Overview
Transferring WhatsApp chats from one Android device to another can be tedious if you don’t have a backup. The default way to transfer chats is to restore a Google Drive backup on the new device. However, if you don’t have a backup for whatever reason, you still have options to move your chat history over.
In this guide, we will go over several methods to transfer WhatsApp chats from an old Android phone to a new Android phone without a backup. The methods range from simple to more complex, but they all get the job done. We will also provide tips on avoiding data loss and keeping your chats intact during the transfer process.
Things You’ll Need
Before starting the transfer process, make sure you have the following:
– The old Android phone with the WhatsApp chat history you want to transfer
– The new Android phone you want to transfer the chats to
– A USB cable to connect the two phones directly
– Fast and stable internet connection on both phones
– Patience! Transferring chats without backup takes time
Also make sure WhatsApp is installed on the new phone and you’re using the same phone number linked to your WhatsApp account on the old phone.
Method 1: Transfer Using External SD Card
If both your old and new Android phones have external SD card slots, you can simply move the WhatsApp chat backup from the old phone’s SD card to the new phone’s SD card. Here are the steps:
On the old phone:
1. Insert your external SD card if it’s not already inside the phone. Make sure WhatsApp has permission to access the SD card.
2. Close WhatsApp completely. Go to Settings -> Apps -> WhatsApp -> Storage -> Clear Data. This erases all WhatsApp data on the phone internal storage.
3. Re-open WhatsApp, verify your number again if needed. WhatsApp will now create a fresh backup on the external SD card.
4. Wait for the backup on SD card to complete. Don’t open WhatsApp again.
On the new phone:
1. Insert the same external SD card into the new phone. Make sure WhatsApp has permission to access it.
2. Install and open WhatsApp, verify your number.
3. WhatsApp will detect the existing backup on external SD and ask if you want to restore. Tap Restore to recover chats.
And you’re done! This will transfer your chats without needing any backup in Google Drive or other cloud services. Just reconnect the SD card and you can move WhatsApp data between Android devices.
Pros:
- Simple process with external SD card
- No data charges for transfer
- Relatively fast transfer speed
Cons:
- Need both devices to have external SD card slot
- Only transfers limited fields, not full chat history
- SD card can get corrupted or damaged
Method 2: Transfer via Local Network
If you have access to a WiFi network where both the old and new phones can connect simultaneously, you can transfer WhatsApp chats via local network. Here are the steps:
On the old phone:
1. Connect old phone to WiFi network and close WhatsApp completely.
2. Go to WhatsApp Settings -> Chats -> Chat Backup -> Back Up Now. Choose to back up over local WiFi network.
3. Wait for backup to complete. Note down the path where WhatsApp has saved the backup files on your phone storage. Usually it’s WhatsApp/Databases.
On the new phone:
1. Install and open WhatsApp on the new phone, connect to same WiFi network.
2. Verify your number if needed. This will trigger WhatsApp to look for available backups.
3. Tap Restore when prompted and select the backup file path from old phone over WiFi.
4. Wait for restore to complete and your chats will be transferred!
The main advantage of this method is you can transfer your full chat history will media files as well. But both phones need to be connected to same WiFi which may not always be possible.
Pros:
- Transfers entire chat history
- No data charges involved
- Relatively fast transfer speed
Cons:
- Need a stable common WiFi network
- Setup process is more complex
- Transfer can fail or get interrupted
Method 3: Transfer via Bluetooth
Bluetooth can also be used to transfer WhatsApp chats from one Android device to another. Here are the main steps:
On the old phone:
1. Go to WhatsApp Settings -> Chats -> Chat Backup. Tap Back Up Now.
2. Choose to back up to Bluetooth folder. Tap Pair Device and scan Bluetooth pairing code on new phone.
3. Wait for Bluetooth backup to complete. Note the backup filename which will be a long cryptic string.
On the new phone:
1. Install and open WhatsApp, verify number if needed.
2. Go to WhatsApp Settings -> Chats -> Chat Backup -> Restore.
3. Tap Pair Device and scan Bluetooth pairing code on old phone. Select backup file and tap Restore.
4. Wait for restore to finish and your chats will be on the new phone!
Bluetooth transfers can be convenient but slower compared to WiFi. Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on both phones and they stay nearby while backup/restore is in progress.
