Transferring Viber correspondence to a new Android phone

Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, associated with the risk of losing important information. This is especially true for instant messengers, where business correspondence, memorable photographs and important contacts are stored. Users often encounter a situation where all applications are installed automatically on a Androiddevice, but the dialogue history in Viber remains empty. This happens because the messenger does not store messages on its servers indefinitely, relying on local copies or cloud storage of the user.

Fortunately, the developers have provided several reliable ways to migrate data. You can use the Google Drive automatic saving options or create a local backup manually. The choice of method depends on the version of the operating system, the availability of a stable Internet and whether a backup was configured on the old device in advance. In this article, we will analyze each step in detail so that you do not lose a single message when switching to a new gadget.

Preparing your old device for data migration

Before you begin the transfer, you need to make sure that all the prerequisites are met on your old phone. The most critical point is to have a current backup copy. If you have never set up autosave in Viber, this needs to be done right now, while the old phone is still in working order. Go to the application settings and find the section responsible for accounts and privacy.

To create a copy via the cloud, you will need an account Googlethat will be used on the new device. Make sure that there is enough free space on the disk, as the history of correspondence with media files can take up several gigabytes. The synchronization process may take time depending on the speed of the Internet connection and the amount of data.

⚠️ Attention: Backup via Google Drive is only possible if the Google Play service is installed on the phone and you are signed in to the appropriate account. This method will not work on devices without Google services.

It is also worth checking the version of the messenger itself. Outdated software may contain errors that prevent the correct creation of an archive. Update the application to the latest available version through the official store Play Market. This ensures compatibility of file formats between the old and new device.

Creating a backup copy via Google Drive

This is the most convenient and popular method for most users of the ecosystem Android. The mechanism of operation is simple: the application packs a database of messages and media files into an encrypted archive and uploads it to your personal cloud storage. When installing Viber on a new phone, the system will automatically detect this file and offer recovery.

To start the process, open the settings menu inside the messenger. Navigation may differ slightly in different versions of the interface, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item responsible for saving data and initiate manual creation of a copy, even if the automatic schedule is already configured.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• 📱 Open Viber and go to section More (three dots at the bottom right).
• ⚙️ Select item Settings, then Account.
• 💾 Click on the option Viber Backup.
• ☁️ Make sure the correct Google account is selected and click the button Start copying.

After the process is completed, you will see the date and time of the last successful save. Write down this data or take a screenshot to check it after installing the application on a new gadget. This will help ensure that you are restoring the exact version of the archive that contains all the latest messages.

Local backup without the Internet

Not everyone has the opportunity to use cloud services due to traffic limits or lack of connection to a Google account. In such cases, local backup comes to the rescue. Viber saves database files directly to the phone’s internal memory or to a microSD card, if one is installed. These files have the extension .vbk and contain the entire correspondence history.

Backup files are usually located in a hidden folder on the system. To find them, you will need a file manager with access to system directories. The path to the data may vary depending on the version Android, but most often it is a directory /Viber/ at the root of the internal storage or a folder /Android/data/com.viber.voip/files/.

For reliable manual transfer, follow these steps:

• 📂 Find the file with the name of the view viber_backup_... .vbk in memory old phone.
• 📤 Copy this file to your computer, memory card, or transfer via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct to a new phone.
• 📥 On the new device, place the file in the same directory where the application expects to see it.
• 🔄 When you first launch Viber, select the option to restore from a local copy.

This method requires more care when working with the file system. An error in the file location path may result in the messenger simply not seeing the backup copy. However, this is the only working option if the amount of data exceeds the available space in the cloud or if you are using custom firmware without Google services.

Where exactly is the backup file on Android 11 and higher?

Starting with Android 11, access to the /Android/data/ folder is limited for third-party file managers. Use the built-in file manager or connect the phone to the PC in file transfer mode (MTP) to copy data from this directory.

Recovery process on a new smartphone

When all the preparatory work is completed, you can begin setting up a new device. The key to successful recovery is to use the same phone number and, in the case of Google Drive, the same account Googleas on the old device. Without this condition, the Viber security system will not allow access to encrypted data.

