There are several ways to move WhatsApp data from one Samsung phone to another, but they do not all preserve chats in the same way. This guide reviews the tradeoffs before you start.
I was going to download the app myself but then I read some reviews. People were having lots of trouble. A user quoted that he couldn’t get the app installed in his Samsung Tab S2. Another user said:
“I was so excited to get the new S21 Note but this App has been a complete nightmare to transfer my WhatsApp data from my s9+. Shouldn’t be that difficult. I’ve been a longtime loyal Android/Samsung user for years but this might cause me to rethink that and switch to a new phone altogether.“
The biggest limitation of Samsung Smart Switch is that it does not fully handle WhatsApp data the way many users expect, even though it moves other phone content.
That is a real problem because WhatsApp chats are often the most important data people expect on the new Samsung phone, not just photos, contacts, or apps.
This guide breaks down the remaining transfer options and highlights what each one keeps, what it leaves out, and how much manual work it requires.
Some Common Solutions to Transfer WhatsApp from Samsung to Samsung
1.1 Via Local Backup
WhatsApp also keeps a local backup on the phone. Before you transfer, run a fresh manual backup so the latest chats are included and the copied database is as current as possible.
- Open WhatsApp on the older device > Tap the three dots in the top right corner and open “Settings”.
- Open “Chats” > Tap “Chat Backup” > “Back Up” (this makes a backup on the local device).
- Sign out of your account OR Uninstall WhatsApp from the device.
- Open up the WhatsApp folder in either internal storage or SD card and copy the entire folder.
- Move this folder to your PC/Laptop.
- On your new Samsung phone > go to internal storage or SD card, depending on where you want to store your data.
- Move the WhatsApp folder from the PC/Laptop to the WhatsApp > Databases folder.
- Install WhatsApp on the new device > Enter the same number as in the older phone.
- During setup, WhatsApp should detect the copied backup files. Tap Restore and keep the same phone number active until the import finishes.
whatsapp databse folder
- Free solution.
- Requires the same phone number during restore, which makes the local-backup route less convenient if you are also changing numbers.
- The local-folder method involves many manual steps, including copying the database and placing it in the correct folder on the new phone.
1.2 Via Google Drive Backup
Google Drive is one of the most common Samsung-to-Samsung backup routes. It is less manual than the local-folder method, but it can take longer because the chats upload from the old phone first and then download again on the new phone during setup.
- Open WhatsApp on your older Samsung phone > Hit the three dots icon > Open “Settings”.
- Go to “Chat” > Followed by “Chat Backup” > Make sure you are logged into Google Account.
- Now tap on the ‘Backup’ button, you can choose to include or exclude videos > After it is done, remove WhatsApp from the device.
- Install WhatsApp on the new device > Log in to the same Google Account > During the setup, it will show the backup, tap the “Restore” button.
google drive backup
- Free solution.
- Limited storage of 15GB.
- There are compatibility issues in some cases.
- Slow procedure.
1.3 Transfer Via Email
Email export is another option if you only need a readable copy of specific chats. It sends the conversation as an attachment, but it does not restore that chat back into WhatsApp on the new Samsung phone and usually works one chat at a time.
- Open WhatsApp on the older phone > Select the contact or group to restore > Swipe left.
- Tap “More” > “Export Chat” > Select “Mail”.
- Type in the email linked with your Android phone > Send with the attachment.
- You will get an option to transfer media files, but it is recommended to exclude it due to the 20 MB limit per email attachment.
- Open the “Mail” application on your new Samsung phone and download the attachment.
transfer whatsapp via email
- Free solution.
- Large media attachments are limited by email size rules, so chats with a lot of files are a poor fit for this method.
- Exported chats stay viewable as documents, not live chats inside WhatsApp on the new phone.
- The manual process must be repeated for each chat, which makes email export slow when you have many conversations to keep.
One-stop Solution to WhatsApp Data Transfer from Samsung to Samsung
Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer comes to the rescue as an all-in-one WhatsApp data management software. Do you feel the disadvantages of the methods discussed above are too many? You are right. Mobitrix was developed to fix all the collective issues of the methods of WhatsApp backup transfer from Samsung to Samsung Android devices.
These are the basic steps to transfer WhatsApp from Samsung to Samsung with Mobitrix. Keep both phones connected until the desktop tool confirms the move is complete:
- Download and install Mobitrix on your computer, get both Samsung phones, and connect them to the computer before the transfer starts.
- Open Mobitrix > Click on “Transfer WhatsApp between Devices” in the menu on the left.
- Click on the “Transfer” button > Once the transfer is complete, you will get a notification.
connect the 2 device to pc
the device successfully connected
start to transfer whatsapp messages
Key features of Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer:
Easily Transfer from any Platform: Mobitrix supports the transfer of WhatsApp messages, images, videos, and more from Android to iPhone, iPhone to Android, iPhone to iPhone, and Android to Android.
Backup WhatsApp to your PC and Restore: With Mobitrix, you can easily connect your device to your computer and backup your data. You can then restore this data to another device.
Quality of Data – 100% intact: You can rest assured about your data. Not only is it going to remain 100% intact, but you also don’t have to worry about privacy as all data is stored directly on your computer.
Works with 8000+ smartphones: Mobitrix is made for anyone using WhatsApp regardless of which mobile set they are using. It offers support for Apple, Samsung, HRC, LG, Sony, and other smartphone manufacturers.
