One of the most anticipated features by WhatsApp users is about to hit everyone: Google announced the transfer of chats and files between iPhone and Android 12. Now available on Pixels, we were able to test it. : works at phone startup and lets you move all your conversations with your files.
It seems incredible that something as basic as moving the WhatsApp app between operating systems hasn’t been possible until now. It is true that the characteristics of the application make migration difficult (thanks to end-to-end encryption, messages do not stay, they stay on the platform’s servers), but it was still such a desired feature that WhatsApp should have developed it earlier. And how does it work ? Let’s see.
Only available when starting the phone (for now)
The transfer tool is included in Android 12 and is part of the data transfer application (no need to download the data transfer tool from the play store). Its operation is intuitive and transfers not only WhatsApp data, but also applications, part of your information, contacts and other user data, such as calendars.
The transfer process is complex and allows start a new phone with most of the information from the old iPhone. As long as the mobile to configure has Android 12: we tested the transfer of WhatsApp on a Pixel 4a with the stable version of Android 12 and on an iPhone 12 Pro Max with iOS 15.
Unable to transfer WhatsApp account between iPhone and Android already configured: it is essential to start from scratch. This is exactly what we did to verify that the whole process was working correctly: We factory reset our Google Pixel 4a and connected it to the iPhone.
To verify that the process is working, we factory reset our Pixel 4a and configure it by connecting it to the iPhone 12 Pro Max via a cable.
Let’s see what needs to be done to complete the chat transfer process:
- Make sure that WhatsApp on your iPhone is updated to the latest version.
- Connect the iPhone and Android 12 with a cable (USB C to Lightning, this is the one we use).
- Boot your Android 12 and start the installation process. When it asks if you want to restore the data, say yes.
- Unlock iPhone and choose the apps and data you want to move. There will be WhatsApp.
- A QR code will appear on the screen of Android 12. Capture it with the iPhone camera: WhatsApp to Android transfer will open.
You must activate the transfer in the WhatsApp application. This is the manual process (in case the QR doesn’t work)
- Android 12 will start the data transfer process. It depends on the information in your iPhone, and what you have chosen to transfer, the duration will be shorter or longer. On average, this will last up to fifteen or twenty minutes.
- Once the process is complete, Android 12 will download all iPhone apps from Google Play and restore your data as far as possible (there is no way to transfer all the information).
- Open WhatsApp when installed, log in with your phone number and, after accessing the account, you will have all the chats, photos, videos and voice notes on the new mobile.
- Your WhatsApp number will be disconnected from the iPhone.
The operation of the data transfer tool is as expected even if it is limited to the initial configuration of the phone. Allows you to save all conversations as well as media content so that it is not lost with the jump between iPhone and Android, something that was until now mandatory (unless expensive payment tools were used). Despite the delay, we appreciate that it is finally available.
As the transition between iPhone and Android is resolved, The reverse path is not yet possible, from Android to iPhone. And, as we have seen, this can only be done in Android 12: in order to move chats, you need to update.
