Your new phone is ready, but your WhatsApp conversations are still on the old one. To copy WhatsApp messages to another phone, choose between moving your history into WhatsApp, linking a second phone, or saving a conversation as a readable file. Start with the method for your two phones, and keep the old phone's data until you've checked the result.
Move your chats between Android phones
Signing into WhatsApp on a new Android phone alone does not bring over your old chat history.
For a direct transfer, use WhatsApp Messenger on two phones running Android 6 or newer. Keep them nearby and charging with Wi-Fi enabled. Start on the old phone before registering WhatsApp on the new one; this method excludes WhatsApp Business.
On the old phone, open More Options > Settings > Chats > Transfer chats > Start.
Grant the requested permissions.
Open WhatsApp on the new phone and tap Agree and continue.
Verify the same phone number you use on the old phone.
Under Restore or transfer chats, select Transfer from old phone.
Tap Continue, then Start.
Grant the nearby Wi-Fi permissions.
Scan the new phone's QR code with the old phone.
Tap Accept on the new phone.
Keep WhatsApp open and both phones unlocked until the transfer finishes.
Tap Next to finish.
Bring your history to another iPhone
WhatsApp's direct iPhone transfer uses a QR code on the new phone. Use current WhatsApp Messenger on supported iPhones, with the same phone number on both.
Keep the iPhones nearby and charging, with Wi-Fi on and connected to the internet. Don't register WhatsApp on the new iPhone until you've started the transfer on the old one.
On the old iPhone, tap your profile picture > Chats > Transfer Chats to iPhone > Start. Tap Allow if WhatsApp asks for camera access. WhatsApp's iPhone transfer tutorial shows the same flow.
Open WhatsApp on the new iPhone, tap Agree & continue, and verify your phone number.
Tap Continue on Transfer chat history to iPhone and accept local network permissions to display the QR code.
Scan that code with the WhatsApp camera on the old iPhone, then accept local network permissions when prompted.
Leave WhatsApp open and both phones unlocked until the transfer completes. When you see Transfer completed, tap Next.
If direct transfer fails, check for an iCloud WhatsApp backup under Settings > Chats > Chat Backup on the old phone. Install or reinstall WhatsApp on the destination, use the backup's phone number and Apple account, then tap Restore Chat History and complete any requested authentication. Messages received after the backup are absent, and videos must have been included in it.
Restore an Android backup from your Google Account
On the old Android phone, open WhatsApp's More > Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back up.
Let the backup finish before moving on. Restoration requires a successful backup, internet access, and enough storage.
Sign into the same Google Account on the destination phone.
Install WhatsApp on that phone.
Verify the same phone number used for the backup.
Select Restore from backup when WhatsApp offers the restoration choice.
Keep access to your passkey, password, or 64-digit encryption key if you've enabled encrypted backups.
Switch from Android to iPhone with Move to iOS
This transfer requires WhatsApp Messenger, not Business, current WhatsApp on both phones, Android 6 or newer, and a new or factory-reset iPhone running iOS 15.5 or newer.
- 1.During iPhone setup, choose Transfer Your Apps & Data > From Android > Transfer with App.
- 2.Open Apple's Move to iOS app on Android and enter the pairing code displayed on the iPhone.
- 3.Choose Continue, then select WhatsApp on the Transfer Data screen.
- 4.Tap Start to prepare the WhatsApp data, then Next to return to Move to iOS. Tap Continue to transfer it.
- 5.Finish setting up the iPhone and install WhatsApp.
- 6.Verify the same phone number, then tap Start when prompted to import your chats.
Transfer from iPhone to Android wirelessly or by cable
An iCloud WhatsApp backup cannot restore your chats directly on Android.
Use WhatsApp's direct wireless transfer instead. It requires the latest WhatsApp Messenger on both phones, Android 6 or newer, stable Wi-Fi, and the same phone number. Begin before activating WhatsApp on the destination; WhatsApp Business is excluded.
On the iPhone, open WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Transfer chat history > Transfer to Android.
When the chats are prepared, tap Continue.
