Switching to a new Android phone can be exciting — but it also raises an important question: how do you move all your WhatsApp chats, photos, videos, and documents to your new device? Thankfully, WhatsApp provides a dedicated chat transfer feature that allows you to seamlessly migrate your complete chat history from one Android phone to another.
This feature ensures that all your important conversations and media are preserved, so you can continue chatting without interruption.
What You Need Before You Begin
Before starting the transfer, make sure both your old and new Android devices meet the following requirements:
- Both devices must be running Android 6 or above.
- The new device must use the same phone number as the old device.
- On the new phone, WhatsApp must not be registered yet.
- Both phones should be physically close to each other.
- Ensure Wi-Fi is enabled on both devices.
- It’s recommended to connect both phones to a power source to avoid interruptions.
- On some devices, you may be prompted to enable location permissions, but WhatsApp clarifies it does not collect your precise location for the transfer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Transfer Chats
Follow these steps to safely transfer your WhatsApp chat history:
On your old phone:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings → Chats → Transfer Chats.
- Tap Start and grant the necessary permissions.
- Prepare to scan a QR code displayed on your new phone.
On your new phone:
- Install and open WhatsApp.
- Tap Agree and Continue, then verify your phone number (it must be the same as on your old device).
- When prompted, choose Start to transfer chat history.
- A QR code will appear on the new device.
- Use your old phone to scan the QR code.
- Accept the invitation to link both devices.
- The transfer process will begin. Keep both phones unlocked and on the WhatsApp screen until it’s completed.
- Once the process finishes, tap Done on the new phone.
