Purchasing a new smartphone is always a joyful event, which, however, is often overshadowed by the fear of losing important data. Among all the applications installed on your device, WhatsApp occupies a special place, as it stores the history of correspondence that you may need at any time. The question of how to correctly and safely transfer these dialogs to a new platform Androidworries millions of users every year.
The process of migrating messenger data is not trivial, since the security architecture of the application does not allow you to simply copy a folder and run it on another device without prior preparation. There are different methods: from using cloud storage Google Drive to manually transferring local files via a computer or memory card. The choice of a specific method depends on your situation: whether you are changing a phone within the same ecosystem or switching from iOS, as well as on the amount of memory occupied.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available action algorithms so that you can restore your message history without loss. We will look at the nuances of working with different versions of the operating system and explain why sometimes a backup copy may not be found, despite all your efforts.
Preparing an old device for backup
The first and most critical step is to create an up-to-date backup on your current smartphone. Without this step, any further actions will be useless, since there will simply be nothing to restore on the new device. You need to make sure that you have an active account Googlelinked to your phone, since it is responsible for storing data in the cloud.
Go to the settings of the messenger itself by clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen. In the menu that opens, select Settings, then go to section Chat. Here you will find the option Chat backup. Click on it to see the date and time it was last saved. If the last copy was made a long time ago, click the button Backup to force the creation of a fresh version.
Pay attention to the automatic saving frequency settings. It is recommended to set the value Dailyso that if your phone is lost or broken, you lose a minimum of information. Also check that the correct Google account is selected for downloading, especially if you have multiple mailboxes on your device.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure you have enough free space on your Google Drive. WhatsApp backups do not count toward your Google storage quota only when using special plans or in certain regions; otherwise, they take up space in your personal space.
Don't forget about media files. There is a checkmark in the backup menu Enable video. If it is activated, the process of creating a backup will take much longer and require more memory, but it will allow you to save all sent and received videos.
Transferring data via Google Drive (Cloud method)
This is the most universal method recommended by developers, which is suitable for most modern smartphones based on Android. The essence of the method is that the data is first uploaded to the cloud and then downloaded to a new device when setting up the application for the first time.
After you have created a backup on your old phone, take a new device. Install the application WhatsApp from the store Google Playbut do not open it yet. Run the installation and follow the onscreen instructions. The key point is to enter your phone number: it must be the same exactly the sameas on the old device, otherwise the system will not be able to find your backup.
During the initial setup process, the application will automatically detect the presence of a backup on the linked Google account. You will be prompted to restore chats and media files. Click the button Restore. Do not skip this step, as after completing the initial setup, it will be impossible to restore data from the cloud backup without completely reinstalling the application.
The recovery process may take some time depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the size of the archive. It is recommended to use a stable connection Wi-Fito avoid mobile traffic costs and possible connection interruptions.
- 📱 Make sure that the same Google account is added on the new phone as on the old one.
- 🔋 Connect the device to the charger during recovery so that the battery does not drain critically moment.
- 📶 Use a reliable Wi-Fi network to speed up downloading large amounts of data.
⚠️ Attention: If you have changed your phone number, first use the change number feature in WhatsApp settings on old device before creating a backup. Transferring chats to a new number without this procedure will result in loss of history.
Local transfer of files without using the Internet
Sometimes the Internet speed leaves much to be desired, or the amount of data is so large that downloading via the cloud becomes impractical. In such cases, the local file transfer method comes to the rescue. This method requires a file manager and, preferably, a computer or microSD memory card.
WhatsApp backup files are stored in the internal memory of the device in a specific directory. On modern versions of Android (11 and higher), the path looks like Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. On older versions the path may be simpler: WhatsApp/Databases. You need to find a file with a name like msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number at the end may differ depending on the encryption version).
Copy this file (as well as the entire folder WhatsApp entire for saving media) to a computer or external memory card. Then connect the new phone and paste the file into exactly the same directory on the new device to installation or first launch of the application.
Paste path on the new device:
Internal memory/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases/
Once the files are placed in the desired folder, install WhatsApp. When checking the number, the application will detect a local backup and offer to restore data from it instead of the cloud. This method often works faster than downloading via the Internet.
What to do if the folder paths are different?
