Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, which is often overshadowed by the fear of losing important data. This is especially true for correspondence in instant messengers, where the history of communication with loved ones, work agreements and important media files are stored. The question of how to transfer messages from one phone to another Android WhatsAppoccurs for millions of users every year when purchasing a new device.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the WhatsApp messenger itself offer several reliable ways to solve this problem. You can use Google cloud storage, perform a direct data transfer, or use local backup files. Each method has its own nuances, advantages and limitations, which we will examine in detail in this material.
In this article we will look at all the current ways to restore chat history on a new device. We will pay special attention to the settings Google Driveas this is the most common method, but we will also touch on manual backup via a computer for cases where the cloud is not available or the amount of data is too large.
Preparing your old device for backup
Before you begin data migration process, you need to make sure that you have a fresh and complete copy of your data on your old phone. Without this step, it will be impossible to transfer information to a new device. Open the application WhatsApp and go to settings through the menu with three dots in the upper right corner.
In the settings section, find the item Chats → Chat backup. Here you will see information about the last copy created and a button to start the process manually. Make sure that in the backup settings you select the correct account Googlethat you have access to on the new phone.
Pay attention to the size of the backup. If it is too large and the Internet speed is low, the process may take a significant amount of time. In this case, it is recommended to connect to the network Wi-Fi and leave the phone charging while you create a backup.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that you have enough free space on your Google Drive. If the storage limit is reached, the new backup will not be saved and you risk losing your fresh messages.
- 📱 Check the version of the WhatsApp application on your old phone and update it to the latest one available on Google Play.
- 🔋 Connect your device to a charger to avoid draining the battery during the long backup process.
- 📶 Use a stable Wi-Fi connection to upload large amounts of data to the cloud.
If you have a dual-SIM phone, make sure you use the same phone number on the new device as on the old one. Transferring to another number is not possible using standard means.
Setting up a backup in Google Drive
The main tool for saving the history of correspondence in the Android ecosystem is the service Google Drive. The integration of the messenger with this cloud storage allows you to automatically create copies of chats in the background. For correct operation, you must correctly configure the frequency and parameters of backups.
In the backup menu, you can select the frequency of creating copies: daily, weekly or monthly. For the upcoming data transfer, it is best to select the option Daily and press the button Backup to force the creation of a current snapshot of data right now.
Also in this menu you can select the type of data to save. You can decide whether to include video recordings in the archive. Remember that videos take up a lot of space, and excluding them can speed up the process, but you will lose the visual history of the correspondence.
| Settings parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the process |
|---|---|---|
| Google Account | Main email | Guarantees access to the file from a new device |
| Frequency | Daily | Minimizes data loss in case of breakdown |
| Network | Wi-Fi only | Saves mobile traffic |
| Video | Enable (if there is space) | Increases backup size, saves media |
Restoring data on a new smartphone
After successful creation copies on your old device, you can start setting up your new phone. It is critical that you log into the same account Googlethat was used for the backup. Without matching accounts, the system will not see the saved files.
Install the application WhatsApp from the store Google Play on a new device. Launch it and go through the verification process by entering the same phone number that was on the old device. The system will send an SMS code to confirm ownership of the number.
Immediately after confirming the number, the messenger will detect the presence of a backup copy in the cloud. A prompt will appear on the screen to restore chats and media files from Google Drive. You must press the button Recover. If you skip this step and click "Skip", it will be extremely difficult to recover your data later without reinstalling the application.
⚠️ Attention: Do not interrupt the recovery process. If you close the application or disconnect the Internet during the download, the procedure may fail and the chats will remain empty.
Wait until the initialization process completes. After the main chats are loaded, the application will begin loading media files in the background. You can start using the messenger right away, even if photos and videos are not yet fully displayed.
The main condition for success is using the same phone number and the same Google account on both devices.
