Overview
Transferring your WhatsApp account to a new phone while keeping your existing phone number is easy. All you need to do is install WhatsApp on your new device and verify your number. WhatsApp will automatically detect your existing account and transfer your chat history, media, and settings to the new phone.
The main steps are:
- Install and register WhatsApp on your new phone using the same phone number
- Verify your number on the new phone
- Tap ‘Restore’ when prompted to restore your chat history and media
As long as you are using the same phone number, WhatsApp will migrate your account seamlessly in the background. Your contacts, groups, and chats will all be there on your new device.
Detailed Steps
Here is a more detailed walkthrough on how to transfer your WhatsApp to a new phone step-by-step:
1. Install WhatsApp on your new phone
First, download and install the latest version of WhatsApp from your device’s app store (Google Play Store for Android, App Store for iPhone).
Make sure your new phone meets the minimum software requirements for WhatsApp:
- Android 4.1 or newer
- iPhone iOS 10 or newer
Once WhatsApp is installed, open the app.
2. Register your phone number
When you open WhatsApp for the first time, it will ask you to register your phone number. Enter your existing phone number – the one currently associated with your WhatsApp account.
Make sure to include your country code e.g +1 for US numbers.
Tap ‘OK’ or ‘Continue’ to send an SMS to your number for verification.
3. Verify your phone number
WhatsApp will send a 6-digit verification code via SMS to your phone number.
If you still have your old SIM card, simply insert it into your new phone and enter the code when prompted.
Alternatively, you can install WhatsApp on your old phone, go to WhatsApp > Settings > WhatsApp Web/Desktop, and scan the QR code displayed on your new phone to link the devices. This will automatically verify your number on the new phone.
Once verified, your phone number will be registered to your new device.
4. Tap ‘Restore’ to transfer chat history
After registering your number, WhatsApp may prompt you with an option to restore your chat history from iCloud or Google Drive.
Tap ‘RESTORE’ to transfer your messages, photos, videos and other chat data from your old phone to your new device.
If you don’t get this prompt, simply go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup to restore from backup manually.
5. Sync your contacts
Your WhatsApp contacts are pulled from your device’s local address book.
To sync them to your new phone, you need to transfer your contacts:
- iPhone: Sync your iCloud contacts or use the Move to iOS app.
- Android: Sync with your Google account or use a transfer app like SmartSwitch.
Once your contacts are transferred, all your WhatsApp contacts will appear automatically.
6. Join groups via invitation links
Your WhatsApp groups can be rejoined on your new phone through invitation links:
- On your old phone, open each WhatsApp group, tap the Group Info icon > Group Invite Link and send the link to yourself.
- On your new phone, open each invitation link to rejoin groups.
Group admins may also be able to add you back using your new number if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to delete WhatsApp from my old phone?
No, you can keep WhatsApp installed and working on your old device even after transferring your account.
Your chat history will remain intact on your old phone for up to 40 days in case you need to refer back to old conversations and media.
You can choose to delete the app from your old device if you no longer need it. Your WhatsApp account remains active on your new phone.
Will my chat history be erased when switching phones?
No, your chat history and media will transfer seamlessly to your new phone as long as you restore your WhatsApp backup or tap ‘Restore’ when prompted.
Your entire chat history, photos, videos and files exchanged on WhatsApp will remain intact.
Can I transfer WhatsApp without my old phone?
If you no longer have access to your old phone but still have your number, you can install WhatsApp on your new phone and register your number.
When prompted, request to ‘Receive SMS online’ which will send the verification code to the email address linked to your WhatsApp account rather than via SMS.
Once verified, you can restore your most recent WhatsApp backup from iCloud or Google Drive.
I lost my old phone – how can I move my WhatsApp to a new phone?
If your old phone is lost, damaged or inaccessible:
- Install WhatsApp on your new phone and enter your number.
- Tap ‘Get SMS online’ to receive the verification code by email instead of SMS.
- Download your WhatsApp backup from iCloud or Google Drive to restore chats.
As long as you have your phone number and an internet connection, you can verify your account and restore your most recent WhatsApp backup on a new device.
How do I transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Android?
To move your WhatsApp data from an iPhone to an Android:
- On your iPhone, back up your chats via iCloud or iTunes.
- On your Android, install WhatsApp and enter your number.
- Verify your number via SMS/email and tap ‘Restore’ to transfer chats.
- Sync your iPhone contacts to Android.
WhatsApp’s chat backup is cross-platform compatible allowing you to switch between iOS and Android and retain your chat history.
Can I migrate WhatsApp without a SIM card?
It is possible to use WhatsApp on a device without a SIM card by verifying your account over Wi-Fi:
- Install WhatsApp and enter your number.
- When prompted to verify via SMS, choose ‘Receive SMS online’.
- A verification code will be sent to the email linked to your account.
This allows you to register your existing number and migrate your account to a new phone without a SIM card. Note that Wi-Fi is required for this process.
I changed my phone number – how do I update WhatsApp?
If you change your phone number, you cannot transfer your WhatsApp account as it is tied to your old number. Instead:
- Update your number in your phone’s settings.
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Register your new phone number.
- Manually ask your contacts to update your number in their address books.
Your chat history cannot be carried over to your new number. You will start with a fresh WhatsApp account on your device.
Conclusion
Migrating your WhatsApp account and chat history to a new phone with the same number is quick and painless on both iPhone and Android devices.
Simply install WhatsApp, verify your number, restore your backup, and sync contacts to seamlessly transfer over your chats and data. As long as you have the same phone number, your entire WhatsApp account will function identically on your new device.