After much anticipation, whatsApp users are finally getting the option to switch from an Android phone to an iPhone. The instant messaging app on Tuesday announced the new capability in beta. The update has enabled users to transfer their WhatsApp account information, profile photo, individual and group chats, chat history, media, and settings from an Android phone to an iPhone. Last year, WhatsApp enabled users to transfer their conversations from an iPhone to an Android phone. That change is, though, limited to select Samsung and Google phones.
Nearly ten months after the official announcement, WhatsApp started rolling out the capability to transfer data from Android phones to iPhones. Users must install the latest Move to iOS app on their Android phones to begin the transfer process.
“We’re adding to WhatsApp the ability to securely switch between phones and transfer your chat history, photos, videos, and voice messages between Android and iPhone while maintaining end-to-end encryption. This is a top requested feature,” Mark Zuckerberg, Founder, and CEO of Meta, said in a comment on his Facebook page while announcing the update.
WhatsApp told Gadgets 360 that the beta enabling transfer of its data from an Android phone to an iPhone is rolling out slowly and will take about a week to reach all users.
The transfer requires users to have a device running Android 5 or above, whereas the iPhone to which the data has to be migrated should run on at least iOS 15.5. It also requires WhatsApp for Android version 2.22.7.74 or above to enable the transferring of data. The Android phone also needs to have the Move to iOS app installed. Further, users need to have the same phone number on the iPhone as their Android phone to move data.
WhatsApp users on Android are required to use the Move to iOS app to transfer data to an iPhone photo Credit: Apple
Unlike the WhatsApp data transfer from an iPhone to an Android phone, where both devices must be physically connected via a cable, the migration from Android to iPhone is done wirelessly. However, both devices need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or the Android device needs to be connected to the hotspot connection of the iPhone. The machines must also be connected to a power source to enable the transferring of data, as per an FAQ page.
It is important to point out that the iPhone to which the WhatsApp data needs to be transferred should be factory new or reset to factory settings as the process works through the Move to iOS app.
How to move WhatsApp data from an Android phone to iPhone
If the requisites are ready, you can transfer your WhatsApp data from an Android phone to an iPhone by following the steps below.
Open the Move to iOS app on your Android phone and follow the on-screen prompts.
Your iPhone will display a code. Enter that code on your Android phone when prompted.
Tap Continue and follow the on-screen prompts.
Now, select WhatsApp on the Transfer Data screen.
Tap Next to return to the Move to iOS app.
Hit Continue to begin the transfer process. It would take some time to transfer all your data. The Move to iOS app will confirm once the transfer process is complete.
After the above steps, you will be required to install the latest version of WhatsApp on your iPhone from the App Store. You need to log in to the app using the same phone number used on your old device. The app will then prompt you to tap Start to complete the transfer on the iPhone.
Transferring data does not mean your existing WhatsApp backups stored on Google Drive will also be transferred to your iCloud storage. If you already have a WhatsApp backup stored on your iCloud, it will be replaced with a new one. You will be required to manually take the backup of your content over iCloud once the migration is complete.
Your Android phone will still have your WhatsApp data in place — unless you delete the app or wipe your phone’s data.
