Moving to a new smartphone is always accompanied by stress, especially when it comes to the safety of personal correspondence in instant messengers. For users Huawei the situation is complicated by the lack of services Google Mobile Services (GMS) on new models, which makes the standard backup process less obvious. However, transferring chats, media files and settings WhatsApp to a device running a clean operating system Android is quite possible if you follow the correct algorithm of actions.
There are several proven methods for data migration, each of which has its own characteristics depending on the version of the operating system EMUI or HarmonyOS on the source device. In this article, we will examine in detail the methods through cloud storage, direct connection of devices and the use of third-party utilities for cloning a phone. It is important to understand that without preliminary preparation, you may encounter a situation where the message history will be lost irretrievably.
Preparing the original Huawei device for transfer
Before proceeding with technical manipulations, you need to make sure that your device Huawei ready to create a backup copy. The key here is to have enough free space and a stable connection. If you are using an old model with installed services Google, the process is simplified, but for new devices you will need an alternative approach.
Check the relevance of the application version WhatsApp in the official store AppGallery or on the developer’s website. Outdated versions may not work correctly with new encryption protocols when restoring data. Also make sure that the battery charge is at least 50% so that the archiving process is not interrupted due to a sudden power outage.
⚠️ Attention: If your Huawei has custom firmware installed or system rights (root) have been changed, standard backup methods may not work. In such cases, it is recommended to reset the settings to factory settings before selling or transferring the device, having previously saved the data by external means.
Particular attention should be paid to choosing a backup storage method. Since direct integration from Google Drive to new Huawei is limited, the most reliable option is often to create a local copy to internal memory or to a card microSD. This ensures that the data file will not be damaged during synchronization and will be available for physical transfer.
Before starting the transfer, clear the WhatsApp cache through the phone settings to reduce the backup size and speed up the file transfer process.
Creating a local backup on Huawei
Local backup is the most reliable method for users who do not have access to services Google. This method creates a complete snapshot of the chat database directly in the device's memory, which can then be manually copied to a new phone. The process requires attention to the paths where files are placed.
Go to the messenger settings through the menu Settings → Chats → Chat backup. Click the button Backup and wait for the process to complete. The system will create a file with a name like msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number may differ depending on the version of the encryption protocol) in a special folder.
- 📂 File database is usually located along the path
/Huawei/WhatsApp/Databasesor/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. - 💾 To be safe, copy this file to a computer or external drive before transferring it to a new device.
- 🔒 Make sure that the file has the current creation date that coincides with the moment the operation was completed.
After creating the copy, do not delete application WhatsApp from the old phone until you are sure that the data has been successfully restored to the new device. Storing the original serves as insurance in case of errors when transferring files or malfunctions of the new smartphone.
☑️ Checking the local backup
Using Google Drive to migrate data
If your smartphone Huawei supports installation of services Google (for example, via Gspace or Gbox, or this is an old model with native support), you can use cloud storage Google Drive. This is the most automated method, minimizing manual actions with the file system.
In the backup settings WhatsApp select Google Drive as the destination storage. You will need to log in to your account Google, which will also be used on the new device Android. Select the backup frequency or start it manually by clicking the appropriate button.
| Option | Local backup | Google Drive | Third-party utilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | High | Depends on the Internet | Average |
| Reliability | High | Average (depending on the network) | Low/Medium |
| Difficulty | Medium | Low | High |
| PC required | Desirable | No | Often yes |
On devices Huawei with service emulators this limit may not apply, so it is recommended to use connection Wi-Fi to save mobile traffic.
Transferring files to a new Android smartphone
After successfully creating a backup copy on Huawei the stage of physical data transfer to the new device begins. Here it is critical to follow the folder structure, since WhatsApp the new phone will look for files strictly in certain directories.
Connect both devices to the computer or use a cable OTG for a direct connection. Copy the entire folder WhatsApp (or just a subfolder Databases) from the memory of the old phone to the internal memory of the new smartphone. The destination path must be identical to the source path, for example: /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/.
On modern versions Android (11 and higher), the paths to the files have changed due to tightened security policies (Scoped Storage). If simple copying does not help, try placing the files in the root directory of the internal memory along the path /WhatsApp/Databases, although this method is considered obsolete for new OS versions.
⚠️ Attention: Do not change the names of the backup files. The file should be named
msgstore.db.cryptXX, where XX is the encryption version number. Renaming the file will result in the messenger not being able to recognize the archive and will offer to start the chat from scratch.