Install the application from the official store. When you launch it for the first time, the setup wizard will ask you to enter a phone number. After confirming the code from SMS, the system will automatically check for backups. If you used the cloud method, a notification will appear about the archive found, indicating its date.

It is important not to miss the moment of the recovery offer. If you click Skip, it will be extremely difficult to configure recovery later without reinstalling the application. Wait for the window asking you to restore your chat history to appear and confirm your consent.

Option	Google Drive	Local file	Manual transfer (without backup)
Internet required	Yes (for downloading)	No	No
Requires the same Google account	Required	No	No
Recovery speed	Depends on network speed	Instant	Impossible
Risk of data loss	Minimum	Medium (path error)	100%

The unpacking process may take from several minutes to an hour. During this time, do not close the application or lock the screen to prevent the system from interrupting the background data recording process. After completion, you will see your chats in the form in which they were at the time the copy was created.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Despite the smooth procedure, users often encounter technical difficulties. The most common error is a message that the backup was not found, although it definitely exists. This is often due to accounts being out of sync or the file being in the wrong directory.

If the recovery hangs at a certain percentage, check the free space on the internal storage of the new phone. To unpack the archive, an amount of memory is required that exceeds the size of the backup file itself, since the system needs space for temporary files. It could also be due to an unstable Wi-Fi connection when downloading from Google Drive.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to restore a copy created on a newer version of Viber to a device with an older version of the application. First, update the messenger on your new phone to the latest state.

Another situation is the absence of media files (photos and videos) after restoring text correspondence. This happens if the “Including media files” checkbox was unchecked in the backup settings. Text messages weigh little, but photographs take up the bulk. Check the settings before creating a new copy on your old device.

In some cases, clearing the application cache before attempting to restore again helps. Go to your phone settings, find the applications section, select Viber and press Clear cache. Do not confuse with the "Clear data" button, which will delete all messenger settings.

Transferring data between different operating systems systems

The issue of migration from iPhone to Android or vice versa is especially acute, since the structures of file systems and cloud storage at Apple and Google are different. Direct transfer of Viber chat history between iOS and Android is not officially supported through the app's default settings due to differences in encryption and data storage paths.

However, there are workarounds and third-party tools. Some smartphone manufacturers (for example, Samsung or Xiaomi) offer their own data transfer utilities that can also capture instant messenger messages. Such apps often require connecting both phones to the computer or using a special adapter cable.

For users moving from iOS, it is important to know that iCloud backups are not compatible with Android. You will either have to use paid third-party services to convert databases, or accept the loss of history and start chats again, saving only contacts. Always check the official recommendations of Viber developers, as the policy for supporting cross-platform transfer may change.

Can I transfer correspondence if I have changed my phone number?

Yes, but the procedure becomes more complicated. First you need to restore the backup to the old number (even if the SIM card is no longer there, but you can receive SMS on the old device or use the code from the backup channels), and then use the “Change number” function in the Viber settings. This will transfer the profile and history to the new number, saving all chats.

What to do if Google Drive says "Not enough space"?

You need to free up space in your Google account. Delete old unnecessary files, empty the Recycle Bin in Drive, or buy additional space. A Viber backup takes up space in the general limit of your Google account (15 GB free), and not just in the Drive section.

Will hidden chats be saved during restoration?

Hidden chats are protected by an additional PIN code. When restored, they may not automatically appear in the general list. You will need to go to the privacy settings and enter the PIN code that you set for hidden chats on your old device to reveal their contents.

Does the Android version affect the transfer process?

Indirectly. On new versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), the rules for accessing the file system have been tightened. This can make it difficult to manually transfer local files .vbkas folders have become hidden for many file managers. The cloud method via Google Drive works stably on all versions.

Do you need to keep your old phone turned on during the transfer?

No, if you have already created a backup copy. The process of transferring to a new phone occurs autonomously: the new device downloads data from the cloud or reads a file from memory. The old phone is needed only at the stage of creating a backup.