How to transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone for free in 2026

Transition from Android to iPhone — It’s always an exciting step, but the main headache for users is not getting used to iOS, but with data transfer. The issue of preserving history is especially acute: years of correspondence, important media files, work chats - all this risks remaining on the old device. Unfortunately WhatsApp: years of correspondence, important media files, work chats - all this risks remaining on the old device. Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not support direct cross-platform transfer of chats through cloud backups between Android and iOS, but there are workarounds - both official and alternative.

In this article we will analyze all the current methods of transferring chats free, without using paid services or dubious apps. You will learn what methods work for iOS 17/18 i Android 13/14, what limitations WhatsAppimposes, and how to avoid data loss. Important: some steps require preparation - for example, backup to Android must be done in advance, otherwise the history may be lost.

Why doesn't WhatsApp allow you to simply transfer chats between platforms?

The main problem lies in the differences in the backup architecture:

📱 Android uses Google Drive to store backups, where the data is saved in a format compatible only with Android devices.
🍎 iPhone relies on iCloudwhere backups are encrypted and stored in a proprietary format Apple.
🔒 WhatsApp does not provide tools for converting these formats, citing privacy policy and security risks.

Until 2021 transferring chats between platforms was impossible in principle, but after pressure from users WhatsApp released an official solution - Move to iOS. However, this method has severe limitations:

⏳ Works only with initial iPhone setup (you cannot transfer chats to an already used phone).
📦 Transfers only text messages and attachments, but not calls or status updates.
🔄 Requires Android 5.0+ i iOS 15.5+ (will not work on older versions).

⚠️ Attention: If you already set up iPhone and started using it, the official method Move to iOS will become unavailable. In this case, you will have to resort to alternative methods or reset iPhone to factory settings.

Official method: transfer via Move to iOS

This is the only method approved WhatsApp, but it only works with setting up your iPhone for the first time. If you've already gone through the initial configuration stage, skip this section and read about alternative solutions.

Here's what you'll need:

📲 Android smartphone with WhatsApp and a fresh backup copy in Google Drive.
🍏 New (or reset) iPhone s iOS 15.5 or newer.
🔌 Chargers for both phones (the process may take 1-2 hours).
📶 Stable Wi-Fi connection (transfer via mobile data is not supported).

Step-by-step guide:

Prepare Android:
- Open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → Chat → Chat backup.
- Create a fresh copy in Google Drive (make sure it completed successfully).
- Connect Android to the same network Wi-Fias iPhone.
Set up your iPhone:
- Turn on the new one iPhone and follow the instructions to the screen "Applications and data".
- Select "Transfer data from Android".
Launch Move to iOS on Android:
- Download the application Move to iOS from Google Play.
- Open it, agree to the terms and enter connection codethat will appear on iPhone.
- On the screen "Data transfer" select WhatsApp (other data can be transferred optional).

Wait for completion:

The process may take from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the volume of chats.
Once completed, a proposal will appear on iPhone install WhatsApp —do this and log in to your account.

⚠️ Attention: If the iPhone has already been installed WhatsApp before the transfer, chat history will not be restored. You will have to delete the application, reset the phone and repeat the procedure.

Create a fresh backup of WhatsApp on Android|Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network|Charge both devices at least 50%|Remove WhatsApp from iPhone if it was installed previously|Prepare the connection code from Move to iOS-->

Alternative transfer methods (if Move to iOS is not available)

If you have already configured iPhone or the official method did not work, there are three alternative options. All of them are free, but require more time and technical skills.

Method 1: Transfer via email (for small chats)

Suitable if you only need to save important dialogues (not the entire history).

Open the desired chat in WhatsApp on Android.
Click ⋮ → Export chat.
Select "Without media" (to make the file smaller) and send it to your email.
On iPhone open the letter and save the file (for example, in Notes or Files).

Disadvantages of the method: only text messages are transferred, without photos, videos and stickers. Also, the history will be in the form of a .txtfile, and not inside WhatsApp.

Method 2: Using third-party tools (Backuptrans)

There are apps like Backuptrans WhatsApp Transferthat can convert backups WhatsApp between platforms. However, free version has limitations (for example, transferring only 20 messages requires purchasing a license (~$20-30).

If you need completely free a method, this method will not work. But if you are willing to pay, the instructions are as follows:

Download and install Backuptrans on Windows/Mac.
Connect Android and make a backup of chats through the app.
Connect iPhone and transfer data from the backup.

Method 3: Manual transfer via local backup (for advanced users)

This method requires working with the file system Android i iTunes, but allows you to transfer full history without loss. Suitable for users who are willing to spend time on setup.

Step-by-step guide:

Create a local backup on Android:
- Open Settings → Chat → Chat backup → Local copy.
- The backup file will be saved in a folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases under the name msgstore.db.crypt14.
Copy the backup to your computer:
- Connect Android to your PC and copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14.
- Install iTunes and connect iPhone.
Convert backup:
- Use utility WhatsApp Key/DB Extractor (available on GitHub) to extract the encryption key.
- Using iMazing or iExplorer download the converted backup to iPhone.

Restore chats:

Install WhatsApp to iPhone and log into your account.
When prompted to restore, select a local backup.

