How to Transfer WhatsApp Chat History from Android to iPhone (Official Method)

Switching from an Android smartphone to an iPhone used to mean sacrificing years of cherished WhatsApp conversations, photos, and voice notes. Because Android backups store chat databases in Google Drive using SQLite format while iOS utilizes iCloud Drive with Apple cryptographic containers, traditional cloud restore methods cannot cross operating system boundaries.

Fortunately, Meta and Apple developed a native, direct peer-to-peer migration pipeline. This guide walks through the exact prerequisites and sequence to transfer all your WhatsApp data with zero data loss and zero paid software.

Technical Prerequisites

Before beginning, confirm both devices satisfy the following requirements:

1. Operating System Versions: Android OS 5 (Lollipop) or newer, and iOS 15.5 or newer (including iOS 17 and 18).
2. App Versions: WhatsApp Android version 2.22.10.70 or higher, and WhatsApp iOS version 2.22.10.70 or higher.
3. Identical Phone Number: You must register the exact same SIM card/eSIM telephone number on the new iPhone.
4. Power & Network: Connect both devices to power chargers. Both phones must connect to the same 5GHz/2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, or connect the Android phone to the iPhone’s personal hotspot during setup.
5. Move to iOS App: Installed on the Android device from the official Google Play Store.

Step-by-Step Transfer Procedure

Step 1: Prepare the Android Phone

1. Open WhatsApp on Android.
2. Tap Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
3. Tap Back Up to generate a fresh, complete local archive on internal storage.
4. Download and launch Move to iOS from Google Play. Accept terms and grant required location and Wi-Fi permissions.

Step 2: Initiate iPhone Setup

1. Turn on your new or factory-reset iPhone.
2. Follow on-screen prompts for language, region, and Wi-Fi connection.
3. When you reach the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, select From Android.
4. A 6-digit or 10-digit code will appear on the iPhone display.

Step 3: Pair Devices & Select WhatsApp

1. Enter the one-time pairing code into the Move to iOS app on Android.
2. A secure peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection will be established between the two devices.
3. On the Transfer Data selection screen on Android, check the box next to WhatsApp.
4. WhatsApp will open on Android displaying Move chats to iOS. Tap START.
5. Wait while WhatsApp packages and encrypts your chat database and media. When it reports Done, tap NEXT to return to Move to iOS.

Step 4: Complete the Transfer

1. Tap Continue on Android to start transmitting the data bundle over the direct Wi-Fi tunnel.
2. Keep both phones side-by-side with screens active until the progress bar completes. Transfer times vary based on media size:
   • 5 GB to 10 GB: approximately 15–25 minutes.
   • 20 GB+: up to 45 minutes.

Step 5: Activate WhatsApp on the iPhone

1. Complete remaining standard setup screens on the iPhone (Apple Account, Face ID).
2. Open the App Store on the iPhone and install the latest version of WhatsApp Messenger.
3. Launch WhatsApp and accept permissions.
4. Enter the exact same phone number used on Android and complete SMS verification.
5. When prompted with Move Chats from Android, tap Start.
6. Grant WhatsApp permission to access the transferred local archive.
7. Enter your profile name, and your full conversation history, attachments, voice notes, and group chats will appear in your inbox.

Troubleshooting Common Migration Failures

Issue: “Move to iOS” disconnects at 90%

• Solution: Disable Mobile Data / Cellular Data on the Android device. Some Android builds detect that the temporary peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network lacks public internet access and automatically revert to mobile data, severing the migration socket.
• Also turn off battery savers or smart network switch features on Android.

Issue: WhatsApp on iPhone says “No chat history found”

• Solution: Verify that you verified the same telephone number. If your WhatsApp account was registered with a country code or old carrier number different from your current SIM, the decryption key will fail to unlock the imported archive.