Switching from an Android phone to an iPhone can be exciting but also challenging when it comes to transferring data. Many Android users rely heavily on WhatsApp for messaging and don’t want to lose their chat history and media when they get a new iPhone.
The good news is that it is possible to transfer your WhatsApp data from an Android phone to an iPhone, so you don’t have to start all your chats from scratch. Here is what you need to know about restoring your WhatsApp backup from Android to iPhone.
Back Up WhatsApp Data on Android
Before you can transfer your WhatsApp data from your Android phone to your new iPhone, you need to make sure you have a recent backup of your WhatsApp data on your Android device. Here are the steps to back up your WhatsApp chats on Android:
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone
- Tap on the More Options icon (three vertical dots in top right)
- Select Settings > Chats > Chat backup
- Tap on Back Up to create a new backup. This will save your most recent chats and media.
- You can also enable automatic daily backups by toggling on the “Auto backup” option.
Backing up your WhatsApp data on Android ensures you have a copy of your recent chats and media to transfer to your new iPhone.
Transfer WhatsApp Data from Android to iPhone
Once you have a recent WhatsApp backup on your Android phone, you are ready to transfer that data to your new iPhone. Here are the steps to restore your WhatsApp backup from Android to iPhone:
- First, install the WhatsApp app from the App Store on your new iPhone.
- Open WhatsApp and follow the on-screen prompts to activate WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- You will be given the option to “Restore Chat History” from either iCloud or Google Drive. Select Google Drive.
- A WhatsApp web screen will open. On your Android phone, open WhatsApp and tap Menu > WhatsApp Web. Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code displayed on the iPhone screen.
- Select the Google account that you used to back up your WhatsApp data on your Android phone.
- Tap Continue and your WhatsApp backup will be restored from Google Drive to your iPhone. This process may take a while depending on the size of your backup.
Once the restore process finishes, you will see all your WhatsApp chats, media, and settings from your Android phone now on your iPhone. You can now use WhatsApp on your iPhone and pick up right where you left off!
What Data Gets Transferred from Android to iPhone?
When you restore your WhatsApp data from an Android phone to an iPhone, here are the items that will transfer over:
- Chat history – All your WhatsApp text messages and conversations
- Media files – Photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages, documents etc. sent and received in chats
- Contact names and profile photos
- Group names and photos
- WhatsApp settings and preferences
Essentially, your entire WhatsApp account and data from your old Android phone will be restored on your new iPhone. The transfer is seamless and happens behind the scenes through your Google Drive backup.
Items Not Transferred
While most of your WhatsApp data makes the move from Android to iOS, there are a couple of things that do not get transferred:
- Your call history within WhatsApp cannot be transferred.
- Any starred messages will not retain their star status after the transfer.
Apart from your call history and starred messages, you can expect your chats, media files, contacts and groups to all be restored successfully on your new iPhone.
Requirements for Transferring WhatsApp from Android to iPhone
To be able to smoothly transfer your WhatsApp data from an Android device to an iPhone, there are a few requirements to be aware of:
- You need to have the same phone number on your iPhone as you had on your old Android phone.
- Your Android phone needs to be running at least Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
- Your iPhone needs to be running iOS 12 or later.
- You’ll need an active Google account and Google Drive storage to back up your WhatsApp data on Android before transferring.
- Both your Android and iPhone need to be connected to the internet during the transfer process.
- You need to have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on both devices.
As long as you meet these requirements, you should be able to seamlessly transfer your chats, photos, videos and more from your Android device to your new iPhone within minutes.
Can I Transfer from iPhone to Android?
While the process outlined above is for transferring WhatsApp data from an Android phone to an iPhone, it is also possible to go the other way and transfer WhatsApp data from an iPhone to a new Android phone.
The steps are very similar:
- Back up your WhatsApp data on your old iPhone to iCloud.
- On your new Android phone, install WhatsApp and activate your account.
- Select “Restore Chat History” and choose to restore from iCloud.
- Log into your iCloud account and your backup will be retrieved from iCloud and restored onto your Android device.
As long as you have a recent iCloud backup, you can successfully move your chats, photos, settings and more from an iPhone to a new Android phone in just a few minutes.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Transfer Issues
In most cases, transferring WhatsApp data between Android and iPhone goes smoothly. But occasionally some issues can pop up. Here are some tips for troubleshooting problems with transferring WhatsApp data:
Transfer Stuck at Verifying
If the transfer gets stuck at the “Verifying” stage, try force quitting and restarting the WhatsApp app on both devices. Check your internet connectivity and try again on a stable WiFi or cellular data connection.
Backup Size Mismatch
You may get an error that the backup size on your iPhone does not match the size of backup on iCloud. This is usually because you have an outdated backup. Create a fresh iCloud backup and try the transfer again.
Missing Media Files
Sometimes media files like photos or videos may fail to transfer over. First, check if you have enough storage space on your new device. If space is not an issue, perform the transfer again by creating a fresh backup.
Chats Not Restoring
If your chat history is not restoring fully, make sure you are selecting the correct restore options from Google Drive/iCloud. Try deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp to force it to pull a fresh backup from the cloud.
Android OS Version Too Old
WhatsApp dropped support for Android versions before 4.0. If your Android device is too outdated, you won’t be able to create backups for transfer. Consider upgrading your Android OS if possible.
Following troubleshooting tips like these should help resolve most common transfer issues. The key is having a recent backup and stable internet connection during the transfer process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WhatsApp transfer all data from Android to iPhone?
Yes, WhatsApp transfers over nearly all your data and content when restoring a backup from Android to iPhone, including your chat history, contacts, media files, and settings. The only exceptions are your call history within WhatsApp and any starred messages.
Can I transfer WhatsApp without Google Drive?
Unfortunately no, Google Drive backup is required to transfer your WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone. There is no way to move your WhatsApp content directly between the two devices.
Does media like photos/videos transfer over?
Yes, photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages and other media content you have sent or received in WhatsApp chats will transfer over when restoring your backup from Android to iPhone.
Do WhatsApp groups transfer from Android to iPhone?
Yes, any WhatsApp groups you have participated in will transfer over when moving your WhatsApp data from an Android device to an iPhone.
Can I transfer WhatsApp from old iPhone to new iPhone?
Yes, you can transfer WhatsApp data between iPhones using an iCloud backup. Simply create an iCloud backup on your old iPhone, then restore that backup to your new iPhone when activating WhatsApp.
Conclusion
Transferring your WhatsApp data doesn’t have to be a daunting task when switching from Android to iPhone. By creating a recent Google Drive backup on your Android device and correctly restoring it to your new iPhone, you can move your chats, groups, media files and more without having to start all over. Just be sure to meet the OS and app version requirements, have a stable internet connection, and don’t hesitate to troubleshoot any transfer issues. With a seamless WhatsApp transfer, you can spend less time fussing with your content and more time enjoying your new iPhone.