WhatsApp chats can finally be moved between Android and iPhone
WhatsApp has finally made good on its promise to allow you to move your chat history, including photos, videos and voice messages, from an Android phone to to iPhone.
Previously, in August 2021, iPhone owners could move their chats from an iPhone to a few Samsung Galaxy phones and that wasexpanded to Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro in October.
Now, though, as well as having the freedom to switch from iOS toanyAndroid phone (running Android 5 or later) you can – from 20 July 2022 – transfer your WhatsApp backup in the other direction, from Android to iPhone.
In mid-June, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Android-to-iPhone transfers were being “added” – meaning the rollout had started – and confirmed that end-to-end encryption is maintained for Android-to-iPhone transfers.
However, it’s only now that you can actually achieve that. WhatsApp tweeted to confirm the feature it live for all users:
A new way to keep the chats that mean the most 📱📲 Today, you’ll have the ability to transfer your entire chat history from Android to iOS and vice versa. Now you have the freedom to switch to and from your preferred devices.
This puts an end to awkward workarounds using third-party apps, and means you never have to pay to keep your chat history when you decide to jump ship to a different mobile operating system.
If you’ve been waiting for this feature to become available, note that the process uses Apple’sMove to iOS app. This will also migrate your contacts, iMessage history, camera photos and videos, web bookmarks, email accounts and calendars.
The Move to iOS app requires an iPhone that’s been factory reset, or a brand new one, running iOS 15.5 or later.
It isn’t possible to move WhatsApp chats to an iPhone that’s already being used. Plus, if you used to use WhatsApp on an iPhone and have an existing chat backup, there’s no way to merge it with the backup from Android: all you’ll get when you use the Move to iOS app is your chat history from your Android phone.
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Author: Jim Martin, Executive Editor, Tech Advisor
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
