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| Pic Credit: WhatsApp |
WhatsApp is finally allowing you to transfer your
WhatsApp chat history from an iPhone to an Android device. We've been hearing
rumors of a WhatsApp iOS-Android migration tool since April, but the
Facebook-owned company has yet to acknowledge it. However, we now have
confirmation that the feature exists and will be available first on Samsung's
newest foldables.
The latest update should help mitigate one of
WhatsApp's most irritating issues: the fact that your chat history has never
been officially transferable between mobile operating systems. If you utilize
WhatsApp's cloud backup option, your iOS conversation history is saved in
iCloud, while Android chat histories are saved in Google Drive, which means you
can only transfer your chats across phones that run the same operating system.
According to WhatsApp, the new feature will
initially allow transfers from iOS to Samsung's new foldables, and will then
allow transfers to Samsung devices running Android 10 and up "in the
coming weeks." It did not say when the feature would be available for
non-Samsung Android phones.
When a user sets up a new device, WhatsApp says they
will be given the opportunity to safely move their chats from an old device to
the new one. A USB-C to Lightning cable will be required for the process. The
new transfer tool will not merge two different WhatsApp backups (one on Google
Drive and the other on iCloud). Instead, when you transfer your WhatsApp data
to an Android phone and then back it up, the new backup will replace the
previous Android backup.
How to transfer WhatsApp chats from iPhone to
Samsung:
1. When
prompted, turn on your Samsung and connect it to your iPhone via cable.
2. Follow
along with the Samsung Smart Switch experience.
3. Use
the iPhone's camera to scan the QR code displayed on the new device when
prompted.
4. On
your iPhone, tap Start and wait for the process to finish.
5. Keep
on configuring your new Samsung.
6. When
you get to the home screen, open WhatsApp and sign in with the same phone
number that you used on your previous device.
7. When
prompted, tap Import and wait for the procedure to finish.
8. After
you've finished activating your new device, your chats will be ready for you.
WhatsApp wants to make this option available to more
users so they can switch between platforms and take their chats with them
safely.
Users should bear in mind that unless the previous
device is wiped clean or WhatsApp is removed, the data will remain on the old
device.
