How to Transfer WhatsApp to a New Phone with the Same Number

Getting a new phone is exciting… until you realize your entire WhatsApp life (family chats, work threads,
that one group that “can’t stop won’t stop,” and a suspicious number of cat videos) is still living on your
old device like it pays rent.

The good news: transferring WhatsApp to a new phone with the same number is usually smooth if
you pick the right method and do a little prep. The “secret sauce” is simple:
your phone number must match, and you’ll either restore from a backup (cloud) or transfer
directly phone-to-phone (local transfer).

The fastest answer (choose your path)

• Android → Android: Use Google account backup or WhatsApp’s in-app chat transfer (QR code / local network).
• iPhone → iPhone: Use iCloud backup or WhatsApp’s in-app chat transfer (QR code / local network).
• Android → iPhone: Use Apple’s Move to iOS + WhatsApp transfer option.
• iPhone → Android: Use WhatsApp’s iPhone→Android transfer (often via cable during setup, depending on device/OS).

Before you start: a 7-minute “don’t regret this later” checklist

1) Confirm you’re keeping the same phone number

This guide assumes your WhatsApp number stays the same. That matters because WhatsApp restores and transfers
are tied to your number. If you’re also changing numbers, do that inside WhatsApp on the old phone first
(Settings/Account), then transfer.

2) Update everything

Update WhatsApp on both phones, and update your phone OS if you can. Transfers are far less dramatic when both
devices speak the same “software dialect.”

3) Charge both phones (and plug them in if possible)

Big chat histories can take timeespecially if you have years of messages and media. Power issues are a top-tier
villain in the “why did my transfer fail” story.

4) Check storage on the new phone

If your new phone is already full of 4K videos and 9,000 screenshots, restoring a huge WhatsApp backup can fail
or stop midway. Make space first.

5) Know what will (and won’t) transfer

Typically, WhatsApp transfers your messages, media, and many settings. Some items may not move in every scenario
(for example, call history and certain metadata may be excluded in cross-platform moves). Don’t panic if the
“shape” of your WhatsApp looks slightly different after the moveyour chats are the priority.

6) Consider turning on encrypted backups

WhatsApp offers optional end-to-end encrypted backups (and newer approaches like passkey-protected backup access
may roll out depending on your device and region). If you enable encrypted backups, store your password/key safely,
because losing it can mean losing the backup.

Method 1: Transfer WhatsApp on the same platform using a cloud backup

This is the classic approach: make a backup on the old phone, then restore it on the new phone after you verify
the same number. It’s reliable, but depends on your cloud account and internet speed.

Android → Android (Google account backup)

1. On your old Android phone, open WhatsApp.
2. Go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup.
3. Confirm the correct Google account is selected (or add it).
4. Tap Back up (or Back Up Now).
5. On the new Android phone, install WhatsApp and open it.
6. Verify your same phone number.
7. When prompted, tap Restore and wait for messages/media to download.

Pro tip: if you’re on cellular data, you can burn through your monthly plan faster than you can say “unlimited*
(terms apply).” Use Wi-Fi for big restores.

iPhone → iPhone (iCloud backup)

1. On your old iPhone, open WhatsApp.
2. Go to Settings → Chats → Chat Backup.
3. Tap Back Up Now.
4. On the new iPhone, sign in to the same Apple ID and make sure iCloud Drive is enabled.
5. Install WhatsApp on the new iPhone and open it.
6. Verify your same phone number.
7. Tap Restore Chat History when prompted.

Cloud backup gotchas (a.k.a. the stuff people forget)

• Same number required: You must verify the same number that created the backup.
• Same cloud identity required: Same Google account on Android, same Apple ID on iPhone.
• You can’t “mix” cloud systems: A Google Drive backup doesn’t restore onto iPhone, and an iCloud backup doesn’t restore onto Android.
• Be patient with media: Messages may appear first; media can take longer.

