How to transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone – A full guide

No need to worry about transferring your WhatsApp chats when switching from Android to iPhone. This guide explores quick and simple solutions to make the process hassle-free.

WhatsApp has become an essential part of our daily lives, holding countless conversations, photos, and memories we want to preserve. So, when switching from an Android to an iPhone, it's natural to bring all your WhatsApp chats along with you.

Fortunately, Apple's Move to iOS app makes it easy to transfer WhatsApp chats from Android during iPhone setup process — no cable or computer required. This wireless solution lets you migrate all your chats, ensuring both individual and group conversations remain intact.

In this guide, we'll walk you through different methods to transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone, including the official way using Move to iOS, and other alternatives in case you're unable to use the built-in transfer tool or if your iPhone is already set up.

Keep all your old memories by transferring WhatsApp chats from an Android device to an iPhone.

This guide supports Android-to-iPhone chat transfers for all major devices, including the iPhone 17, and popular Android brands like Samsung, Motorola, OPPO, VIVO, Xiaomi, Google, Realme, OnePlus, Huawei, LG, ASUS, Lenovo, HTC, POCO, Sony, and more.

Also, if you're looking for a simple, lossless solution, WhatsApp Transfer is exactly what you need for transferring WhatsApp across Android and iOS devices without a factory reset.

Table of Contents

• Transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to new iPhone via Move to iOS
• WhatsApp transfer from Android to iPhone without factory reset
• Move individual WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone by email
• Fixed - Why can't I transfer my WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone?

Transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to new iPhone via Move to iOS

When switching from Android to iPhone, Apple's Move to iOS app makes the WhatsApp migration smoother than ever. During the initial setup of a new or newly reset iPhone, it allows you to wirelessly transfer all WhatsApp data from an Android device. This includes individual and group chats, account information, profile photo, communities, WhatsApp Channels, media, and settings.

Important Limitation: This Android-to-iPhone WhatsApp chat transfer can only be completed during iOS setup steps. If your iPhone is already in use, you'll need to perform a factory reset to access the Move to iOS process — which may result in the loss of current data on your phone.

Before you start, ensure that:

• The source Android device has Move to iOS installed and is running Android OS Lollipop, SDK 21 or above, or Android 5 or above. The target iPhone has iOS 15.2 or later.
• Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and plugged into a power source.
• Use the same phone number on your old Android and new iPhone.
• The call history or display name, media received over WhatsApp Channels, and peer to peer payment messages won't be moved.

Transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone without cable or PC:

Step 1. Erase your iPhone if it has been set up.

• On a already-in-use iPhone, navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Contents and Settings; tap Continue and confirm the Erase option.
• When required, verify your passcode or Apple ID password to reset your iPhone completely.

Step 2. Select "Transfer Your Apps and Data from Android" during iPhone setup.

• After your iPhone restarts after the reset, follow the onscreen setup prompts.
• On Quick Start screen, tap Set Up Without Another Device and go through the setups.
• When you see Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, then tap From Android.
• Tap Continue on Move from Android screen — a one-time ten- or six-digit code should display on your iPhone.

Step 3. Set up Move to iOS on your Android and pair it with your iPhone.

• To transfer WhatsApp to your new iPhone, install and open the latest Move to iOS app on your old Android. You can easily get it from the Google Play Store.
• Tap Continue, read the terms and conditions, and tap Agree to continue.
• Tap Don't Send and choose how to share app data with Apple.

• Enter the code on your Android device. This will create a temporary Wi-Fi network between your Android and iPhone for data transfer.

TIP: You may also use a USB-C cable to connect your Android and iPhone for quicker transfer.

Step 4. Transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone.

• Wait for the Transfer Data screen to show up on your Android, then select WhatsApp.
• Tap Start. WhatsApp will prepare the data to export to your iPhone. Once done, you'll be signed out of your account on this Android phone.
• Go Next to return to Move to iOS screen, and tap Continue to start WhatsApp transfer from your Android to iPhone. Keep the devices near each other until the transfer is complete.

Step 5. Set up WhatsApp on iPhone.

• When all WhatsApp chats are transferred successfully, install and open the latest version of WhatsApp on your iPhone.
• Log in with the same phone number used on your old Android phone.
• Select Move Chats from Android > Start and grant necessary permissions.

This way, all previous WhatsApp chats on your Android will be moved to your iPhone seamlessly.

WhatsApp transfer from Android to iPhone without factory reset

If your iPhone is brand new, you can easily transfer all your old WhatsApp chats using the Move to iOS app during the initial setup. But what if your iPhone is already set up? Is there still a way to transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone without a factory reset?

If you have the same questions, the Appgeeker WhatsApp Transfer tool is exactly what you need. It allows seamless WhatsApp chat transfers from Android to iOS and vice versa, supporting a wide range of devices, including iPhone, iPad, and major Android brands like Samsung, Motorola, OPPO, VIVO, Xiaomi, Google, Realme, OnePlus, Huawei, LG, HTC, POCO, Sony, etc.