⚠️ Warning: This method requires work with ADB (to extract the keys) and may result in data loss if errors occur. We recommend testing it first on a backup copy.

Official (Move to iOS)|Manual via backup|Export by mail|Third-party apps (Backuptrans)|Not decided yet-->

Limitations and what is not transferred

Even with a successful transfer, some data may be lost. Here's what is not saved when moving from Android to iPhone:

Data type	Is it transferred?	Notes
Text messages	✅ Yes	Including group chats and replies.
Photos and videos	✅ Yes (partially)	Only if they were uploaded to the chat. Media from the gallery - no.
Voice messages	✅ Yes	Transferred as audio files.
Calls and call history	❌ No	WhatsApp does not save this information in backups.
Statuses and updates	❌ No	Only active statuses at the time of backup are transferred.
Notes for contacts	❌ No	You will have to add manually.

Also worth considering:

🔄 If iPhone there was already a history WhatsApp, it will be completely replaced data from Android.
📅 Messages received after creation backup to Androidwill not be transferred.
🔒 If Android was enabled two-factor authentication, it must be disabled before transferring.

💡

Before transferring, check whether there is enough space on your iPhone for a backup. If the WhatsApp history weighs 5 GB, and only 3 GB is free, the transfer will be interrupted with an error.

Frequent errors and how to avoid them

The transfer process is often accompanied by failures. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:

1. Error "Could not connect to Android"

Reasons:

📶 Android and iPhone connected to different networks Wi-Fi.
🔋 One of the devices has run out of battery.
🛡️ A firewall or VPN is blocking the connection.

Solution: reconnect both phones to the same network, turn off the VPN and check the charge (should be >30%).

2. The transfer is stuck at the "Data Preparation" stage

This happens if:

📂 The local backup on Android is damaged.
📱 On iPhone is insufficient space.
🔄 Move to iOS outdated (update the application).

Solution: delete old backups in Google Drive, free up space on iPhone and restart the process.

3. After the transfer, chats are not displayed

Probable reasons:

🔑 You logged into WhatsApp on iPhone under a different number.
⏳ Did not wait for the restoration to complete (may take up to hours).
📲 On iPhone a beta version was installed WhatsApp.

Solution: remove WhatsApp s iPhone, reinstall from App Store s sign in again.

What to do if Move to iOS does not see Android?

If the application Move to iOS does not detect Android device, try:

1. Reboot both phones.

2. Disable Bluetooth on both devices and enable again.

3. Make sure that the power saving mode is turned off. Android Energy saving mode is disabled.

4. Use another Wi-Fi network (for example, a mobile hotspot).

If all else fails, try alternative transfer methods.

Transferring media files: photos, videos, documents

Even if text messages were transferred successfully, problems often arise with media files. Here's how to save them without loss:

Method 1: Manual forwarding via the cloud

The most reliable, but time-consuming method:

On Android open the chat in WhatsApp → ⋮ → Media, files and links.
Select files and send them to yourself via Google Drive, Dropbox or Telegram.
On iPhone download files and save to Photo or Files.

Method 2: Transfer via computer

Faster if there are a lot of files:

Connect Android to the PC and copy the folder WhatsApp/Media.
Connect iPhone and via iTunes or Finder synchronize the media.

Important: WhatsApp on iPhone does not show media files from chats if they were not downloaded through the app itself. That is, photos sent via the cloud will appear in the phone gallery, but not in the chat history.

💡

Media files sent via cloud services will not be linked to WhatsApp chats on iPhone. They will only be saved in the phone gallery.

What to do after a successful transfer?

When the chats are finally in place, there are a few important steps left:

Check data integrity:
- Open several dialogs and make sure that messages are displayed correctly.
- Check media files - sometimes they may not load due to restrictions iCloud.
Set up a backup on iPhone:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings → Chat → Chat Backup.
- Enable automatic backup to iCloud (recommended daily).
Update contact information:
- Synchronize contacts with iCloud or Google Account.
- Check that all numbers are displayed correctly (sometimes they are lost during transfer avatars).

Delete old backups from Android:

To free up space in Google Drive, delete unnecessary copies in Settings → Google → Backup.

We also recommend:

🔒 Enable two-factor authentication in WhatsApp on iPhone.
📱 Update the application to the latest version c App Store.
🛡️ Check your privacy settings (for example, who can see your status).

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone after setting up the phone?

Officially, no. The method Move to iOS works only during the first setup iPhone. Alternative methods (for example, through Backuptrans or manual transfer of a backup) may work, but do not guarantee 100% success.

Will voice messages and stickers be transferred?

Voice messages are transferred, but may be played back with a delay (until they load on iPhone). Stickers are not transferred, since they are stored locally and are not included in the backup.

How long does it take to transfer chats?

Time depends on the amount of data:

📌 1–5 GB: 30–60 minutes.
📌 5–10 GB: 1–2 hours.
📌 More than 10 GB: may take 3+ hours or fail with an error.

If the process takes a long time, do not interrupt it - this may lead to data loss.

Is it possible to transfer chats from Android to iPhone without a computer?

Yes, but only through Move to iOS (official method) or exporting individual chats by mail. Alternative methods (for example, converting a backup) require a PC.

Why, after transfer, are some messages displayed as "Media not loaded"?