If prompted, tap Allow to enable camera access. Keep the iPhone unlocked during the transfer.
Open WhatsApp on Android.
Verify the same phone number.
When prompted on Android, tap Allow so the devices can connect and the QR code appears.
Scan that code with the iPhone.
When prompted, tap Join to connect to the transfer Wi-Fi network and start the transfer.
When the transfer completes, tap Next on Android to view your chats.
A cable transfer is another supported option on Android phones offering Google's iPhone migration flow. You need the old iPhone, the same WhatsApp number, a Google Account, and a compatible cable or adapter.
During Android setup, choose Copy apps and data > Copy from iPhone or iPad.
Connect the phones with the cable.
Tap Trust on the iPhone.
Enter the iPhone's PIN when requested.
Include Apps in the transfer, with WhatsApp selected.
Use the iPhone's camera app to scan the QR code shown on Android. If you can't scan it, open WhatsApp on the iPhone and go to Settings > Chats > Transfer chat history > Transfer to Android.
On the iPhone, tap Start > Start transfer to begin the data transfer.
Wait until the transfer finishes before signing into WhatsApp on Android.
Save a conversation as a readable file
Export a chat to read a separate copy on the other phone; the file cannot be imported into WhatsApp as chat history.
- 1.Open the conversation you want to copy.
- 2.On Android, choose More options > More > Export chat. On iPhone, tap the contact or group name, then Export chat.
- 3.On Android, choose Without media or Include media. For an iPhone export containing media such as audio messages, choose Attach Media.
- 4.Select your email app from the sharing options and send the export to an address you can open on the other phone.
- 5.Open the email and its exported files on the destination phone.
Keep the same account on both phones
Linking a second phone lets you use the same WhatsApp account on both, including across Android and iPhone. Only part of your history synchronizes, so the linked phone is not a complete independent backup.
On the second phone, open the companion-phone linking flow to display its QR code.
On your primary Android phone, open More > Linked devices > Link a device; on a primary iPhone, tap Settings or your profile picture > Linked devices > Link device. Authenticate and scan the second phone's code.
You can have up to four linked devices. Use your primary phone at least once every 14 days to keep them connected.
Copy just a few messages to a different account
Use forwarding when the other phone has a different WhatsApp account and you only need selected messages. They arrive as forwards, without being restored to their original conversation positions.
On iPhone, open the conversation.
Touch and hold the message you want to send.
Tap Forward.
Select any additional messages you want to include.
Tap the forward arrow.
Choose the destination chat.
Tap Forward to send the messages. Forwarding limits apply, and view-once media cannot ordinarily be forwarded, copied, saved, or screenshotted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine my old chats with messages already on the new phone?
No. Restoring old history replaces the destination history; the two cannot be merged. Before retrying, export any new conversations you need as separate readable files and preserve the source phone and backup. If you skipped restoration on Android, uninstall WhatsApp on the destination. Reinstall it, verify the original number, and select Restore from backup.
What if I'm changing my phone number too?
Change your WhatsApp number on the old phone first. On iPhone, open Settings > Account > Change Number > Next. Enter the old and new numbers in international format, then tap Next. Set Notify Contacts if wanted, tap Done, and register the new number. For iPhone to iPhone, then create a fresh iCloud backup under the new number; for Android to Android, create a fresh Google Account backup. On the destination, register the new number and restore that backup. When moving between iPhone and Android, use the direct transfer or Move to iOS method above with the new number instead. An old-number backup cannot be restored under the new number.
Why can't I export a particular conversation?
Advanced Chat Privacy prevents export when enabled. Open the conversation, tap its name, and open Advanced Chat Privacy. Review the setting with the conversation's participants or group administrator before expecting export to work.
Can I link an Android phone to my WhatsApp Business account?
Yes. On the second Android phone, install WhatsApp Business and tap Agree and continue, then More Options > Link as companion device. On the primary Android phone, open More Options > Linked devices > Link a device. On a primary iPhone, use Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device. Unlock the primary phone and scan the second phone's QR code. The standard allowance is four linked devices, with primary-phone login required every 14 days.