restore Backup’ screen, tap Restore to retrieve your chat history from Google Drive.
- Wait for WhatsApp to restore your chats and media from the backup.
- Your chat history from the old number will now be available using the new number!
This process works seamlessly because your messages are backed up remotely to Google Drive. As long as you have a recent backup available, you can restore it on any phone number to get your chat history back.
Requirements for Google Drive Restore
- Your old phone number’s WhatsApp account must stay active.
- You need a Google account linked to the old number’s WhatsApp.
- Your phone must be connected to the internet during restore.
- You need to have backing up enabled in WhatsApp settings.
As long as you meet these requirements, this is the best way to transfer your WhatsApp chat history to a new phone number.
Limitations of Google Drive Restore
While Google Drive backup is very convenient, keep in mind:
- Your old phone number’s WhatsApp account must remain active until the backup restore is complete.
- Group info like names, photos etc. will not transfer over.
- Only the latest backup can be restored – no access to older backups.
- Media files larger than 16MB will not backup or restore.
Apart from these minor limitations, the Google Drive method is reliable for transferring chat history to a new number.
Method 2: Transfer Chats from Old Phone to New Phone
If you still have access to both your old and new phones, you can directly transfer your WhatsApp chat history between them using WhatsApp’s built-in chat transfer tool:
- On the old phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Transfer.
- Then open WhatsApp on your new phone and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Transfer.
- On both devices, tap Continue and scan the QR code from the other phone.
- Select the account you want to transfer from your old phone.
- Wait for WhatsApp to transfer your chat history to the new phone.
The main advantage of this method is you can transfer your chat history without needing Google Drive backup. But it requires having both your old and new phone numbers active simultaneously.
Requirements for Phone-to-Phone Transfer
- You need to have both old and new phones in hand during transfer.
- Both phones must be running compatible WhatsApp versions.
- An active internet connection on both devices.
- Your old phone number’s WhatsApp account must stay active until the transfer is complete.
As long as you have both phones, this direct transfer works well. But it can fail if the requirements are not met.
Limitations of Phone-to-Phone Transfer
The phone-to-phone method has a few limitations:
- Need access to both old and new phones simultaneously.
- Only transfers from Android to Android or iPhone to iPhone.
- Your old phone number has to stay active during transfer.
- Requires compatible WhatsApp versions on both phones.
So phone-to-phone transfer is convenient if you have both devices handy, but trickier if the old phone is already deactivated.
Method 3: Export Chat History to Email
If neither of the above options work for you, the last resort is to manually export your WhatsApp chat history to email:
- On your old phone, open the WhatsApp chat you want to export.
- Tap More > More > Email chat. Select with or without media.
- Enter your email address and tap Send.
- Open your email account on your computer.
- Save the .txt file attachment containing your chat history.
- On your new phone, go to the WhatsApp chat and tap Menu > More > Import.
- Select the .txt file you exported containing your chat history.
While manual, this method works as a last option if you can’t do a regular backup restore or phone-to-phone transfer. The steps are more tedious but get the job done.
Requirements for Email Export Method
- Access to old phone to export chats via email.
- Valid email address to send chat history to.
- Computer to download chat history text file.
- New phone to import the text file back into WhatsApp.
As long as you have access to both phones and a computer, you can use the email export method.
Limitations of Email Export
Manual chat history transfer via email has some downsides:
- No automatic restore like Google Drive backup.
- Need a computer to transfer the files between phones.
- Only exports one chat at a time, very tedious.
- Media files like photos won’t transfer.
- You lose features like stickers, star messages etc.
So while the email method works in a pinch, it is time-consuming and should only be used as a last resort if the above options don’t work.
Some Common WhatsApp Chat Transfer Issues
During WhatsApp chat history transfers to a new number, there are some common issues that can come up:
WhatsApp Verification Code Error
When trying to verify your new number, you may get an error saying the verification code is invalid. This is often because your old number’s WhatsApp account is still active. Make sure to disable the old account before verifying your new number.
Restore Not Working on iOS
For iPhones, you need to delete and reinstall WhatsApp after activating your new number. This resets the app to link properly with your new number.
Large Media Files Not Transferring
Files larger than 16MB will not backup or restore when transferring chats. You may need to manually send these files after the chat history transfer is complete.
Chats Stuck in “Waiting to Backup”
If your chats are stuck waiting to backup, force close and restart WhatsApp. Also check your internet connection. Slow/offline connections can prevent backup.
Group Info Not Restoring
Group profile photos, names, descriptions etc. do not get transferred over. You’ll have to set them up again manually after the chat history transfer.
Knowing these common issues can help you troubleshoot and fix problems during the WhatsApp chat transfer process.
FAQs about WhatsApp Chat History Transfer
Here are some frequently asked questions about transferring WhatsApp chats to a new number:
Is my chat history still on my old number?
Yes, your old chats remain on your previous number even after transferring to a new number. They will stay in your chat history until you manually delete your WhatsApp account.
Can I transfer from iPhone to Android?
WhatsApp does not allow direct chat history transfers between iPhone and Android phones. You can only transfer between the same operating systems.
Do my old chats get deleted after transfer?
No, your old WhatsApp chats are not deleted after transferring them to a new number. They remain saved on your old number unless you manually delete them.
Can I restore backups from before my last one?
Unfortunately WhatsApp only allows restoring your most recent Google Drive backup. You cannot retrieve older backups if you need chats from before your last backup.
Will my media files like photos transfer over?
Yes, photos and videos you have sent or received will transfer over along with your chats. As long as they are under 16MB in size. Larger media will not transfer.
How long does it take to transfer chats?
WhatsApp chat history transfers usually complete within a few minutes. Exact time depends on number of chats and media files. On average it takes under 10 minutes.
Conclusion
Changing phone numbers can seem daunting when you rely on WhatsApp chatting. But thankfully it is possible to fully restore and transfer your chat history to a new number using the right method.
Backing up chats to Google Drive makes transferring dead simple. You can also directly migrate chats between two phones with WhatsApp’s built-in transfer tool. And as a last resort, exporting chats via email can manually move your chat history over.
Just make sure your old number’s WhatsApp account stays active until the transfer completes. Also remember that group info like names and photos won’t carry over to the new number.
With hundreds of millions using WhatsApp as their main messaging app, the ability to restore chats on a new phone number is essential. Hopefully these tips will help you seamlessly transfer your WhatsApp data the next time you get a new number.