The best part is that it never requires a reset. With it, you can transfer your WhatsApp chats — including messages, photos, videos, documents, and more — even after you've set up your new iPhone. Here's what to do for WhatsApp chat transfer from Android to iPhone with a PC:

Step 1. Launch Appgeeker WhatsApp Transfer

Open this WhatsApp data transfer software on a Windows PC and select WhatsApp.

To move your WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone, select Transfer mode.

Step 2. Connect both Android and iOS devices

Connect your iPhone via a USB cable. If prompted, tap Trust on Trust This Computer screen.

Connect your Android phone using another data cable, then follow the onscreen guide:

• Once linked, tap Allow when Allow USB debugging prompt appears.
• If you don't see the option, unplug your Android device and move to Settings > Developer options; then turn off the USB debugging toggle and turn it back on.

• An installation notification will prompt on your Android screen, follow the onscreen instructions to install the MobieSync app.

• Once installed, tap Go to authorize and allow MobieSync to access WhatsApp files on this device; then, go ahead with Next button.

Step 3. Select source Android and target iPhone

When both connected successfully, select the Android phone from the Source drop-down menu and pick your iPhone from the Target box. Or, click the Switch button to exchange them.

Step 4. Transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone

Click Transfer button to start the transfer of WhatsApp chats from your Android to iPhone.

Note: This will erase the existing WhatsApp data on your target phone. You may hit the Backup button to save a separate copy of your conversations.

Extract WhatsApp chats from Android:

• Check whether you've turned off the end-to-end encrypted backup in WhatsApp through WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat backup, then tap the Back up button.
• Ensure that the encrypted backup is enabled. If it's already on, turn it off, wait shortly, then turn if back on. Click Next on the software to continue.

• Open the WhatsApp on your source Android, tap End-to-end encrypted backup > Use 64-digit encryption key instead; click Next on computer screen.

• On your Android, tap Turn on > Generate your 64-digit key; when the encryption key appears, click the Scan button in WhatsApp Transfer window.

• After scanning, tap I Saved My 64-digit Key > Create > Backup on your Android to generate a full end-to-end encrypted backup of your WhatsApp data; then go Next.

• Allow it a few minutes to extract and back up WhatsApp data from your Android phone.

Move WhatsApp chats to iPhone:

• On your target iPhone, ensure the Find My iPhone is disabled.
• Log in to any account on WhatsApp and check the Logged in. Continue button.
• It will now transfer all WhatsApp data from your Android to your iPhone, including both individual and group chats.

• Once done, your device will restart. Feel free to access all WhatsApp chats on your iPhone after successful transfer.

Done! All WhatsApp chats on your Android will be transferred to your iPhone seamlessly, without needing to perform any factory reset.

Transfer individual WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone by email

If you want to transfer specific WhatsApp chats from your old Android to new iPhone, using email is a simple and quick option that requires no technical skills. However, be aware that this method doesn't import the chats into the WhatsApp app on your iPhone. Instead, it simply saves a copy of your conversations for reference, which you can view later in your email.

Steps to email WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone without a PC or reset:

• Run WhatsApp on your source iPhone and the conversation you prefer to transfer.
• Tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
• In the expanded menu, choose Email conversation. You have the options to whether include the media files or not.
• When the email screen appears, enter your own email in the type filed next to To.
• Send the email yourself.
• On your iPhone, open the email app and check the inbox. Ensure that you're logged in with the same email address.
• The transferred WhatsApp chats will be saved here for future access.

Keep in mind that email only supports a limited file size. If you have a large number of chats to transfer, the WhatsApp Transfer tool mentioned above might be a better option.

Fixed - Why can't I transfer my WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone?

If the above methods aren't working when transferring your Android WhatsApp chats to iPhone, check the following common issues based on the method you're using:

Move to iOS

If the WhatsApp transfer via Move to iOS fails, check the following:

• The source Android device should be using Android 5 or above, and the target iPhone is required to have iOS 15.5 or later.
• You're using the same phone number on both old and new devices.
• The latest Move to iOS app is installed on your Android phone.
• The devices should join the same Wi-Fi and be placed near each other. Otherwise, the WhatsApp transfer won't start.
• The transfer only works during the setup of a new or factory-reset iPhone. If WhatsApp is already set up on your iPhone, you'll need to erase the iPhone completely and set it up again.
• Move to iOS cannot transfer your WhatsApp call history, display name, media received via WhatsApp Channels, or peer to peer payment messages.

Appgeeker WhatsApp Transfer

When using Appgeeker WhatsApp Transfer to move chats across Android and iOS, ensure:

• Your devices meet the system requirements: Android 7 or above, and iOS 9 or later.
• Both the source Android and target iPhone are connected to your PC firmly.
• USB debugging is enabled on your Android phone.
• Find My iPhone is disabled on your iPhone during the transfer process.

Email chats export

• Email is best for transferring individual chats, not for restoring them to the WhatsApp app.
• It only supports limited file sizes, so trying to export large chat histories may result in failure.

The bottom line

Switching from Android to iPhone doesn't mean leaving your valuable WhatsApp memories behind. With the reliable methods outlined in this guide, you should be able to transfer your WhatsApp chats smoothly — keeping your conversations safe, accessible, and right where you need them.