Transfer via a local copy without Google Drive
Sometimes using the cloud is not possible due to lack of Internet, storage limits or considerations privacy. In such cases, you can use the local transfer method. WhatsApp automatically creates local copies of the database every night in the device's memory.
Backup files are usually located in the /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases or /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases directory, depending on the Android version. You need to find a file with a name like msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number may differ depending on the encryption version).
Copy this file from the old phone to the new one. This can be done via a computer by connecting both devices via USB, or via Bluetooth and a file manager. On the new phone, place the file in the same directory Databases, after installing but not launching WhatsApp.
Path to the folder on Android 11+:
/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases/
After posting the file, install the application and go through verification. When prompted to restore a backup, the system will find a local file instead of a cloud file. Select it to restore the history of correspondence.
What do the numbers in the file name mean?
The number at the end of the file name (for example, crypt14, crypt15) indicates the version of the encryption protocol. Files with different encryption versions are incompatible. You need to use the file with the same version that is supported by the installed version of WhatsApp. Typically, the application itself updates the encryption version when updating the software.
Using the "Transfer Chats" function within the application
The latest versions of the messenger have a built-in function that allows you to transfer your chat history directly from your old phone to a new one without using the cloud or computer. This method uses a local Wi-Fi network to transfer data and is one of the fastest.
To get started, both phones must be nearby. On your old device, go to Settings → Chats → Transfer chats. Click the button Get started and provide the necessary permissions to access the camera and local network.
On the new phone, install WhatsApp, confirm the number and follow the instructions on screen. You will be asked to scan a QR code that appears on the screen of your old device. After scanning, direct data transfer will begin.
- 🔒 The transfer is encrypted and occurs over a local network, the data does not go to the Internet.
- ⚡ The transfer speed depends on the amount of data and the quality of the wireless connection between devices.
- 📵 Do not minimize the WhatsApp application on both phones until complete process.
⚠️ Attention: The screens of both phones must be turned on during the transfer. If the old device's screen goes dark due to a timeout, the transfer may be interrupted. In the display settings, temporarily set the maximum time before the screen turns off.
☑️ Ready for direct transfer
Solving common problems during migration
Despite the streamlined processes, users may encounter errors. One of the most common problems is the message “Backup not found.” This almost always means that you are signed into a Google account other than the one you saved to.
Another common situation is that the recovery process gets stuck at a certain percentage. This may be due to damage to the backup file or an unstable Internet connection. In this case, you should try switching from Wi-Fi to a mobile network or vice versa, and also restarting the device.
If you changed your phone number, the standard transfer will not work. First you need to use the function Change number in the WhatsApp settings on your old device. This will link the chat history to a new number in the cloud, after which you can restore it on a new device.
If all else fails, you can turn to debugging tools or try to restore an older local copy by renaming the file msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.cryptXX v msgstore.db.cryptXX. However, this will return chats only on the date of creation of this copy.
When transferred to a phone from another manufacturer (for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi), the interface may be slightly different, but the logic of working with a Google account remains the same for the entire Android system.
Is it possible to transfer chats from Android to iPhone through this method?
No, described in the article The methods only work in the Android-Android combination. To transfer to an iPhone, you need to use the special “Move to iOS” application during the initial setup of the iPhone, since the backup and encryption systems for iOS and Android are different.
What to do if you forgot your Google account password?
Without access to your Google account, it is impossible to restore data from a cloud copy. You will have to go through the process of restoring access to your account through Google services. If this fails, the only option left is with a local copy, if you managed to copy the database file manually.
Will messages on the old phone disappear after the transfer?
No, data transfer works on the principle of copying. All messages, media files and settings will remain unchanged on the old device. You can use both phones with the same correspondence history, but remember that new messages will only arrive on the device where the SIM card number is active.
How long does it take to restore a large archive?
The time depends on the amount of data and Internet speed. With thousands of messages and gigabytes of media, the process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. Media files (photos and videos) are loaded in the background after the message text becomes readable.