Restore WhatsApp Messages on New Phone

Switching to a new phone doesn’t mean leaving your chat history behind. This guide walks you through restoring your WhatsApp messages, photos, and voice notes from either a Google Drive backup (Android) or iCloud backup (iPhone), as well as from a local backup file. You’ll need your old phone’s number and access to the same Google or Apple account that holds your backup.

What You’ll Need

Your new phone with WhatsApp installed (download from the official app store).
The same phone number you used on your old phone.
Access to the Google account (Android) or Apple ID (iPhone) that stored your backup.
Sufficient storage space on your new phone for the backup data.
A stable Wi-Fi connection (backups can be large).

Step-by-Step

For Android (Google Drive backup)

Install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store on your new phone. Do not open it yet.
Open WhatsApp and tap Agree & Continue to accept the terms.
Verify your phone number by entering the same number you used on your old phone. WhatsApp will send a six-digit verification code via SMS or call; enter it when prompted.
Allow WhatsApp to access your contacts and storage when asked (these permissions are needed for restore).
On the “Restore” screen, WhatsApp will detect the Google Drive backup associated with your Google account and phone number. Tap Restore.
Wait for the restore to complete. The time depends on your backup size and internet speed. Do not close the app or switch to airplane mode during this process.
After restore, tap Next to set up your profile name and photo. Your chats and media will appear once the setup finishes.

For iPhone (iCloud backup)

Install WhatsApp from the App Store on your new iPhone.
Open WhatsApp and tap Agree & Continue.
Verify your phone number with the same number used previously.
When prompted, allow WhatsApp to access your contacts and photos.
On the “Restore” screen, WhatsApp will look for an iCloud backup linked to your Apple ID. Tap Restore Chat History.
Wait for the restore to finish. Keep the app open and stay connected to Wi-Fi.
Once done, tap Next to enter your profile name and photo. Your chats will load.

Restoring from a local backup (Android only)

Transfer the backup file from your old phone to the new one. The file is usually named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt14 (or similar) and is located in the WhatsApp/Databases folder on the old phone’s internal storage or SD card. You can copy it via USB cable, email, or cloud storage.
Place the file in the WhatsApp/Databases folder on your new phone. If the folder doesn’t exist, create it.
Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on the new phone (or clear its data) so it asks for restore again.
Open WhatsApp and verify your number as before.
When the “Restore” screen appears, tap Restore (it will use the local file instead of Google Drive).

Common Mistakes

Using a different phone number – The backup is tied to your phone number. If you use a new number, WhatsApp won’t find the old backup.
Opening WhatsApp before the backup is ready – If you open and set up WhatsApp before the restore prompt appears, it may skip the restore. Uninstall and reinstall to try again.
Not being signed into the correct Google/Apple account – Ensure the account on your new phone is the same one used for the backup.
Ignoring storage space – If your new phone doesn’t have enough free space, the restore may fail or be incomplete.
Interrupting the restore – Closing the app or turning off Wi-Fi mid-restore can corrupt the process.

Tips

Back up before switching – On your old phone, go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup and tap Back Up to ensure the latest data is saved.
Use Wi-Fi – Restoring a large backup over mobile data can be slow and may incur charges.
Keep the phone plugged in – A long restore can drain the battery; plug in your charger.
Check backup frequency – On Android, you can set Google Drive backups to daily, weekly, or monthly. On iPhone, iCloud backups occur automatically when the phone is charging and on Wi-Fi.
For local backups, copy the entire WhatsApp folder – This includes media files (images, videos, voice notes) that are stored outside the database.

Troubleshooting

No backup found – Verify that you’re signed into the correct Google/Apple account. Also check that the backup exists by going to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup on your old phone (if you still have it). If the backup is older than your last chats, it may not appear.
Restore stuck at “Restoring…” – Force close WhatsApp and reopen it. If it doesn’t resume, uninstall and reinstall, then try again. Ensure your internet connection is stable.
Restore completes but chats are missing – This can happen if the backup is outdated. Check the backup date. If you have a local backup file, try restoring from that instead.
Verification code not received – Wait a few minutes and request a new code. Make sure your SIM card is inserted and has signal. Do not use a VoIP number for verification.
Media files not restored – Media is often stored separately. On Android, ensure the WhatsApp/Media folder was transferred. On iPhone, media is included in the iCloud backup, but if it’s missing, try restoring from a more recent backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restore WhatsApp messages from iPhone to Android or vice versa?

Officially, no. WhatsApp backups are platform-specific: iCloud backups work only on iPhone, and Google Drive backups work only on Android. There are third-party tools that claim to transfer chats across platforms, but they are not officially supported and may not work reliably.

What happens if I don’t have a backup?

Without a backup, you cannot restore your chat history. The only way to recover messages is if you had previously exported a chat via email (Settings > Chats > Chat history > Export chat). That creates a text file, not a full backup.

Does restoring WhatsApp messages also restore media like photos and videos?

Yes, if the backup includes media. On Android, you can choose to include videos in your Google Drive backup. On iPhone, media is included in the iCloud backup. However, if you restore from a local backup, you need to also transfer the media folder separately.

Can I restore WhatsApp messages without a SIM card?

You need to verify your phone number, which typically requires a SIM card to receive the SMS or call. However, if your phone supports eSIM, you can use that. Some users have used a different phone to receive the verification code, but the number must be the same as the one linked to the backup.

Will restoring WhatsApp messages delete my current chats on the new phone?

Restoring a backup will overwrite any existing chats on the new phone. If you have chats you want to keep, back them up first or export them before restoring.

How long does it take to restore WhatsApp messages?

It depends on the backup size and your internet speed. A small backup (a few hundred MB) can take a few minutes; a large backup (several GB) can take 20-30 minutes or more. Keep the app open and be patient.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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