It has been possible to transfer WhatsApp chats from an Android smartphone to an iPhone since last year. But finally it works the other way around and without a third-party solution. This makes switching from Android to iPhone much easier.
Unlike competing messenger services, WhatsApp chats could not be easily transferred to another smartphone operating system for a long time. But that has now changed. Thanks to Android 12, it has been possible to transfer chat history from iPhones to the first Android devices since autumn 2021, and now the transfer from Android to iOS is also following.
Android to iOS transfer feature is coming
Yesterday, WhatsApp and Apple announced a new transfer function that will make it possible to transfer the chat history from an Android smartphone to an iPhone – including all messages, pictures and videos. The function is still in the beta phase, but it should be officially rolled out soon.
The transmission of the chats is thanks to the new version of the “Transfer to iOS“ possible, which Apple provides in the Google Play Store. Beta testers can already use it to transfer their entire WhatsApp history from Android to iPhone. Many users have been asking for such a simple solution for years. However, the development of an official solution was cumbersome and time-consuming.
Also Read: How to Transfer WhatsApp Chats to New Smartphone
WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart had already announced in August 2021 that Messenger working on a transfer function from Android to iOS. A month later, the first indications of this appeared in the WhatsApp beta for Android smartphones, as TECHBOOK reported. In January 2022, hints were finally found in the WhatsApp beta for the iPhone.
Back then, WABetaInfo showed in screenshots how the import of chat histories into WhatsApp for iOS should look like. Nothing has changed in terms of the look of the function that has now been rolled out. Accordingly, when setting up the iPhone, Messenger asks for permission to restore the chats. A warning also appears in the same window that the transfer is no longer possible afterwards if users want to skip this step. The screenshots also show what the transfer process looks like. A progress bar can be seen, as well as a note that the smartphone must be unlocked and the app must be open.
This is how WhatsApp switch from Android to iOS works
WABetaInfo describes on his blog how the chat transfer from Android to iOS works. The prerequisite is therefore an Android device with at least version 5 and an iPhone running iOS 15.5 or newer. Both the Android smartphone and the iPhone must be in the same WLAN network for the WhatsApp data to be transferred. A cable connection is not required. However, the iPhone must not be set up, as the transfer only works when the device is set up for the first time. Therefore, many users will be forced to reset their iPhone before transferring.
If both smartphones are prepared and users have made a WhatsApp backup on the Android device, they must start the “Transfer to iOS” app on the Android phone and follow the instructions displayed there. After the transfer, the current WhatsApp version must be installed on the iPhone. Important: Users must register with the same cell phone number that they used for WhatsApp on Android. After registration and the first login, the chat data is then also available on the iPhone.
Also interesting: Multi-device use with WhatsApp now unlocked for all users
Two-part system made the transition difficult
The problem with moving WhatsApp chats across systems is the use of the cloud platform. While WhatsApp stores the backups in Google Drive on Android, Messenger on the iPhone uses Apple’s iCloud. Since these two systems cannot communicate with each other, the detour via a cable and a separate app is required.