Before you start
- Android 5.0 or later with Move to iOS installed
- An iPhone on iOS 15.5 or later that is new or has been reset to factory settings
- The same phone number on both phones
- Both phones charged, plugged in, and on the same Wi-Fi network
What transfers and what doesn’t
Transferred: account information, profile photo, individual and group chats, chat history, photos, videos, voice notes, documents, communities and settings.
Not transferred: call history and your display name (you can type it again). Peer-to-peer payment messages may not transfer either.
Your Android phone keeps its copy of the data until you delete WhatsApp or erase the phone.
Method 1 Prepare both phones
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Step 1: Update WhatsApp on Android
Open the Google Play Store and update WhatsApp to the latest version.
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Step 2: Install Move to iOS
On Android, install Apple’s free Move to iOS app from Google Play.
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Step 3: Charge and connect
Plug both phones into chargers and connect the Android phone to Wi-Fi. Keep them close together.
Method 2 Transfer with Move to iOS
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Step 1: Start iPhone setup
Turn on the new iPhone and follow the setup steps until you reach Transfer Your Apps & Data. Choose From Android.
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Step 2: Connect the phones
On Android, open Move to iOS, accept the terms and follow the prompts. Enter the code shown on the iPhone. The iPhone creates a temporary Wi-Fi network that the Android phone joins.
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Step 3: Select WhatsApp
On the Transfer Data screen on Android, select WhatsApp (plus anything else you want, such as contacts and photos).
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Step 4: Export your chats
WhatsApp opens on Android. Tap Start and wait while it prepares your data. When it’s ready, you’ll return to Move to iOS automatically.
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Step 5: Finish the transfer
Tap Continue to send the data to the iPhone. Keep both phones together and don’t use them until the iPhone says the transfer is complete.
Method 3 Open WhatsApp on the iPhone
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Step 1: Install WhatsApp
Once the iPhone setup is finished, install the latest WhatsApp from the App Store (it may install automatically).
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Step 2: Verify your number
Open WhatsApp and sign in with the same phone number you used on Android.
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Step 3: Tap Start
When prompted, tap Start to import your chats. Wait for it to finish, then complete your profile.
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Step 4: Check your chats
Open a few important chats and confirm photos and messages are there before erasing or giving away the Android phone.
Troubleshooting
Move to iOS doesn’t show WhatsApp
Update WhatsApp and Move to iOS on Android, and make sure WhatsApp is set up and verified with the number you’ll use on the iPhone.
The transfer gets stuck or the phones disconnect
Turn off Smart network switch or Switch to mobile data on Android, keep it on the iPhone’s Wi-Fi, and don’t use either phone during the transfer. Then reset the iPhone and try again.
WhatsApp on iPhone doesn’t offer to import chats
The iPhone must be signed in with the same phone number, and you need to open WhatsApp from the iPhone before restoring from any iCloud backup. If you already skipped the step, delete and reinstall WhatsApp on the iPhone and verify again.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone without resetting the iPhone?
Not with WhatsApp’s official method. Move to iOS only works during setup. Paid desktop apps claim to do it, but they need full access to your chats; use them only if you trust the company.
Can I restore a Google Drive WhatsApp backup on an iPhone?
No. Google Drive backups only restore on Android, and iCloud backups only restore on iPhone. Move to iOS is the bridge between them.
Does it cost anything?
No. Move to iOS and WhatsApp are free, and the transfer happens over a direct Wi-Fi connection, so it doesn’t use mobile data.
How long does the transfer take?
It depends on how many photos and videos you have. A few gigabytes usually takes 10–30 minutes.
Summary
To move WhatsApp from Android to iPhone, use Move to iOS during the iPhone’s setup, select WhatsApp, then sign in with the same number on the iPhone and tap Start. Check your chats and turn on iCloud backup before wiping your old phone.