Method 2: Transfer WhatsApp using in-app “Transfer Chats” (local transfer)

If you still have the old phone and both phones can be on the same Wi-Fi, WhatsApp’s built-in transfer is often
the easiest. It can avoid cloud backup drama and can be faster for large histories.

Best for

• Same platform moves (Android→Android, iPhone→iPhone) when you want speed
• People who don’t trust their Wi-Fi to upload 40GB of memes to the cloud

Steps (general flow)

1. On the old phone: open WhatsApp.
2. Go to Settings → Chats → Transfer chats (wording may vary slightly).
3. Tap Start and grant local network permissions.
4. On the new phone: install WhatsApp, open it, and verify the same phone number.
5. When prompted to transfer, use the old phone to scan the QR code shown on the new phone.
6. Keep both phones close, awake, and connected until completion.

If your transfer fails, don’t assume the universe hates you personally. Usually it’s one of these:
unstable Wi-Fi, battery optimization/background limits, or a permission prompt that got dismissed too fast.

Method 3: Transfer WhatsApp between Android and iPhone (cross-platform)

Cross-platform transfers used to be the stuff of legendslike Bigfoot, or “a group chat that stays on topic.”
Today, there are official paths, but they have requirements and usually work best during initial phone setup.

Android → iPhone (Move to iOS + WhatsApp transfer)

If you’re moving from Android to iPhone, Apple’s Move to iOS app can carry WhatsApp chat history
across when you select the WhatsApp option during transfer. This typically requires the iPhone to be new or reset
to factory settings.

1. On the iPhone, start setup until you reach Apps & Data.
2. Select Move Data from Android.
3. On the Android phone, install/open Move to iOS and follow prompts.
4. Enter the code shown on the iPhone when asked.
5. Select WhatsApp as content to transfer (when offered).
6. Finish iPhone setup, install WhatsApp, and verify your same phone number.
7. Allow WhatsApp to import/restore the transferred data.

iPhone → Android (WhatsApp transfer during Android setup)

For iPhone to Android, the official process often involves connecting the phones (commonly via cable) during the
Android phone’s setup flow, then transferring WhatsApp data. Some ecosystems (and some Android manufacturers)
may provide guided tools to streamline the process.

1. On the Android phone, begin setup and choose to copy data from an iPhone when prompted.
2. Connect iPhone to Android (often via a cable/adapter) and follow on-screen steps.
3. When WhatsApp transfer is offered, approve it and keep both devices unlocked and connected.
4. Install/open WhatsApp on Android and verify your same phone number.
5. Complete the restore/import flow and let media finish syncing.

Important note: cross-platform moves can have stricter requirements (OS versions, reset/new device needs, cable
quality, etc.). If you’re already fully set up on the new phone, you may need to reset it to use the official
“during setup” transfer method.

Troubleshooting: the top problems and how to fix them

“No backup found”

• Confirm you’re using the same phone number that created the backup.
• Confirm you’re signed in to the same Google account (Android) or same Apple ID (iPhone).
• Check permissions (storage, contacts, local network where relevant).
• Restart the phone and try againboring, but shockingly effective.

Restore is stuck (or crawls like it’s on dial-up)

• Switch to stable Wi-Fi.
• Plug in power and turn off battery saver temporarily.
• Keep WhatsApp open; don’t lock the screen for long stretches.
• Free up storage on the new phone.

Verification code SMS won’t arrive

• Make sure your SIM/eSIM for that number is active on the new phone.
• Confirm you can receive normal SMS/calls.
• Wait a bit before retryingtoo many attempts can trigger a longer wait time.
• If available, use WhatsApp’s voice call verification option.

Two-step verification surprises

If you enabled WhatsApp two-step verification, you’ll need that PIN when moving devices. If you turned on
encrypted backups, you’ll also need your password/key (or an approved device method, depending on feature rollout).
This is security working as intendedannoying in the moment, priceless if your phone is stolen.

Switching to WhatsApp Business?