Make sure that the application is installed on the new phone WhatsApp with the same phone number as on the old device. The phone number is the key to decrypt the database, and if it is changed, restoration of correspondence will become impossible without complex procedures for breaking the encryption.
Restoring correspondence on a new device
The final stage of the process is initializing data recovery on a new smartphone. Android. The correct sequence of actions here determines the success of the entire operation. An error at this step may require completely uninstalling the application and repeating the procedure from the beginning.
Install WhatsApp from Google Play Market or the official website, but do not open it yet if you have already done this and skipped the recovery step. If the application is already running and running without history, you will have to delete it, clear the data and install it again.
When you launch it for the first time, enter the same phone number that was used on Huawei. After checking the number, the system will automatically detect a local backup or offer to restore data from Google Drive. Click the button Restore and wait for the import process to complete.
What to do if the recovery has not started?
If the application does not see the local backup, check the access rights to the storage. In Android settings, allow WhatsApp access to all files. Also make sure that the backup file is located in the Databases folder, and not just in the WhatsApp root.
After the import is complete, your chats will appear in the list. Media files (photos, videos) can be loaded gradually in the background, as they take up significantly more space and require time to be indexed by the file system of the new device.
It is critically important not to configure WhatsApp as a new device. If you accidentally clicked "Skip" when prompted to restore the copy, you will have to delete the application and start setting up again.
Alternative methods and phone cloning
In addition to manually transferring files, smartphone manufacturers offer their own data migration utilities that can automatically transfer settings WhatsApp. Applications such as Phone Clone (development Huawei) or Smart Switch (from Samsung) often have built-in modules for working with instant messengers.
Use the application Phone Cloneby installing it on both devices. Select "This is a new phone" mode on the target device and "This is an old phone" on Huawei. Scan the QR code to connect and select the data to transfer, including Section Applications and Data WhatsApp.
- 🔄 This method creates an exact copy of the folder structure, which reduces the risk of path errors.
- ⚡ Transfer speeds via Wi-Fi Direct are significantly faster than via cloud services.
- 📱 Supports transferring not only chats, but also notification and account settings.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of such utilities depends on the version Android on both devices. On new versions of the OS, security systems may block direct access to data from other applications, so the method of manually copying files is sometimes the only working option.
Solving common migration problems
Even if you follow all the instructions, users may encounter technical glitches. Understanding the causes of these errors will help you quickly resolve them without losing data. Most often, problems are related to incompatible encryption versions or access rights.
If you see a message about a corrupted database, this may mean that the file was not completely copied or the version WhatsApp on the new phone is too new (or too old) for this encryption format. Try installing the same version of the messenger that was on Huawei, restore the data, and then update the application.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces and file paths may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer’s shell (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). Always check the official documentation for your model if standard paths do not work.
In the case where chats are restored, but media files are missing, check for the presence of the file msgstore.db.cryptXX and make sure that the folder Media was also copied in its entirety. Sometimes the system offers to download media from the cloud if local files are not found, but this takes time and traffic.
If the transfer fails through the file manager, try connecting the phone to the PC in MTP mode and copying folders via the computer - this often bypasses the system limitations of mobile file managers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp from Huawei to iPhone?
Direct transfer from Huawei to iPhone is only possible using paid third-party software on a computer, since the Android and iOS ecosystems use different database and encryption formats. Free methods via Google Drive or local files on iPhone do not work.
What to do if you forgot your Google Drive backup password?
If the backup copy is end-to-end encrypted and you forget the password or lose the key, it is impossible to restore the correspondence. WhatsApp employees do not have access to your encryption keys. You'll have to start using the messenger from scratch.
Will correspondence on the old Huawei be erased after the transfer?
No, the process of creating a backup and restoring it on a new device does not affect the data on the old phone. The correspondence will remain on Huawei until you delete the application or reset the device settings.
Is it possible to transfer data if your phone number has changed?
To transfer chat history, you must use the same phone number. If the number has changed, use the "Replace number" function in the WhatsApp settings on your old device before creating a backup copy. This will link the history to the new number.
How long does it take to restore a large archive?
The time depends on the amount of data and the speed of the device's memory. An archive of 5-10 GB can be restored from 30 minutes to several hours. At this time, it is not recommended to actively use the phone or interrupt the process to avoid damaging the database.