Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when it comes to saving the entire history of correspondence in instant messengers. Users switching to brand devices Huawei from other models running Androidare often faced with the issue of the security of their data. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem allows you to flexibly manage backups, however, there are nuances associated with the lack of Google services on the new models of the Chinese manufacturer.
In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods for migrating your chats, voice messages and media files. You will learn how to correctly configure backup on an old device and how to correctly restore it on a new device. It is important to understand that the success of the operation depends on the chosen method and version of the operating system.
We will consider both standard cloud solutions and specialized utilities for direct data transfer between phones. This will allow you to choose the best option depending on the speed of your Internet and the availability of free space in the cloud storage.
Preparing the old device for migration
Before starting any manipulations, it is critical to make sure that an up-to-date copy of the data has been created on your current smartphone. If you're using a device with full Google services, the most reliable way is to use Google Drive. Go to the application settings and make sure that the automatic backup function is active and performed recently.
For those who prefer local storage or do not have access to a Google account, it is possible to create a copy directly to the internal memory of the phone. This method requires caution, as the backup file will need to be manually moved to the new device. Make sure you have enough free space to store the archive with media files.
⚠️ Attention: Before creating a local copy, be sure to check whether it is encrypted. If you set a password to encrypt the database, write it down in a safe place, otherwise it will be impossible to restore chats on a new phone.
The process of creating a local backup begins by going to the chat settings section. You need to find the “Backup chats” item and click the “Create a copy” button. The system will prompt you to select the storage type - select local. After the process is completed, a file with a name like this will appear in the file manager msgstore.db.crypt14.
☑️ Preparing for transfer
Using the Google Drive service for transfer
The most universal method, suitable for most scenarios, is to use cloud storage. This method is ideal if you are upgrading to a model Huaweithat still supports Google services (such as the P30, P40 series or older). The process is as automated as possible and requires minimal user intervention.
On your old phone, open WhatsApp, go to the settings menu and select the “Chats” section, and then “Chat backup”. Make sure the correct email address is selected in the Google Account field. Click the "Backup" button and wait until the data is uploaded to the cloud. The process time depends on the volume of your correspondence history and the speed of your Internet connection.
After the copy is created, we move on to the new device. When setting up for the first time Huawei log in to the same Google account. Install the messenger from the app store (or through Gspace/Gbox if services are not available, but note that access to Google Drive from these containers may be limited). When you launch the application, the system will automatically detect an available backup and offer to restore it.
If the recovery process freezes at the “Preparation” stage, try temporarily turning off the mobile data and leaving only the Wi-Fi connection, or vice versa, switching to the mobile network.
It is worth noting that restoring from the cloud does not include files that were not downloaded at the time the backup was created, if the settings do not allow video downloading. Video files take up a lot of space and are often excluded from standard copy settings to save disk space.
| Parameter | Google Drive | Local memory | Phone Clone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer speed | Depends on the Internet | High (via PC/cable) | Very high (Wi-Fi Direct) |
| Requires an account | Yes (Google) | No | No |
| Media transfer | Optional | Full | Full |
| Difficulty | Low | Medium | Low |
Data transfer through the Phone Clone application
The company Huawei has developed its own powerful solution for data migration called Phone Clone. This application is pre-installed on all new smartphones of the brand and is available for downloading on devices from other manufacturers. It allows you to transfer data directly over a secure Wi-Fi Direct channel, bypassing the Internet and computer.
To get started, install the Phone Clone application on both devices. On the new Huawei run the app and select the “This is a new phone” role, indicating the type of the old device (Android). On your old smartphone, select the “This is an old phone” role. Scan the QR code that appears on the screen of the new device to establish a secure connection between gadgets.
In the list of transferred data, be sure to check the box WhatsApp. It is important to understand that Phone Clone transfers the application itself and its data, but in some cases additional verification may be required within the messenger on a new device. The transfer process can take from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of information.
⚠️ Attention: While Phone Clone is running, the screens of both phones must be turned on. Do not minimize the application or lock devices, as this may break the connection and interrupt file transfer.
After the copying is complete, the messenger icon will appear on the new phone. When you first start, you may need to verify your phone number. If everything went well, the correspondence history should be updated automatically. In rare cases, the system will ask you to restore data from a local copy created by the cloning utility.
Manual transfer of local copies via a computer
If cloud services are unavailable or are unstable, the most reliable “old-fashioned” method remains transferring files through a personal computer. This method gives you complete control over the process and allows you to visually verify that the files were copied correctly. You will need a USB cable for each of the phones.
