Transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone

Moving WhatsApp from an Android phone to an iPhone can transfer your chats and supported account information without relying on a separate chat-backup restore. You’ll use Apple’s Move to iOS app during iPhone setup, so prepare both phones and check the requirements before you begin.

What You’ll Need

• Your Android phone and iPhone, both charged and connected to power if possible.
• The latest available version of WhatsApp on Android, the Move to iOS app on Android, and a current iOS version on the iPhone.
• The same phone number on WhatsApp on both devices. You must be able to receive the verification code for that number.
• A new or factory-reset iPhone. If the iPhone is already set up, you’ll need to erase it to return to its setup screen; back up anything on it that you want to keep first.
• A reliable Wi-Fi connection, and enough free storage on the iPhone for the WhatsApp data being transferred.

Step-by-Step

1. Check the transfer conditions. Confirm that the Android phone can open WhatsApp and that you know the account’s phone number. Update WhatsApp and install Move to iOS from Google Play. Check that the iPhone has enough space; the transferred data must fit alongside iOS and other content.
2. Prepare the iPhone. If it is not new or reset, save anything you need, then erase it through the iPhone’s Settings before proceeding. On a new or erased iPhone, start setup and follow the prompts until you reach the screen titled Transfer Your Apps & Data (wording may vary slightly).
3. Choose the Android transfer option. On the iPhone, select From Android. On Android, open Move to iOS, review its prompts, and grant the requested permissions. Keep both phones nearby and connected to power.
4. Connect the devices. Tap Continue on the iPhone to display a one-time code. Enter that code in Move to iOS on Android. If Android asks to join a temporary Wi-Fi network created by the iPhone, allow it. Keep the Move to iOS screen open and do not switch apps or answer calls during the transfer.
5. Select WhatsApp data. When the transfer choices appear on Android, select WhatsApp. Tap Start in WhatsApp if prompted, and wait while it prepares the data. Return to Move to iOS and continue. You can select other supported content too, but choosing more may increase the transfer time.
6. Wait for the transfer to finish. Let the process run until the progress indicator completes on the iPhone. Even if Android says it is finished first, wait for the iPhone’s completion message. Leave both phones alone, powered, and near each other. Do not open WhatsApp on the iPhone before the transfer finishes.
7. Complete iPhone setup. Continue through the remaining iPhone setup screens. Install WhatsApp from the App Store if it is not already installed. Open it and verify the same phone number used on Android, entering the verification code when asked.
8. Import and check your chats. Follow WhatsApp’s prompt to start importing the transferred chats. Keep WhatsApp open while import runs. When it completes, check a few conversations and media items. Only after confirming the iPhone has what you need should you decide whether to remove WhatsApp or its data from Android.

Common Mistakes

• Trying to transfer to an iPhone that is already set up: Move to iOS works during initial iPhone setup. It does not merge Android WhatsApp history into an existing iPhone WhatsApp account. Back up the iPhone, erase it if you choose to proceed, and start setup again.
• Using a different phone number: The WhatsApp number used to activate the iPhone must match the number on Android for this migration. If you need to change numbers, use WhatsApp’s number-change process on Android before migrating.
• Opening WhatsApp on the iPhone too soon: Activating it before the Move to iOS transfer can disrupt the import path. Complete the Android transfer first, then install or open WhatsApp and activate it.
• Interrupting the connection: Switching apps, taking a call, enabling unrelated network connections, or letting a phone sleep can stop the process. Keep both screens active and avoid using either phone until completion.
• Expecting every item to move: WhatsApp’s transfer does not necessarily include every type of account or call information. Review WhatsApp’s current transfer guidance for the supported data categories before relying on the move for records you need.

Tips

• Use the same phone number and keep access to its SIM or other method of receiving a verification code.
• Charge both devices, update the apps before starting, and plan enough uninterrupted time. Large libraries can take a while.
• Keep Android connected to the temporary iPhone Wi-Fi network even if Android reports that the network has no internet. Do not switch to another Wi-Fi network during transfer.
• Keep the Android phone until you have checked that the important chats and attachments appear on the iPhone. A separate Google Drive WhatsApp backup cannot simply be restored directly into WhatsApp on iPhone.
• After migration, enable WhatsApp chat backups on the iPhone if you want a continuing backup there. This is separate from the one-time transfer.

Troubleshooting

The iPhone does not show “From Android”: Check that you are still in initial setup. If setup is complete, back up important iPhone content, erase the phone, and begin again. There is no supported way to run this Move to iOS migration afterward without resetting.

The phones will not connect or the code fails: Restart both devices, make sure Wi-Fi is on, and try again with the phones close together. Turn off mobile data or features that automatically switch networks on Android if they interfere with the temporary connection. Follow the on-screen prompts rather than manually joining a different network.

The transfer stalls or stops: Ensure both phones have sufficient battery and storage, keep Move to iOS open on Android, and retry from the beginning if the process cannot resume. Update the apps and restart both phones before another attempt. Avoid using either device during the retry.

WhatsApp does not offer an import: Confirm you installed the current WhatsApp app, used the same phone number, and completed the Move to iOS transfer successfully. If the iPhone was activated with WhatsApp before migration, or the transfer was incomplete, you may need to erase the iPhone and repeat the process. Contact WhatsApp support if the expected import prompt still does not appear.

Some chats or media are missing: Allow the import to finish, check that you are viewing the correct account, and look in relevant conversations for attachments. If content is absent after completion, check the Android phone before deleting anything; repeat the migration if needed. Do not assume a Google Drive backup will restore those chats directly on iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer WhatsApp from Android to an iPhone that is already set up?
No, not with the Move to iOS migration process. You need to erase the iPhone and run the transfer during setup.

Will my WhatsApp chats and photos transfer?
WhatsApp supports moving chat history and media through the migration process, along with certain other account information. Some data, such as call history, may not transfer; check WhatsApp’s current support information for details.

Do I need the same phone number?
Yes. Activate WhatsApp on the iPhone with the number used for the Android account. If you are changing numbers, change the number on Android before transferring.

Can I restore a Google Drive WhatsApp backup on iPhone?
Not directly. Use Move to iOS during iPhone setup to transfer supported WhatsApp data from Android.

Does the transfer delete WhatsApp from Android?
The migration itself does not require you to immediately remove the Android app. Keep the old phone until you have verified the chats and media on iPhone, then decide what to do with it.

Can I use my Android phone during the transfer?
Avoid it. Keep Move to iOS open and both phones connected until the iPhone confirms the transfer is complete.