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WhatsApp now documents a direct iPhone-to-Android transfer using a QR code and local Wi-Fi. Start it before activating WhatsApp on the destination. Android Switch and Samsung Smart Switch are separate official routes with different setup requirements.
Before you begin
- For the direct route, WhatsApp specifies Android 6 or later, current WhatsApp apps on both phones, the same number and stable Wi-Fi. Both phones must run an OS supported by the current app.
- Keep the iPhone unlocked and retain its WhatsApp data. Have access to number verification on the destination.
- Use WhatsApp Messenger: the cited direct-transfer instructions exclude WhatsApp Business.
- If Android already contains chats, preserve what you need before changing its WhatsApp installation. Histories cannot be merged.
Use the direct WhatsApp transfer
- On the iPhone, open WhatsApp’s Chats settings, then the chat-history transfer option for Android. Allow preparation to finish.
- Continue and allow camera access. On Android, begin WhatsApp registration with the same number and accept the device-connection prompt.
- Scan Android’s QR code with the iPhone and accept the Wi-Fi connection. Keep the iPhone unlocked while copying.
- When Android confirms completion, continue into your chats. Check older messages and attachments before deleting anything from the iPhone.
When the device setup route is useful
For Android Switch, connect the phones when requested, approve access on iPhone, include WhatsApp in the copy selection and follow its transfer prompt. Register WhatsApp on Android after copying. Google describes a limited 3–7 day after-setup window when initial copying was skipped; it is not a universal guarantee.
Samsung’s cited Smart Switch page lists a new or reset destination but also gives steps for some devices that skipped copying. Check the flow actually offered before deciding to erase a Galaxy phone.
| Route | What to check |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp direct transfer | Local Wi-Fi; destination WhatsApp activation matters, rather than a blanket factory-reset rule. |
| Android Switch | Google documents cable-based steps and some after-setup opportunities. Availability depends on the device. |
| Samsung Smart Switch | Follow Samsung’s device-specific cable and import instructions; do not apply them to the newer direct route. |
Check the result and the exclusions
For its current direct route, WhatsApp includes call history as well as chats and media, while excluding status updates, Channel media and certain other items. Older Samsung cable documentation excludes call history. These are method-specific lists, not interchangeable promises.
Check representative conversations and important media yourself, then arrange a new backup on Android. A successful local transfer is not a cloud backup.
If the prompt is unavailable
Update both apps and check the linked direct-transfer instructions. Feature availability may vary. If WhatsApp is already active on Android, the current direct guide says to uninstall it there before trying the old-history import; preserve needed destination data first.
An older WhatsApp troubleshooting page still describes a factory reset. Because these documents differ, this article scopes the direct instructions to the direct route and keeps legacy device-setup guidance separate. If your screens do not match, stop and consult WhatsApp support instead of erasing on assumption.
Sources & editorial notes
Official documentation consulted on September 13, 2026. These are source-based instructions, not hands-on test results. Menus and availability can change; follow the official instructions that match your method.
- WhatsApp: Move chats from iPhone to Android ↗
- Google: Transfer WhatsApp data to a new Android ↗
- Samsung: Migrate WhatsApp data from iPhone to Samsung ↗
- WhatsApp: Not seeing a feature ↗
- WhatsApp: iPhone to Android troubleshooting (older setup requirements) ↗
Read our editorial policy for how we handle conflicting documentation and corrections.