Changing a smartphone - this is always stressful, especially when it comes to preserving the history of correspondence. It has become easier to migrate from the operating system Android to iOS , but specific messengers have their own characteristics. Users often encounter a problem when contacts are transferred automatically and chats disappear.
In this article we will look in detail at how to save all important dialogs, media files and groups when moving to a new one. iPhone. You will learn about the operation of the official Apple tool and the nuances of creating backup copies.
The main difficulty lies in the difference between cloud storages: Android uses Google Drive, and iOS iCloud. Direct synchronization between them is impossible without special actions. Therefore, it is important to strictly follow the algorithm so as not to lose data permanently.
Preparing an Android-based device
Before starting the migration, make sure that current version applications are installed on your old smartphone. Go to the store Play Market and check for updates. Outdated software may contain errors that prevent the creation of a correct backup.
The next step is to link your account to cloud storage. In the messenger settings, find the section Account → Viber backup. Here the system will prompt you to select a Google account to save data.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure you have enough free space on your Google Drive. If the limit is reached, the backup process will fail and you will lose your latest messages.
Run a manual backup. Don't rely on automatic scheduling as it may have worked a long time ago. Wait for the process to complete, which will be indicated by a notification with a timestamp.
☑️ Preparing Android for transfer
Setting up a new iPhone before transfer
The key point of the whole process is the state of the new device. The official data transfer method only works during the initial setup phase. If you are already using the phone and see a desktop with icons, you will have to perform full reset settings.
To do this, go to the menu Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone. Select "Erase content and settings." This action will delete all data from the device, returning it to its factory state.
After rebooting, the phone will greet you with a “Hello” screen. Follow the instructions until the "Applications and Data" step. This is where you will be able to use the migration utility. Do not skip this step, otherwise you will not be able to restore chats in the standard way.
If your new iPhone already has important data that cannot be deleted, make a full backup of it in iCloud or on your computer before resetting the settings.
Using the Move to iOS application
Apple has developed a special solution for migration - utility Move to iOS. It is available for download in the Android app store. This is the only official way to transfer Viber history along with the rest of the system data.
Run the application on both devices. On iPhone, select Transfer Data from Android. A six or ten digit code will appear on the screen. Enter this code in the appropriate field on your device Android.
Once the connection is established, select the type of data to transfer. Be sure to check the box Viber in the list of applications. The system will warn that the messenger will be closed on Android to complete the transfer process.
| Transfer stage | Action on Android | Action on iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Entering the security code | Code generation |
| Selecting data | Tick Viber | Waiting for selection |
| Transfer | Do not minimize the application | Do not interrupt the process |
| Completion | Automatic closing | Successful completion screen |
Restoring a backup on iOS
After the migration process via Move to iOS is completed, no hurry to open the messenger. First, complete the basic iPhone setup, sign in with your Apple ID and connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Now install the Viber app from the App Store. When you first start, enter the same phone number that you used on Android. The system will recognize the device and offer to restore chat history from the detected backup.
Click the “Restore” button. The data loading process will begin. The speed depends on the size of the archive and the speed of the Internet connection. During this time, keep the screen active and do not minimize the application.
⚠️ Attention: If the application does not offer to restore a copy immediately after entering the number, the transfer process via Move to iOS may not have completed correctly. In this case, repeat the procedure from the very beginning.
Solving common problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where chats do not appear after recovery. Most often this is due to desynchronization of software versions. Make sure that both devices have the same or as close versions as possible Viber.
Another common reason is using different phone numbers or logging into your account before the data transfer is complete. If you activated the SIM card in a new phone and logged into your account before using the migration utility, the old copy may have been overwritten with an empty one.
What to do if the transfer is stuck at 90%?
If the progress indicator froze for a long time, do not interrupt the connection immediately. Wait 10-15 minutes. Often, large media files are archived at the end, which takes a lot of time. If the process does not budge for more than an hour, reboot both devices and start again, disabling unnecessary applications on Android.
It is also worth checking the power saving settings on Android. Power Saver mode may limit background processes required to transfer data via Wi-Fi Direct, which Apple's utility uses.
Alternative methods and limitations
There are third-party PC apps that promise to transfer chats without resetting your iPhone. However, such solutions are often paid and do not guarantee the safety of the correspondence structure. Official support Viber does not recommend using third-party software for security reasons.
It is important to understand that only personal and group chats can be transferred. Privacy settings, store-purchased stickers, and some system settings do not migrate automatically. They will have to be configured again manually.
The only guaranteed way to transfer Viber history from Android to iPhone is to use the Move to iOS utility during the initial setup of a new device.
If you are using the corporate version of the messenger Viber for Business, the procedure may differ. In such cases, it is recommended that you contact your organization's administrator for specific instructions on migrating your work data.
Can you migrate chats if your iPhone is already set up?
Without resetting your iPhone to factory settings, the official transfer of Viber chat history is not possible. You will have to erase all data in the settings menu to go through the initial activation step again and use Move to iOS.
Are hidden chats and passwords transferred?
Hidden chats are not automatically transferred for security reasons. Before migration, you need to reveal hidden chats on Android (enter the pin code and select “Exit hidden chats”) so that they go into the general backup.
What happens to media files during the transfer?
Photos and videos from chats are transferred along with the correspondence history. However, files saved in the phone gallery separately from chats must be selected in the Move to iOS utility as a separate Photos item.
Do you need the same phone number?
Yes, restoring a backup is only possible if you use the same phone number that was used to register your Viber account on your Android device.