Connect your old smartphone to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP). Go to the internal memory and find the folder WhatsApp (on older versions of Android) or Android/media/com.whatsapp (on new versions of Android 11+). Copy the entire folder to your computer's hard drive. Pay special attention to the subfolder Databaseswhere message history files are stored.
Then connect the new one Huawei to your computer. You need to create a similar folder structure in the internal memory of the new device. If you are using Android 11 or higher, the path will look like Android/media/com.whatsapp. Paste the copied files into the appropriate directories. After that, you can turn off the phone and launch the messenger.
Path for old Androids: /sdcard/WhatsApp/
Path for new Androids: /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/
When you launch the application on a new device, it will scan the memory and detect local backup. The system will offer to restore chats from the found file. Select the latest version by date and click the restore button. Wait for the process to complete without closing the application.
What to do if WhatsApp does not see the copy?
If the application does not find the backup copy during manual transfer, check the access rights to the folders. On newer versions of Android, access to the Android folder is limited. Try moving the WhatsApp folder to the root of the internal memory (for older OS versions) or make sure that you copy the data exactly to the Android/media/com.whatsapp path, respecting the case of letters.
Features of working on Huawei without Google services
Owners of new flagships Huaweireleased after 2019, are faced with the lack of pre-installed Google Services (GMS). This imposes certain restrictions on the use of a standard backup via Google Drive, since the WhatsApp application will not be able to log in to the Google cloud directly.
In such a situation, the optimal solution is to use the utility Phone Clone or creating local copies. An alternative is to use a virtual environment such as GBox or GSpace, which emulates the presence of Google services. However, restoring chats through emulators may be unstable and is not recommended for critical data.
For devices without GMS, Huawei is actively promoting its own cloud and migration tools. Regularly update the Phone Clone application through the store to receive improvements in data transfer algorithms for specific firmware versions. Application interfaces and menu names may differ slightly depending on the version of the EMUI or HarmonyOS shell. If you do not find the item you need, use the search in your phone settings. AppGalleryto receive improvements in data transfer algorithms for specific firmware versions EMUI or HarmonyOS.
⚠️ Attention: Application interfaces and menu names may vary slightly depending on the version of the EMUI or HarmonyOS shell. If you don't find the item you need, use the search in your phone settings.
For Huawei phones without Google services, the most stable transfer method is to use the Phone Clone application or manually transfer local database files.
Data recovery and problem solving
After successfully transferring files, a situation may arise where chats have loaded, but media files (photos and videos) are displayed as downloading or are missing. This is normal behavior as media is often loaded on demand to save space. Make sure that your chat settings allow downloading media when using a mobile network or Wi-Fi.
If an error occurs during the recovery process, do not rush to delete the application. Try clearing the messenger cache through your phone settings: Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Memory → Clear cache. After this, restart the application and repeat the recovery procedure. In 90% of cases, this solves the problem of freezing at the initialization stage.
In case of complete failure and data loss, the only way out is to return to the old phone (if it has not yet been reset), create a new, more complete copy and try again. Always check the integrity of the data immediately after the transfer before deleting information from the old device.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Huawei?
Direct transfer of chats from iOS to Android (Huawei) is not officially supported by standard WhatsApp tools due to differences in backup systems (iCloud vs Google Drive/local memory). However, there are paid third-party apps for PC that can convert the iPhone database to Android format, but they do not guarantee 100% safety of all investments.
What to do if Phone Clone gives a connection error?
Connection error is usually associated with interference in the radio channel or power saving. Try turning off Power Saver mode on both phones, turning off Bluetooth, and making sure the screens don't turn off during a transfer. Rebooting both devices before trying again will also help.
Will my groups be saved after the transfer?
Yes, group information is stored in the chat database file. Once your backup is restored, you will automatically remain a member of all your groups. However, the history of correspondence in groups will be restored only for the period that was included in the backup.
Do you need to delete WhatsApp from your old phone before transferring?
No, deleting the application from the old device before completing the data check on the new phone is not recommended. It is best to do this only after you make sure that all chats and media files are displayed correctly on the new Huawei smartphone.
Will privacy settings be transferred?
Privacy settings (who sees the profile photo, “was online” status, etc.) are tied to your account and phone number, and not to the backup file. They will be restored automatically when you log into your account on a new device, regardless of the method of transferring chats.