Move WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone, and back: what works
A Google backup restores only on Android and an iCloud backup only on iPhone, so switching platform needs a transfer. Move to iOS, chat transfer and gaps.
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- By WavesFlo team
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- Published
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- 2 min read
You cannot restore an Android backup on an iPhone, because a Google Account backup restores only on Android and an iCloud backup only on iPhone. Changing platform needs a transfer: Apple's Move to iOS app moves chats from Android to a new iPhone during setup, and WhatsApp's chat transfer, started on the iPhone, moves them to Android.
| Move | How | What does not move |
|---|---|---|
| Android to Android | Google Account backup, or chat transfer by QR code | Payment messages and Channels media |
| iPhone to iPhone | iCloud backup, or chat transfer by QR code | Payment messages, call history and Channels media |
| Android to iPhone | Apple's Move to iOS app, during iPhone setup | Payment messages, call history, display name and Channels media |
| iPhone to Android | Chat transfer, started from WhatsApp on the iPhone | Payment messages, display name, status updates and Channels media |
What are the steps from Android to iPhone?
- Use a new or factory-reset iPhone on iOS 15.5 or later. The transfer runs inside the iPhone's first-time setup.
- On the Android phone (Android 5 or later), open Move to iOS and enter the code the iPhone shows.
- On the Transfer Data screen, select WhatsApp and tap Start.
- When it finishes, install WhatsApp on the iPhone, log in with the same number and tap Start.
Both phones must be on the same Wi-Fi, or the iPhone's hotspot. If the iPhone is already set up, the only fix is to back up its other data and factory reset it.
What should you check first?
- Use the same phone number on both phones.
- Back up on the old phone first, as a safety copy.
- Keep both phones charging and on stable Wi-Fi.
- Know that the transfer is not available in the WhatsApp Business app.
Restoring within the same platform, and the errors that stop a restore, are covered in how to restore a WhatsApp backup.
A business number that changes phones has one more step: once the new phone is set up, link the number again from Linked devices and it reappears in WavesFlo's inbox for all your numbers beside the team's others. The transfer itself still happens between the two phones, as above.
Questions
Can I restore an Android backup on an iPhone?
No. A Google Account backup restores only on Android. Use Move to iOS during iPhone setup.
Can I move WhatsApp from iPhone to Android?
Yes, with chat transfer started from WhatsApp on the iPhone, onto a new or factory-reset Android phone.
What is left behind?
Payment messages and Channels media always, plus call history and display name on some routes.