If there was a new smartphone under the Christmas tree, now it’s time to set up the cell phone. This also raises the question: How do I get WhatsApp on the new cell phone without losing my chats? We’ll show you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1-Phone Switch: Transfer WhatsApp from Android device to Android device
2-Cell Phone Switch: Transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to iPhone
Restore WhatsApp: The step-by-step guide iOS
3-Transfer WhatsApp chats from iPhone to Android
Step-by-step guide: WhatsApp switch from iPhone to Android
4-Transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone
Step-by-Step Guide: Switch WhatsApp from Android to iPhone
5-New cell phone, new number: This is how WhatsApp chats are preserved
In order to transfer WhatsApp chats to the new cell phone, it is first of all necessary to know what the starting point is. Because the procedure differs depending on whether the mobile phone change also involves a change of operating system from iOS to Android or vice versa and whether the cell phone number also changes with the change of smartphone. Because even if the cell phone number changes , WhatsApp can keep the previous chats. In any case, it is important that you make a backup of your messages on the old cell phone.
PHONE SWITCH: TRANSFER WHATSAPP FROM ANDROID DEVICE TO ANDROID DEVICE
Switching from one Android phone to another is easy. You need to create a WhatsApp backup on the old phone. To do this, it is necessary to tap on “Settings” in the WhatsApp menu (the three dots at the top right) on the old mobile phone. Then the sub-item Chats is selected and then “Chat Backup”. Here you should now enter the data of your Google account. The required data is usually an email address from Google. A WhatsApp backup will then be created in Google. With this you can later restore your WhatsApp chats .
In further sub-items you can enter further data for the backup. This allows you to choose whether videos should be backed up and only backed up via WiFi . If such a WhatsApp backup has never been created before, the process will take some time – also because the data has to be uploaded to Google servers via the Internet. Images and videos can quickly add up to several gigabytes. All chat history is also saved to Google Drive.
Now you can insert the SIM card into the new phone and use Google Play Store to install WhatsApp on the new smartphone. WhatsApp will now ask for your cell phone number. The verification is done via SMS. After this is done and the Google account is registered on the new smartphone, you can continue. Important: Since the backup transfers large amounts of data, your new smartphone should now connect to the Internet via WLAN.
Now the messenger on the new Android smartphone will automatically offer to restore the backup. Important: The phone number must be identical, the backup must have been created beforehand and the Google account must be registered. Now the WhatsApp backup will be downloaded from Google Drive and all WhatsApp chats including pictures will be transferred to the new phone. The actual Android contacts are restored via the Google account.
CELL PHONE SWITCH: TRANSFER WHATSAPP FROM IPHONE TO IPHONE
A move via memory card is not possible with the iPhone due to the lack of a memory card slot. The transfer of the old WhatsApp chats to the new iPhone is ideally done via iCloud. Although it is possible to use the internal storage for a backup, it is not necessarily successful in transferring your WhatsApp data.
The easiest way to move old chats to new iPhone is iCloud. To do this, it is first necessary to create the backup on the old iPhone. Registration of the iOS device with an Apple ID is mandatory. In the Messenger settings you have to go to “Chats”, then to “Chat backup” and then to “Create backup now”. Now the question is whether videos should also be part of the backup of a data. Depending on the size of the WhatsApp backup and the performance of the WiFi line, the transfer may take a while. Transmission via mobile phone and the use of mobile data are not recommended, as the monthly available data volume suffers here.
The old SIM card can now be inserted into the new iPhone. If WhatsApp is installed and your cell phone number is verified, the app offers to restore the backup from the iCloud. Now the previous WhatsApp account is ready to use on the new iPhone.
Restore WhatsApp: The step-by-step guide iOS
1-On the old iPhone , in the WhatsApp menu, go to Settings > Chats > Chats backup, tap “Back up now”.
2-Insert old SIM into new iPhone.
3-Install WhatsApp on the new Apple device and verify your own number.
4-Tap on “Restore”. The data is now transferred from the iCloud via the Internet. After downloading, all WhatsApp chats are back.
TRANSFER WHATSAPP CHATS FROM IPHONE TO ANDROID
For a long time, WhatsApp did not offer the option of transferring chat histories and pictures from Android to an iPhone or from iPhone to Android. That’s all changed now — at least if you’re going from an iPhone to a Samsung phone, a Pixel phone, or a phone running at least Android 12. All non-Samsung Android smartphones must be brand new or at least factory reset when you begin the migration process. Important: You can transfer your account information, profile picture, individual and group chats, chat history, media, and settings. You cannot transfer your call log or display name.
Your new device must have the Samsung Smart Switch app version 3.7.22.1 or higher or Google’s Data Transfer Tool installed. Other data transfer apps are not officially supported. You also need a USB -C to Lightning cable or an appropriate adapter for the transfer.
Step-by-step guide: WhatsApp switch from iPhone to Android
Complete the initial Android phone setup and select Skip when prompted to restore data to the device.
From the notifications, tap “Finish setting up your Pixel or Android OS 12 device.”
Follow these steps to complete the data transfer from your iPhone to your Android device:
Unlock your iPhone.
Connect the two phones with a cable at the “Copy apps and data” option.
Tap “Trust” when the iPhone warning appears.
Follow the on-screen instructions to copy the data.
Make sure your iPhone stays unlocked during the transfer.
When prompted, scan the QR code with your iPhone’s camera app and open WhatsApp for iOS to export data.
Complete the transfer and disconnect the cable.
Open WhatsApp on your Pixel or Android OS 12 device and sign in with the same phone number you used on your old device.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the migration.
TRANSFER WHATSAPP CHATS FROM ANDROID TO IPHONE
If you want to move away from Android to an iPhone, the switch is now also possible – but also complicated. The Android phone must have at least Android 5 installed, the iPhone must have iOS 15.5 or higher installed. The iPhone must also be brand new or factory reset.
Step-by-Step Guide: Switch WhatsApp from Android to iPhone
Open the Transfer to iOS app on your Android device and follow the on-screen instructions.
A code will appear on your iPhone. If prompted, enter the code on your Android device.
Tap Next and follow the onscreen instructions.
Select WhatsApp on the data transfer screen.
Tap “Start” on your Android device and wait for the WhatsApp data to be prepared for export. You will then be logged out of your Android device.
Tap Next to return to the Transfer to iOS app.
Tap “Next” to transfer the data from your Android device to your iPhone. Wait for confirmation from the Transfer to iOS app that the transfer is complete.
Install the latest version of WhatsApp from the App Store.
Open WhatsApp and sign in with the same phone number you used on your old device.
If prompted, tap Start and wait for the process to complete.
After you’ve finished activating your new device, you’ll see your chats.
Note: You cannot access the WhatsApp folder under Files in the Transfer to iOS app during migration.
NEW CELL PHONE, NEW NUMBER: THIS IS HOW WHATSAPP CHATS ARE PRESERVED
It is even possible to transfer the chat histories to the new smartphone if the cell phone number changes with the new cell phone. However, this requires that the previous WhatsApp with the old number still works. The first step on the old smartphone is to change the cell phone number. There is a “change number” function in WhatsApp for this purpose. It can be found in WhatsApp settings.
