Moving to a new smartphone always causes mixed feelings: joy from the novelty and slight anxiety about the safety of personal data. This issue is especially acute for messenger users WhatsApp, where all correspondence, important documents and family photos are stored. When it comes to moving to brand devices Huawei, the situation is complicated by the lack of Google services on new models, which confuses many owners of old Android smartphones.
In this article we will look in detail at how to correctly and losslessly move message history from any Android device to a Huawei phone. You will learn about three main methods: using the proprietary Phone Clone utility, restoring from cloud storage, and manually transferring files. Each method has its own nuances that must be taken into account to successfully complete the migration.
Do not panic if you see a message about the absence of Google Play on the new device. The developers Huawei have provided alternative ways to solve this problem, which work even more efficiently than standard tools. The main thing is to strictly follow the sequence of actions and not interrupt the data transfer process until it is completely completed.
Preparation of devices before migration
Before taking active steps, it is necessary to thoroughly prepare both smartphones. This is a critical stage on which the speed and success of the entire operation depends. On your old device, make sure you have the latest version WhatsApp from the official app store. An outdated version may contain errors that prevent the creation of a correct backup.
Particular attention should be paid to battery charge. The process of cloning data, especially with a large volume of media files, consumes a significant amount of energy. It is recommended to connect both phones to a power source or ensure that the charge level is at least 60-70%. Sudden shutdown of one of the devices in the middle of the process may lead to corruption of the message database.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting the transfer, be sure to check the free space on your new Huawei phone. The volume occupied by WhatsApp can reach tens of gigabytes, and insufficient memory will lead to a recording error.
You will also need a stable Wi-Fi connection for both devices if you plan to use cloud methods or wireless transfer via Phone Clone. Although local transfer works directly, initial synchronization and checking software versions often requires an Internet connection. Make sure that the “Stealth Mode” option is turned on in the Wi-Fi settings on your old phone so that the network does not turn off when the screen is locked.
Method 1: Using the Phone Clone application
The most reliable and fastest way to transfer data to devices Huawei is to use a pre-installed application Phone Clone. This utility is designed specifically for migration between smartphones of different brands and supports the transfer of application data along with their internal structure. Unlike standard Android tools, Phone Clone can correctly process messenger data packets.
To get started, launch the application on both devices. On your new Huawei phone, select the “This is a new phone” role and select the old device type (for example, “Other Android”). On your old smartphone, you need to install Phone Clone from the app store, if it is not there, and select the “This is an old phone” role. After scanning the QR code, a direct Wi-Fi connection will be established between the devices.
☑️ Preparing for cloning
In the list of data to be transferred, find the “Applications” section and make sure the checkbox opposite WhatsApp is checked. The system will automatically detect the amount of data and begin transferring. It is important to understand that this method copies the application itself and its local files, but does not always transfer account settings, so you will have to log in to your account again.
If Phone Clone does not see WhatsApp in the list of applications to transfer, try first making a local backup inside the messenger itself on your old phone, and then transferring the database file manually.
After the copying is complete, a notification will appear on the screen of the new phone about success. However, the data is not yet available in the messenger interface. You need to open WhatsApp on Huawei, enter your phone number and wait for the offer to restore the backup. If you use Phone Clone, the system may offer to restore data from the local storage that was created during the cloning process.
Method 2: Transfer via Google Drive (for older Huawei models)
If you are switching to a model Huaweithat was released before the imposition of sanctions and has full support for Google services (GMS), then the classic backup method copying to Google Drive will be the most convenient. This method is ideal because it does not require the physical presence of the old phone next to the new one at the time of restoration.
On your old Android smartphone, open WhatsApp settings, go to the “Chat” section and select “Chat Backup”. Click the Backup button, making sure Google Drive is selected as the storage location. Wait until the data is uploaded to the cloud. This process may take time depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the size of the media files.
| Option | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Google Account | Mail linked to backup copies | Use the same email on the new phone |
| Copy frequency | How often a backup is created | Set “Daily” before transferring |
| Network | Connection type for downloading | Wi-Fi only to save traffic |
| Video files | Including video in backup | Enable if disk space allows |
On a new one On your Huawei phone, sign in to the same Google account that was used to create the copy. Install WhatsApp from Google Play Store (if available) or via GMS-enabled APK file. When you first launch the messenger, it will automatically detect a backup in the cloud and offer to restore it. Agree with the offer and wait for the process to complete.
What to do if Google Drive does not see the copy?
Make sure that the exact same phone number is entered on the new phone as on the old one. Backups are linked not only to your Google account, but also to your mobile device number. Also check if you have enough space in Google Drive to unzip the temporary files.
