Changing a smartphone is always stressful, especially when it comes to the safety of correspondence. WhatsApp has become the main communication channel for millions of people, and the loss of important documents, photos or simply touching memories from chats is unacceptable. Fortunately, the ecosystem Android offers reliable tools for migrating data, but the process requires attention to detail.
There are several proven methods for transferring information to a new device. The choice of a specific method depends on the version of the operating system, the presence of root access and the desire to use third-party software. In this article, we will analyze all the current options so that you can choose the best one for your situation.
Before you start, make sure that both devices are charged and connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection. This is a basic requirement, ignoring which can lead to errors when downloading large backups.
Preparing an old smartphone for migration
The first and most important step is to create an up-to-date backup on the old device. Without this step, all further actions are meaningless. Open the application WhatsApp, go to the settings menu and select the section Chats → Chat backup.
Here you need to check which account Google selected for data storage. Users often forget that the copy is saved to the exact drive specified in the settings. If you plan to transfer data to a phone with a different account, first change it in the Google settings on the device.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that the “Enable video” option is enabled in the backup settings. By default, video files are often not saved to save disk space, but losing them can be critical.
Press the button Backup and wait for the process to complete. The waiting time directly depends on the amount of accumulated history and the speed of your Internet connection. During the process, do not switch to other heavy applications so as not to interrupt the flow of data.
Google Drive method: classic method
The most common and official transfer method is using cloud storage Google Drive. This method is ideal if you have good internet and enough free space in the cloud. The principle of operation is simple: the old phone uploads the archive to the cloud, and the new one downloads it when installing the application.
On the new smartphone, log in to the same Google account that was used on the previous device. Install WhatsApp from the store Play Market and run it. When registering a phone number, the system will automatically detect the presence of a backup copy on the disk.
You will be prompted to restore your chat history. Agree and wait for the download to complete. After this, all messages will appear in the list, and media files will begin to be loaded in the background as needed.
- 📲 Go to the WhatsApp settings on the new phone.
- ☁️ Select recovery from Google Drive.
- 📶 Wait until the media library is completely synchronized.
It is worth noting that when using this method, messages are encrypted and the keys are kept by the user. This provides a high level security, but means that without access to your Google account it will be impossible to restore data.
If you run out of space on Google Drive, clear out old unnecessary files or temporarily buy additional memory - it's cheaper than losing important correspondence.
Local copying: transfer without the Internet
If the Internet speed leaves much to be desired or the amount of data amounts to tens of gigabytes, it makes sense to use local copying. WhatsApp automatically creates local copies every night at 2:00, storing them in the device’s memory for the last 7 days.
To implement this method, you will need a file manager. Find the folder on your old phone /WhatsApp/Databases/ (in new versions of Android the path may be /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases/). Copy the file with the type name msgstore.db.crypt14 (the version number may differ) to your computer or directly to a new phone.
| Parameter | Google Drive | Local copy | Third-party software |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Depends on the Internet | High (locally) | Medium |
| Need a PC | No | Desirable | Often required |
| Complexity | Low | Medium | High |
| Risks | Minimal | Encryption version error | Data loss |
After transferring the file to a new device, install WhatsApp, but do not run it yet. First, rename the copied file to msgstore.db.cryptXX (leaving the current encryption version) and place it in the appropriate folder. Only after this, launch the application and select recovery from a local copy.
⚠️ Attention: The encryption version (the number in the file name) must match the version supported by the version of WhatsApp installed on the new phone. If the versions do not match, the recovery will fail.
Using Google's Quick Share function
Owners of modern smartphones can use the native data transfer function when initially setting up the device. Systems based on Android 12 and higher allow you to transfer WhatsApp along with other data directly, without using the cloud.
When turning on a new phone, select the option to copy data from another device. Connect your gadgets with a cable or via Wi-Fi Direct. In the list of transferred applications, be sure to select WhatsApp. The system itself will create a temporary copy and transfer it to the new device.
This method is good because it does not require manual intervention in the file system and works at the operating system level. The process is fully automated and protected from user errors.
☑️ Check before transfer
However, there is a nuance: both phones must be fairly new. On older models, this function may be missing or work incorrectly with heavy messenger databases.
Recovery problems and solutions
Even if all instructions are followed, users often encounter errors. One of the most common is “The backup could not be restored.” This may occur due to incompatible application versions or problems with access rights.
Try updating WhatsApp to the latest version via Play Market on both devices. Also check that the new phone has enough free space installed - sometimes unpacking the archive requires a volume twice the size of the copy itself.
If the error persists, try deleting the application, clearing the Google Play Services cache and repeating the procedure again. In rare cases, resetting the network settings or temporarily disabling the VPN helps if it blocks the connection to Google servers.
What to do if media files are missing?
If the text has been restored, but the photo is missing, check the “Media files visibility” settings in the gallery. Often the files are simply hidden, but physically located in the WhatsApp/Media folder.
Frequently asked questions when changing devices
Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp by changing your phone number?
Yes, but first you need to use the “Change number” function in the settings of your old phone before creating a backup copy. This will link the chat history to the new number.
Will my privacy settings be saved?
Privacy settings (who sees the photo, online status) are usually restored, but notification settings for individual chats may be lost.
What happens if I do not restore the backup copy right away?
You can do this later only by deleting and reinstalling the application. Without reinstallation, the recovery button will not appear.
Are disappearing messages transferred?
No, the contents of messages that disappeared at the time the copy was created are not saved. Only the timer settings for chats will be restored.
The most reliable way is a combination of methods: make a backup in Google Drive, and for particularly important chats, use the “Export Chat” function in mail.
In conclusion, the process of transferring data between Android devices has become much easier in recent years. The main thing is to take your time and carefully follow the system prompts at each stage. Migration done right will keep your digital memories intact.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer's shell (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). Look for options that are similar in meaning if the exact name does not match.