When you move to another phone, you may need to import your WhatsApp chats to the new device. This article explains the main options for both iPhone and Android users.
1.One-for-all way to import WhatsApp chats
One practical method for both Android and iPhone users is Mobitrix.
Mobitrix is a third-party tool that enables iPhone and Android users to import their WhatsApp chats from another device efficiently. It contains a user-friendly interface making it easy for users to import their chats.
To import WhatsApp chats from one device to another:
- Download Mobitrix and install it on your computer and then launch it.
- Connect the two phones to your computer with USB cables.
- Once both devices appear on the screen, set the phone with the chats as the source and the new phone as the destination.
- Click on the Transfer option. Mobitrix starts importing your chats to the new device.
- Ensure the devices remain connected during the entire process. After the process of importing is complete, your messages will appear on the new phone.
connect the 2 devices to pc
start to transfer whatsapp
Advantages of using Mobitrix:
- It works on both Android devices and iPhones
- Your chats are imported to another device by just clicking once
- Your data stays on your own devices and computer during the transfer.
- It uses a simple interface that is easy to follow.
Import WhatsApp chats from Android to Android
For Android-to-Android transfers, you can also use the method below:
a) Via Google Drive
Before importing your messages to the new Android phone, make sure the device uses the same phone number and Google account used for the backup. A stable internet connection also helps.
Steps to import via Google Drive:
- Launch WhatsApp on the old device. Go to Settings > chats > Chat Backup.
- Log in to your Google account and then tap on Backup
- Install WhatsApp on your target phone. Log in to the same Google account you used while creating the Backup.
- WhatsApp will detect the Backup which is in your Google Drive. When the option for Restore shows up, tap on it and wait for your WhatsApp chats to be imported to the new device.
backup whatsapp via google drive
This method works well for Android-to-Android transfers, but it does not help when you need to move chats between Android and iPhone.
Import WhatsApp chats from iPhone to iPhone
While importing your chats from one iPhone to another, you can use the following methods:
a) Via iCloud
To import your chats using iCloud:
- On the source iPhone, open Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
- Click on the iCloud Backup option and switch on the toggle button.
- Tap on “Back Up Now.”
- Set up the new iPhone. If it had been set up earlier, reset it by clicking on Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Contents and Settings.
- Your device reboots. When it finishes restarting, open the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.
- Tap on the “Restore Backup from iCloud” option. Enter the Apple Account you used while creating the backup. Your chats will be imported to the new iPhone.
via icloud
Importing chats this way is convenient for iPhone-to-iPhone moves, but it only works on iOS devices.
b) Via iTunes
To import WhatsApp chats from one iPhone to another using iTunes:
- Download the most recent iTunes version and install it on your PC and then launch it.
- Connect the device containing the chats to your computer using a cable.
- iTunes recognizes your iPhone, and its icon shows up on iTunes.
- Click on the Summary option followed by “Back Up Now.”
- When the backup process is complete, remove the source iPhone and connect the destination iPhone.
- When iTunes recognizes the new iPhone, click on Summary > Restore Backup
- After restoring the Backup, set your WhatsApp up using the phone number you used while creating the Backup.
via itunes
This method is fast, and there are no restrictions while importing chats between phones running on iOS. The shortcoming of this method is that you have to back up the device instead of only backing up WhatsApp.
Import WhatsApp chats between Android and iPhone
To import your WhatsApp chats between iPhone and Android devices, try the following ways:
a) Via Mobitrix WhatsAppTrans
Mobitrix WhatsAppTrans is a free tool for importing messages to another device, but it requires stronger computer skills than the other options here.
Steps for importing chats from an Android device to iPhone:
- Go to GitHub. Click on Code > Download. Ensure WhatsApp(.apk) or WhatsApp business(.apk). Make sure the version of the application is customized. Download the ExportAndroidWhatsApp.exe, which is a tool used to export data for WhatsApp.
- On the Android phone, back up your data using local Backup in WhatsApp. Delete your official WhatsApp and then install the downloaded customized version.
- Open file management on Android and look for a folder labelled “data.flg”. Start the customized version for WhatsApp. Go to the folder for WhatsApp and check if you will see a new file marked ok.flg and a folder labelled chatpath.
- Connect the Android to your computer. Copy your folder for WhatsApp and paste it on the computer.
- Launch Command prompt on the PC and then run; ExportAndroidWhatsApp.exe WhatsApp path. This command stores your chats in a file in the “txt” format in the WhatsApp directory.
- Download iTunes and then install it on your computer. Connect the iPhone to your computer.
- To import and media files stored in the Media folder in your directory for WhatsApp, use the feature file management.
- To import all files in the txt format, which appears in the folder named “txt,” in the directory for WhatsApp, click on all chat history on the iPhone.
how to download whatsapptrans
whatsapptrans
mobitrix whatsapptrans
This method can be used across Android and iOS, and it is free. The tradeoff is that it takes time and is harder for less technical users.
b) Via Email
To import your chats in Android phone to iPhone:
- Start WhatsApp on Android and select the chat you need to import to iPhone
- Go to Settings, then More, followed by Export chat, and finally to Email.
- Enter your Email where you would like to send your chats to and then open that email address in the iPhone and view your chats.
via email
To import the chats located in your iPhone to Android:
- On your iPhone, launch WhatsApp. Swipe the WhatsApp chat that you require to export to the left.
- Select More > Export chat
- Tap on the option labelled Share > Mail.
- Key in email address and then tap on Send.
- Access the chat in Email from your Android device. Download the file containing the chats.
The email method does not require a third-party app and is easy to access, but you have to export one chat at a time, so it can take a long while.
Different methods of importing a chat from one device to another have been explained in this article. Mobitrix is the best method to use because it contains a user-friendly interface that is easy to use, it highly protects your data, and it only requires one click, and your chats are imported to the device you want.