It's worth noting that restoring from the cloud does not include WhatsApp call history, as they are not saved in Google Drive backups. Also, some privacy settings may be reset to default values, so you will have to check them manually after the migration is complete.
Method 3: Manually migrate the local database
For cases where cloud methods are not available and Phone Clone did not work correctly, there is a universal manual method. It requires connecting your phone to your computer or using a file manager with access to the root system, but gives you complete control over the process. This method is especially relevant for new Huawei models without Google services.
On your old phone, create a local backup in WhatsApp settings. Then use your file manager to find the database folder. The path to it may differ depending on the version of Android: usually it is /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases or /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. You need a file with a name like msgstore.db.cryptXX, where XX is the encryption version number.
Copy this file to your computer or directly to your new Huawei phone in a similar directory. Important: WhatsApp must be installed on your new device, but not yet activated. If you've already opened the app and skipped the restore step, you'll need to uninstall WhatsApp, clear its data, and install it again so that the system prompts you to restore a local copy when you first launch it.
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the name of the backup file or edit its contents. Any interference with the file structure
msgstore.db.cryptwill make it unreadable for the application, and you will lose the correspondence forever.
After placing the file in the desired folder, launch WhatsApp on Huawei. Please complete phone number verification. When the “Backup Found” prompt appears, click the “Restore” button. The process of unpacking and importing messages will begin automatically. Depending on the size of the database, this can take from several minutes to an hour.
Manually transferring the msgstore.db.crypt file is the only guaranteed way to save correspondence history when moving to devices without Google services, if automatic utilities cannot cope.
Possible problems and solutions
Even if all instructions are followed, users may encounter unexpected difficulties. One of the most common problems is the error “The backup could not be restored.” This is often due to incompatible database encryption versions. If you are moving from a very old Android to a fresh Huawei model, the encryption format may be different.
In this case, try updating WhatsApp on your old phone to the latest version, creating a new copy and repeating the transfer. The problem may also lie in file system access rights. On new versions of Android, access to the folder Android/data is limited, so the file manager may not see the necessary files without special permissions.
Sometimes users complain that media files have disappeared after the transfer, although the message text has been preserved. This happens if the option to transfer only applications without media was selected when copying via Phone Clone. In this case, you will have to manually copy the folder Media from the WhatsApp directory from the old device to the new one, observing the directory structure.
If none of the methods helps, you should consider using third-party professional data migration software that works through a PC. Such apps often have a paid license, but provide deeper access to system partitions and can convert database formats on the fly.
Setting up security after the transfer
After successfully restoring chats, do not rush to immediately start active correspondence. First, check your privacy settings. When you transfer to a new device, your number, status, and profile photo visibility settings may be reset. Go to the section Settings → Privacy and make sure that all parameters match your preferences.
Be sure to set up two-factor authentication if you haven't already. This will add an additional layer of protection to your account when changing devices. In the Settings menu, select Account → Two-Step Verification and set a PIN. This will prevent unauthorized access to your profile even if your SIM card is intercepted.
It is also recommended to check the automatic backup settings on your new phone. Make sure they are activated and tuned to a frequency that is comfortable for you. For Huawei owners without Google services, it is worth setting up a schedule for local copies so as not to depend on cloud storage in the future.
⚠️ Attention: After transferring the data, the old phone still contains a complete copy of your correspondence. If you plan to sell or give away your old device, be sure to perform a full Factory Reset after making sure that everything works correctly on the new phone.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp from Android to Huawei without losing call history?
Unfortunately, WhatsApp call history is not saved in standard backups (neither Google Drive nor local files). When transferred to a new phone, the call list will be reset to zero. Only text messages, media files and chat settings will be saved.
What to do if Phone Clone freezes during the WhatsApp transfer stage?
Try to restart both phones and try again. Make sure your device screens don't go dark during the transfer (increase the screen timeout in settings). If the problem repeats, separate the transfer: first transfer contacts and photos, and try transferring WhatsApp in a separate session or through a local file.
Do you need to delete WhatsApp from your old phone before transferring?
No, you do not need to delete the application from the old device until you are completely sure that the messenger is working on the new Huawei. Moreover, deleting may prevent the final backup from being created if something goes wrong during the migration process.
Will my chat theme and wallpaper settings be transferred?
When using Phone Clone, design settings (themes, wallpaper for specific chats) are usually transferred along with the application data. When restoring from a cloud copy of Google Drive, these settings may be reset to standard, and they will have to be configured again manually.
How to transfer data if the old phone is broken and does not turn on?
If the phone does not turn on, but the memory card or internal memory is physically intact, you can remove the memory chip (special equipment is required) or connect the phone to the PC in debugging mode, if it somehow reacts. Otherwise, without access to the file msgstore.db.crypt on the old device, it is impossible to restore a local copy.