How to Transfer WhatsApp Messages to a New Phone — Android and iPhone 2026

How to Transfer WhatsApp Messages to a New Phone — Complete 2026 Guide

Transferring WhatsApp data to a new phone is straightforward with the right steps. Prerequisites: an active phone number matching the one used in the backup, a recent backup on Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone), sufficient storage on the new phone, and a stable internet connection.

Scenario 1: Android to Android (Easiest)

Built-in Method: Direct Wi-Fi Transfer Between Phones

On the old Android phone: open WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup → tap Back Up. On the new phone: download WhatsApp from the Play Store → sign in with the same phone number → when prompted to restore, two choices appear: tap "Transfer from old phone" for direct Wi-Fi transfer, or "Restore from backup" to restore from cloud.

Via Google Drive

On the old phone: open WhatsApp → three dots → Settings → Chats → Chat backup → tap Back Up to create a fresh backup. On the new phone: install WhatsApp from the Play Store → open and verify the phone number → when the restore prompt appears, tap Restore → wait for chat history and media to finish restoring.

Restoration only works during the initial setup after installing the app. If this step was missed, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp to access the restore option again.

Important note: Since early 2024, WhatsApp backups on Google Drive count against the Google account's free storage (15GB). If the limit is nearly reached, space may need to be cleared or the plan upgraded to avoid backup failures.

Local Backup Method (Without Internet)

WhatsApp automatically creates a local backup daily. The backup file can be copied and moved to the new phone. Locate the folder at: WhatsApp/Databases in internal storage or SD card. Copy the entire folder to the new phone at the same path, then install WhatsApp and choose to restore from the local backup.

Scenario 2: Android to iPhone

The "Move to iOS" app is the official free method for transferring WhatsApp from Android to iPhone, designed for users setting up a new iPhone for the first time. On the new iPhone: during device setup at the "Apps & Data" screen, choose "Move Data from Android."

On Android: install "Move to iOS" from the Play Store → open the app → accept terms → tap Continue → enter the code displayed on the iPhone → select the data to transfer including WhatsApp → wait for the transfer to complete.

An Android (Google Drive) backup cannot be restored on an iPhone — the systems are not compatible. WhatsApp provides a separate transfer process via Move to iOS when switching platforms. Third-party tools like Dr.Fone or MobileTrans can migrate chats between Android and iPhone but require extra steps or a computer.

Scenario 3: iPhone to Android

Official WhatsApp chat history transfer is currently available for moving from iPhone to new Samsung devices via Samsung Smart Switch.

Install Samsung Smart Switch on iPhone → connect both devices → follow the instructions to transfer WhatsApp data including chats and media.

Scenario 4: iPhone to iPhone

Via iCloud Backup — the easiest method:

On the old iPhone: Settings → your name → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. Or directly from WhatsApp: Settings → Chats → Chat Backup → Back Up Now.

On the new iPhone: during setup choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" → sign in with the same Apple ID → select the most recent backup.

Specialized Transfer Software (For All Scenarios)

For direct one-click device-to-device transfer including cross-platform, tools like MobileTrans allow transferring WhatsApp chats and attachments directly between Android and Android, iPhone and iPhone, and even between Android and iPhone. Over 6,000 devices are supported.

Top tools in 2026: MobileTrans (Wondershare), Dr.Fone WhatsApp Transfer, iMobie AnyTrans.