On different firmware (MIUI, OneUI, Pixel UI), the folder structure may vary slightly. If you do not find the folder in the specified path, use the search for the "msgstore" file in the file manager.
Using the "Quick Setup" function when changing your phone
Modern smartphones based on Android offer built-in tools for data migration when first turned on. Manufacturers, such as Samsung, Xiaomi and Googleimplement their own utilities (Smart Switch, Mi Mover) that can transfer application data directly via cable or Wi-Fi.
This method is the most convenient for users who do not want to deal with file paths or Google Drive settings. When you initially set up your new phone, you will be asked to connect your old device. The system will copy not only contacts and photos, but also application data, including the WhatsApp cache.
However, it is worth considering that even when using system utilities, when you first launch WhatsApp on a new device, you may still need to go through the standard procedure for restoring from a backup if the application was not transferred in a "frozen" state.
| Transfer method | Speed | Requirements | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Depends on the Internet | Google Account, Wi-Fi | High |
| Local file | High | PC or memory card | Medium (risk of path error) |
| Cable (Smart Switch) | Very high | Special. cable/adapter | High |
| QR code (Multi-device) | Instant | Access to both phones | Medium (not full transfer) |
When using a cable to transfer data between phones of different brands, make sure that you have a USB-C to USB-C or Lightning to USB-C adapter, since the supplied cables are often not suitable.
Features of transfer between different versions of Android
Moving from an old Android to a new one, especially if there is a large version difference between them (for example, from Android 8 to Android 14), can cause problems with file permissions. The security system of new OS versions has become much stricter regarding application access to shared memory.
If you use the local file method on the new Android 11+, make sure that you copy the data to the folder Android/mediaand not to the root of the internal memory, as was done previously. Ignoring this requirement will result in WhatsApp simply not seeing your backup.
It is also worth considering changes in database encryption formats. If you transfer a file msgstore.db.crypt12 from an old phone to a new one, where a fresh version of the messenger is installed that supports crypt15conflicts may arise. In most cases, the application tries to adapt automatically, but it is best to update WhatsApp on your old device to the latest version before transferring.
The main rule when changing Android versions: always update the WhatsApp application on your old device to the latest version before creating a backup copy to ensure compatibility of encryption formats.
In some cases, especially when switching to custom firmware, you may need to provide extended permissions for the file manager to access system folders. Be careful when granting such rights.
Solving common problems during recovery
Despite its apparent simplicity, users often encounter errors. The most common problem is the message "Backup not found." This almost always means a Google Account mismatch. Check in your phone settings which mail is used by default for synchronization.
Another common situation is that the recovery process freezes at a certain percentage. This may indicate that the backup file is corrupted or there is not enough space on the internal storage of your new smartphone. Free up a few gigabytes of space and try again.
- 🔄 Try uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp if the recovery process was interrupted.
- 🔍 Check the name of the backup file: it should be strict
msgstore.db.cryptXX, without extra numbers or dates in the name for the main copy. - 📵 Disable mobile data while restoring from a local file so that the application does not try to download an empty copy from the cloud instead of the local one.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces and menu item names may vary slightly depending on the model of your smartphone and the version of the manufacturer’s shell. If you cannot find the item you need, use the search inside the phone settings menu.
If none of the methods helped, your backup may have been created too long ago and the encryption format is outdated. In this case, it is worth trying to find more recent local copies in the folder Databasesthat are stored for the last 7 days.
Can I transfer chats if I changed my phone number?
Yes, this is possible, but only if you follow the procedure for changing the number on the old device to create a backup copy. Go to Settings → Account → Change number. After that, create a backup. On a new phone, enter a new number when registering.
What to do if the backup copy weighs too much?
You can exclude video from the backup in the settings chats. This will significantly reduce the file size. You can also manually delete old unnecessary media files from WhatsApp folders before creating a new copy.
Will my privacy settings and groups be transferred?
Yes, with a full restore from a backup, all privacy settings, the list of groups, pinned chats and archived conversations will be transferred. However, notification settings may be reset to standard.
How long is a backup stored on Google Drive?
WhatsApp backup on Google Drive does not expire as long as you are active in the application. However, if you don't connect to WhatsApp for 120 days, Google may delete your backup according to its inactive data retention policy.