WhatsApp now gives Android users two reliable ways to move chats to a new Android phone:
- direct phone-to-phone transfer;
- restore from a Google Account backup.
For most people who still have the old phone, I would start with the direct transfer. It keeps the process inside WhatsApp and does not require uploading the chat history to Google first.
If the old phone is unavailable but you already have a recent backup, restore from the Google Account backup instead.
Before You Start
Prepare both phones before opening WhatsApp on the new one.
You should have:
- the old Android phone, if it is still available;
- the new Android phone;
- the same phone number on the new device;
- WhatsApp updated on both phones;
- Wi-Fi enabled on both phones;
- enough free storage on the new phone;
- both phones connected to power if the transfer is large.
WhatsApp currently requires Android 6 or later for its direct Android-to-Android chat transfer.
The new phone should also not already be registered in WhatsApp before you begin the direct transfer.
If you are moving more than WhatsApp, use How to Transfer Data From Android to Android for contacts, apps, photos, messages, and other phone data.
Method 1: Transfer WhatsApp Directly From the Old Phone
This is the cleanest method when both phones are with you.
WhatsApp’s official Chat Transfer feature moves your chat history and media directly between the devices.
On the old Android phone
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap More options.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Chats.
- Tap Transfer chats.
- Tap Start.
- Allow the permissions WhatsApp requests.
Leave the old phone on this screen.
On the new Android phone
- Install and open WhatsApp.
- Tap Agree and continue.
- Verify the same phone number used on the old phone.
- When WhatsApp shows Restore or transfer chats, choose Transfer from old phone.
- Tap Continue and then Start.
- Allow access to nearby Wi-Fi devices when prompted.
- A QR code should appear.
Use the old phone to scan that QR code.
Accept the connection on the new phone.
Keep both phones unlocked and leave WhatsApp open while the progress indicator runs.
Do not switch apps, lock either phone, or interrupt Wi-Fi until the transfer finishes.
What the Direct Transfer Moves
WhatsApp says Chat Transfer can move your account information, including:
- personal messages;
- group chats;
- photos;
- videos;
- documents;
- other WhatsApp media.
There are exceptions.
WhatsApp says peer-to-peer payment messages and some media received through WhatsApp Channels are not included in the direct transfer.
That is one reason I recommend checking important conversations before erasing the old phone.
Do the Phones Need Internet?
Both phones need Wi-Fi enabled for the direct transfer, but WhatsApp says they do not have to be connected to the internet through that Wi-Fi network.
The phones should be near each other.
On older Android versions, WhatsApp may also request location permission as part of discovering nearby Wi-Fi devices.
Method 2: Restore WhatsApp From a Google Account Backup
Use this method when:
- the old phone is unavailable;
- you already have a recent WhatsApp backup;
- you prefer cloud restoration.
First confirm the backup on the old phone if you still have it.
Open:
WhatsApp > More options > Settings > Chats > Chat backup
Check:
- the Google Account;
- the last backup time;
- whether the backup completed successfully.
Then tap Back up if you need a fresh copy.
Restore on the new phone
- Sign in to the same Google Account used for the WhatsApp backup.
- Install WhatsApp.
- Open it and verify the same phone number.
- When WhatsApp offers a restore option, choose the cloud backup.
- Allow the restore to finish.
Google’s current Android guidance recommends cloud restore when a recent backup is already available.
Chats may appear before all photos and videos finish restoring.
Keep the phone connected to Wi-Fi and power until the media catches up.
Direct Transfer or Google Backup?
Use direct transfer when both phones are available.
Use Google Account backup when the old phone is missing, damaged, reset, or no longer accessible.
Direct transfer avoids waiting for a large backup to upload first.
Cloud backup gives you a fallback when the old device is unavailable.
I would still keep a recent Google Account backup even if you plan to use direct transfer. It gives you another recovery path if something goes wrong.
Do Not Rely on Samsung Smart Switch for Android WhatsApp Chats
Samsung Smart Switch is excellent for moving many types of data to a Galaxy phone, but Android-to-Android WhatsApp chat history should be moved through WhatsApp itself.
Samsung’s current support information says Android WhatsApp chat transmission is not supported through Smart Switch.