Pros:
- No WiFi required
- Transfers full chat history
- Does not use mobile data
Cons:
- Slow transfer speed over Bluetooth
- Phones must stay nearby throughout process
- Backup file must be renamed for Restore
Method 4: Transfer via Mobile Hotspot
If WiFi network is not available, you can use mobile hotspot on one Android device to transfer chats to the other device. Here are the main steps:
On the old phone:
1. Go to Settings and enable Mobile Hotspot on old phone. Note down hotspot SSID and password.
2. On WhatsApp do a local WiFi backup to Mobile Hotspot network SSID.
On the new phone:
1. Install WhatsApp and connect to old phone’s Mobile Hotspot network.
2. Verify WhatsApp number if needed. Tap Restore when prompted and select backup file from old phone.
3. Wait for chats to be restored successfully to your new phone!
This gives you the flexibility to transfer WhatsApp chats using mobile data if WiFi is not available. However, the hotspot needs to remain active throughout the backup and restore process.
Pros:
- Does not require external WiFi
- Can transfer full chat history
- Hotspot makes it portable
Cons:
- Uses mobile data so can be expensive
- Drains battery on old phone
- Hotspot signal may be intermittent
Method 5: Transfer Manually via Email
If above methods don’t work for you, the last resort is to transfer WhatsApp chats manually by email. Here are the steps:
On the old phone:
1. Open chat you want to transfer and tap More -> Email chat.
2. Compose email with chat history attachment and send to an email you can access on new phone.
On the new phone:
1. Install and set up WhatsApp. Open the email sent from old phone.
2. Save attached .txt file to local storage. Import this file in WhatsApp by going to Settings -> Chats -> Import.
3. Select the .txt file. WhatsApp will import chat history to new phone.
While this method is tedious, it ensures you can transfer important chats even without a proper backup. Media files cannot be transferred though.
Pros:
- Guaranteed way to transfer chats
- Works as last resort
Cons:
- Very time consuming
- Must be done for each chat separately
- No media/document transfer
Tips to Keep Chats Safe
When transferring WhatsApp chats without backup, there is higher risk of data loss or corruption. Here are some tips to keep your chats safe:
- Take backups frequently on old phone before transferring
- Transfer over stable WiFi or hotspot connection
- Keep devices charged during entire transfer process
- Export important chats via email as additional backup
- Do not delete any data from old phone until transfer is successful
- Use authentic USB cables and SD cards to avoid errors
Following these best practices will minimize risk of issues during chat transfer without backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my WhatsApp call history also get transferred without backup?
A: Unfortunately call history will not be transferred on the new phone since it is not part of the chat backup. Only text messages can be transferred using the methods described above.
Q: Can I transfer WhatsApp chats from iPhone to Android without backup?
A: No, transferring WhatsApp chats across platforms (iPhone to Android) is not possible without an iTunes or iCloud backup from the iPhone.
Q: Will my media files like photos and videos also get transferred?
A: The SD card and manual email methods will only transfer text chats without media. For transferring media, you will need to use local WiFi or Bluetooth backup.
Q: If my old phone does not turn on, can I still recover WhatsApp chats?
A: If the old Android phone is broken and does not power on, you cannot directly transfer WhatsApp chats to a new phone. Your only option is to try recovering data using professional data recovery services.
Conclusion
Migrating WhatsApp chats to a new Android phone without backup requires some workarounds, but is still possible using external SD card, WiFi/Bluetooth transfer, or manual email export.
Choose the method that best suits your situation. The local WiFi backup option provides most complete transfer of entire chat history along with media files.
Keep your phones charged, remain patient, and use stable connections during the transfer process. Follow the tips outlined to minimize risk of data loss.
While native Google Drive backup is the official recommended way, with these methods you can successfully transfer WhatsApp chats to a new Android device even without an existing backup.