If you have changed your smartphone more than once, you know how difficult it can be to transfer files from one device to another. Despite the fact that the Android operating system offers a universal transfer tool, not all data appears on the new device. In particular, people are unable to transfer WhatsApp chats . Until recently, the problem was especially common, since previously it was possible to transfer messenger data only with the help of a backup copy. But after the update, a much more convenient option appeared – transferring WhatsApp chats via QR code .
How to Prepare Your Phone to Transfer WhatsApp Chats
Steps to take on your current device before transferring data to your new one:
- Update your smartphone to the latest system version.
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version (find the messenger in the App Store or Google Play and make sure that the store offers “Open” and not “Update”).
- Clean up your chats. Remove unnecessary heavy files, spam , etc. This will reduce the size of the data, so the transfer will go faster and the risk of catching an error will be reduced.
- Make a backup. In case something goes wrong, you can always restore the data and try again. In WhatsApp settings, select Chats → Backup → Create backup. Wait until the backup is uploaded to iCloud or Google Drive.
When switching from one system to another, you will almost always have to reset your new smartphone in the process. If there is already some data on it, it is better to make a backup copy to the cloud or to a computer: Lifehacker has instructions for iOS and Android.
How to Transfer WhatsApp Chats from iPhone to iPhone
- Requirements for the old phone: current versions of iOS and WhatsApp.
- Requirements for the new phone: current versions of iOS and WhatsApp.
Method 1: with backup
The easiest way, but there is a nuance: to use it, you must have enough space in iCloud to fit all the files from the chats.
- Make a backup copy of WhatsApp on your old iPhone following the instructions in the Prepare for Transfer section.
- Make sure your new iPhone uses the same Apple ID as your old iPhone.
- Open WhatsApp on your new iPhone and sign in using the phone number from your old device.
- After confirming the number, you will be prompted to restore data from iCloud. Agree and wait for the process to complete.
And that’s all: just enter the profile name and you can use it.
Method 2: Without a backup
An option for those who don’t have enough free space in iCloud.
- Connect both smartphones to a power source and turn on Wi-Fi (it is not necessary to connect to the Internet, the main thing is that both have Internet access).
- Open WhatsApp on your old iPhone, go to Settings > Chats > Transfer Chats to iPhone. Tap Get Started. You should see a prompt to scan a QR code. Don’t tap anything yet.
- While still hot, remove the SIM card from your old smartphone and insert it into the new one.
- Open the WhatsApp app on your new iPhone. Log in using the same number as on your old iPhone and confirm it via SMS.
- A prompt will appear on the new smartphone screen to transfer chats from the old phone. Click Continue and grant the app access to devices on the local network.
- A QR code will appear on the new phone’s screen. You need to scan it with your old phone: if you did everything correctly, it should be right there on the scanning screen.
- If you get an error message on your old phone about insufficient access, tap Settings and toggle Local Network to On. Then go back to WhatsApp and scan the QR code again.
- Wait until the transfer process is complete: do not lock your screens or minimize WhatsApp.
How to Transfer WhatsApp Chats from iPhone to Android
- Requirements for the old phone: current version of WhatsApp.
- Requirements for the new phone: Samsung with the latest version of Smart Switch or another device with Android 12 or newer.
Method 1: universal
Suitable for any smartphones with Android 12 and newer.
- Reset your Android smartphone: find the “Erase all data” option in the settings (the location and exact name may vary depending on the manufacturer) and wait for the process to complete.
- Start setting up your Android smartphone and get to the “Copy apps and data” option. Click “Next”.
- When prompted to connect your old phone via cable, do so: use USB-C to Lightning or USB-C to USB-C, depending on your iPhone model.
- On iPhone, tap Trust This Computer.
- On your Android phone, enter your Google account details and wait for the data search to complete. Both devices must remain unlocked during the process.
- A list of found data will appear on your Android phone. Open the Applications section and make sure the WhatsApp section is active. Select other items you need and click Copy.
- A QR code will appear on the screen, which you need to scan with your iPhone camera. If this doesn’t work, open WhatsApp on your iPhone and in the settings, select “Chats” → “Move chats to Android”.
- On iPhone, tap Start to transfer chats .