So when moving to a Galaxy phone:
- use Smart Switch for supported phone data;
- use WhatsApp Chat Transfer or Google backup for WhatsApp conversations.
This avoids assuming that seeing the WhatsApp app on the new Galaxy means the chat history moved with it.
What if You Already Opened WhatsApp on the New Phone?
This can interfere with the transfer flow.
Google currently advises that if WhatsApp was already opened or set up on the new phone before the transfer, you may need to:
- uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp;
- or clear the app’s storage;
then start the transfer process again.
Do not clear WhatsApp data on the old phone.
That is the device holding the chat history you are trying to move.
WhatsApp Says No Backup Was Found
Check these first:
Same Google Account
The new phone must be signed in to the Google Account that holds the WhatsApp backup.
Same phone number
WhatsApp backups are tied to the phone number used when the backup was created.
Backup actually completed
On the old phone:
WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat backup
Check the last successful backup.
Enough storage
A restore can fail when the new phone is too full.
If storage is tight, use How to Free Up Storage Space on Android before trying again.
Stable connection
An interrupted connection can leave a cloud restore incomplete.
If Wi-Fi is connected but the phone has no internet access, see Wi-Fi Connected but No Internet on Android.
The Backup or Restore Is Stuck
WhatsApp currently recommends several basic checks when backup or restoration stalls:
- restart the phone;
- turn Wi-Fi off and back on;
- try another stable network;
- keep the phone charged;
- make sure there is enough storage;
- make sure the correct Google Account is signed in.
Avoid repeatedly switching between Wi-Fi networks during a restore.
WhatsApp warns that changing networks can cause a backup operation to time out.
If the backup itself is corrupted, WhatsApp says it cannot repair or reconstruct it.
Can You Transfer WhatsApp Without Google Drive?
Yes.
The direct Chat Transfer feature does not require a Google Account backup.
That makes it useful when:
- your backup is very large;
- Google storage is full;
- you do not want to wait for an upload;
- both phones are physically available.
On the old phone, go to:
WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Transfer chats
Then follow the QR-code transfer process.
Can You Transfer WhatsApp Without the Old Phone?
Only if a usable backup already exists.
If the old phone is lost, stolen, broken, or factory-reset, you cannot start WhatsApp’s direct phone-to-phone transfer.
Your practical option is to restore the latest available Google Account backup.
WhatsApp says it cannot restore chats from its own servers for you.
If there is no usable backup and the old phone is gone, the old chat history may not be recoverable.
What if You Are Changing Phone Numbers Too?
Change the number inside WhatsApp on the old phone first.
Do not register the new number on the new phone and expect an old-number backup to follow automatically.
WhatsApp says backups are tied to the phone number that created them.
On the old phone:
WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Change number
Complete the number change, then create a fresh backup associated with the new number before moving to the new phone.
What About WhatsApp Business?
The safest approach is the same principle:
- keep the old device until the move is verified;
- use the same business number;
- create a fresh backup;
- restore or transfer through WhatsApp Business itself.
After the move, verify:
- chats;
- media;
- labels;
- business profile information;
- important customer conversations.
Do not factory-reset the old business phone until everything important has been checked.
Photos or Videos Are Missing After the Transfer
Do not assume the transfer failed just because text conversations appear first.
Media restoration can continue after chats become visible.
Leave WhatsApp connected to a stable network and give it time to complete.
Also check whether the missing file was actually part of the latest backup or transfer.
If a photo was deleted from the phone before the backup was made, restoring WhatsApp cannot recreate it.
For other missing device photos, see How to Recover Deleted Photos on Android.
Before You Erase the Old Phone
Open WhatsApp on the new phone and verify more than just the latest conversation.
Check:
- several old chats;
- group conversations;
- photos;
- videos;
- voice notes;
- documents;
- archived chats;
- important business conversations if applicable.
Also confirm that the new phone can send and receive WhatsApp messages normally.
Do not factory-reset, trade in, or give away the old phone until you are satisfied that the transfer worked.
For the rest of the phone migration, check How to Transfer Data From Android to Android before wiping the device.
The simplest approach is to use WhatsApp’s direct transfer while you still have both phones, keep a recent Google Account backup as a fallback, and verify the new phone before deleting anything from the old one.