Some transfer options can differ between WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business. If you use Business, check
app-specific limitations before you commit to a transfer plan.

Safety and sanity tips (because your chats are basically your life log)

• Do one last backup before you move. Make it fresh, not “from three months ago.”
• Don’t wipe the old phone immediately. Keep it until you confirm the new phone has everything you need.
• Use official methods first. Third-party tools can be risky for privacy and may break after app updates.
• Secure your backups. If you enable encrypted backups, store the password/key in a secure password manager.

Quick examples: which method should you pick?

Example A: You’re going from Pixel to Galaxy (Android → Android)

Use Google account backup if you want simple and familiar. Use in-app Transfer Chats (QR/local network) if you want
faster transfer and you have both phones in hand.

Example B: You’re going from iPhone 13 to iPhone 16 (iPhone → iPhone)

iCloud backup is usually the smoothest. If iCloud storage is tight or your Wi-Fi is moody, try WhatsApp’s in-app
Transfer Chats.

Example C: You’re switching from Android to iPhone

Plan to use Move to iOS during iPhone setup. If you’ve already set up the iPhone, you may need a reset to run the
official transfer cleanly.

500+ words of real-world “transfer experience” wisdom

Here’s what people tend to experience when transferring WhatsApp to a new phone with the same numberwhat feels
“normal,” what’s actually a red flag, and how to stay calm when the progress bar starts playing mind games.

First: the emotional rollercoaster is real. The moment you verify your number on the new phone, you’ll often see
WhatsApp on the old phone get logged out (or become limited). That’s expected. WhatsApp is built around one primary
phone for your account, so don’t panic if your old phone suddenly acts like it “forgot” who you are. It didn’t
it’s just following the rules.

Second: restores usually happen in phases. Your messages might appear quickly, giving you a false sense of victory,
and then media restores take longersometimes much longer. This is where many people assume something is broken,
uninstall WhatsApp in frustration, and accidentally restart the whole process. If your chats are visible and media
is still trickling in, that’s often normal. A good strategy is to leave the phone on Wi-Fi and power while you do
something else (like pretending you weren’t the one who created 38 group chats).

Third: storage is the silent assassin. On paper, your new phone has “plenty” of space. In reality, system storage,
photos, and auto-restored apps can eat that space fast. If the restore stalls at a consistent point, check available
storage and remove large, non-essential files (or temporarily offload videos). People are often shocked to learn
that a WhatsApp history with lots of videos can be bigger than their entire music library.

Fourth: Wi-Fi quality matters more than speed. A “fast” network that drops for a second every few minutes can break
transfers in subtle ways. If you can, use a stable home network, keep both devices close to the router, and avoid
jumping between Wi-Fi networks mid-transfer. For local transfers using QR/local network permissions, it’s also common
to miss the permission prompt the first timeso if it fails immediately, revisit permissions and try again.

Fifth: cross-platform transfers reward planning. The official Android↔iPhone methods frequently work best during the
new phone setup. That’s why you’ll hear stories like “It only worked after I factory reset.” It’s not superstition;
it’s because the transfer tool expects a clean environment. If you’re switching ecosystems, treat WhatsApp transfer
like moving a giant aquarium: doable, but not something you improvise at the last second with a random cable you
found in a drawer.

Finally: the “same number” detail is the anchor. People sometimes swap SIMs later, forget which number was used, or
activate WhatsApp with a different number “just to test,” then wonder why no restore appears. If you want the old
chats, verify the same number used for the backup/transfer, and only change numbers afterward (inside WhatsApp) if
needed.

Conclusion

Transferring WhatsApp to a new phone with the same number doesn’t have to be stressful. Pick the method that matches
your situation, prep your backup (or use WhatsApp’s in-app transfer), keep both phones powered and connected, and
resist the urge to “fix” a slow restore by nuking everything. With a little patience, your chats will show up on the
new phone exactly where you left themyes, even that one thread from 2019 that you swear you were going to delete.