- Wait until the data copying on your Android device is complete. When everything is ready, a corresponding message will appear on the screen and you will be prompted to disconnect the cable.
- WhatsApp on Android will start downloading automatically. When the messenger is downloaded, log in to the same account that is used on the iPhone. When the offer to import chats appears, agree and wait for the process to complete.
Method 2: For Samsung users
For current Samsung smartphones, the instructions are different – at least in that it is not necessary to reset the Android device. The scheme is as follows.
- Remove WhatsApp from Samsung Phone.
- Connect both smartphones with a cable.
- In the pop-up window on Samsung, select the Smart Switch app (if there is no such option, download it from Google Play). On iPhone, click “Trust this computer.”
- On Samsung, you will see a selection of data to copy. For now, uncheck all the items, and to find WhatsApp, go to the Applications section and click Transfer. This will start a search for suitable programs, which should include WhatsApp. The found applications will be highlighted automatically. Click Install.
- A QR code will appear on the Samsung screen, which you need to scan with your iPhone camera. If this doesn’t work, open WhatsApp on your iPhone and in the settings, select “Chats” → “Move chats to Android”.
- On iPhone, tap Start to transfer chats. When the Smart Switch screen refreshes, tap Next.
- Open WhatsApp on Samsung and sign in to the same account that you use on iPhone. You will be prompted to import chats. Agree and wait for the process to complete.
If you need to transfer other data from your iPhone, use Smart Switch in the same way.
How to Transfer WhatsApp Chats from Android to Android
- Requirements for the old phone: Android 6 and newer.
- Requirements for the new phone: Android 6 and newer.
Method 1: with backup
An option for those who have enough space on Google Drive.
- Make a backup of WhatsApp on your old Android phone as per the instructions in the Prepare for Transfer section.
- Make sure you’re using the same Google account on your new device as you did on your old one.
- Open WhatsApp on your new smartphone and sign in using the phone number from your old device.
- After confirming the number, you will be prompted to restore data from Google Drive. Agree and wait for the process to complete.
Method 2: Without a backup
A QR code option for those whose WhatsApp takes up too much memory (or whose Google Drive is full of other files).
- Connect both smartphones to a power source and turn on Wi-Fi (it is not necessary to connect to the Internet, the main thing is that both have Internet access).
- Open WhatsApp on your old device, go to Settings > Chats > Transfer Chats. Tap Get Started. You should see a prompt to scan a QR code.
- Open the WhatsApp app on your new iPhone. Log in using the same number as on your old phone and confirm the login.
- A prompt will appear on the new smartphone screen to transfer chats from the old phone. Click Continue and grant the app access to the requested services.
- A QR code will appear on the new phone’s screen. You need to scan it with your old phone: if you did everything correctly, it should be right there on the scanning screen.
- If necessary, confirm the connection on the new smartphone.
- Wait until the transfer process is complete: do not lock your screens or minimize WhatsApp .
How to Transfer WhatsApp Chats from Android to iPhone
- Requirements for the old phone: Android 5 and newer, current version of WhatsApp.
- Requirements for the new phone: iOS 15.5 and later.
As with the transition from iPhone to Android, here everything is a little more complicated than migration within one ecosystem: you won’t be able to use cloud backup. The order of actions is as follows.
- Put both phones on charge.
- On your old smartphone, download the ” Move to iOS ” app from Google Play and wait for it to install.
- Reset your iPhone : In Settings, go to General → Transfer or reset iPhone and tap Erase all content and settings. Once it’s reset, start setup and connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android phone. When you get to the Apps & Data screen, select Transfer from Android. A 6-digit code will appear on the screen.
- On Android, launch Move to iOS and follow the on-screen instructions. When you reach the Find the code step, enter the code from your iPhone screen.
- In the list of data available for transfer to Android, there will be an item called WhatsApp. Tap on it and follow the on-screen instructions to transfer your chats. You can add export of other data and applications until you tap on the Continue button.
- Complete the iPhone setup and download the WhatsApp app from the App Store.
- Log in to the same account that you use on your Android smartphone. The chat transfer utility will launch, which will require access to the Photos app. Provide it and wait for the work to complete.