Back up your chats before you switch phones

WhatsApp stores your message history on your phone, not in the cloud by default. When you move to a new device, you need to create a backup first — otherwise your old conversations disappear. WhatsApp offers two backup methods: to Google Drive (Android) or to iCloud (iPhone). Both are free, but you have to start the backup on your old phone before you switch.

The backup includes all your individual and group chats, photos, videos, and voice messages from the past year. It does not include call logs. If you use Android, the backup goes to the Google account you have set up on that phone. If you use iPhone, it goes to the iCloud account linked to your device. You need the same account on your new phone to restore from that backup.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a backup on your old phone using Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) before you switch devices.
  • Your backup includes messages, photos, and videos but not call logs, and it covers the past year of chats.
  • On your new phone, install WhatsApp, verify your phone number, and choose to restore from backup when prompted.
  • The restore process takes a few minutes to an hour depending on how many messages you have.
  • If you switch from iPhone to Android or vice versa, you cannot restore your old backup — you will need to use a third-party tool or accept starting fresh.

Back up to Google Drive on Android

Open WhatsApp on your Android phone and tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup. You will see an option to back up to Google Drive. Tap Back up to Google Drive and choose which Google account you want to use — this must be the account you plan to use on your new Android phone.

Select how often you want WhatsApp to back up automatically: daily, weekly, or monthly. Then tap Back up. The first backup can take several minutes depending on how many messages and media files you have. WhatsApp will show you the date and time of your last successful backup in the Chat backup menu. Do not uninstall WhatsApp or switch phones until you see that backup complete.

Back up to iCloud on iPhone

Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and tap Settings at the bottom right. Select Chats, then Chat Backup. You will see an option to back up to iCloud. Tap Back Up to iCloud. WhatsApp will ask you to confirm your iCloud account — this is the account linked to your iPhone, and it must be the same account you use on your new iPhone.

Choose your backup frequency (daily, weekly, or monthly), then tap Back Up. The backup runs in the background, but your phone must stay connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in until it finishes. Check the Chat Backup menu to confirm the backup completed successfully before you switch phones. The date and time of your last backup will appear there.

Install WhatsApp on your new phone and restore

On your new device, download WhatsApp from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iPhone). Open the app and enter your phone number — use the same number you had on your old phone. WhatsApp will send you a verification code by text or call. Enter that code to verify your number.

After verification, WhatsApp will ask whether you want to restore your chat history. Tap Restore. The app will pull your backup from Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) and begin downloading your messages, photos, and videos. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the size of your backup and your internet speed. Keep your phone connected to Wi-Fi during this process. Do not close the app or restart your phone until the restore finishes.

What happens if you switch between iPhone and Android

WhatsApp backups are not compatible across operating systems. If you are moving from an iPhone to an Android phone, or from Android to an iPhone, you cannot restore your old backup directly. Your messages will not transfer automatically.

You have two options: use a third-party migration tool (several exist, though they vary in reliability and cost), or start fresh on your new phone. If you start fresh, your contacts will still have your old chats, but your new phone will show an empty chat history. You can ask contacts to forward important messages or photos if you need them. Many people choose this route because it is straightforward and does not require extra software.

Troubleshooting a backup that will not restore

If WhatsApp does not offer to restore your backup when you verify your number on the new phone, the most common cause is that your backup account does not match. On Android, make sure the Google account on your new phone is the same one you used for the backup. On iPhone, confirm that your new phone is signed into the same iCloud account. If the accounts do not match, sign out and sign back in with the correct account, then reinstall WhatsApp.

Another common issue is that your backup is too old. WhatsApp only keeps backups for a certain period — if you waited too long between backing up and switching phones, the backup may have expired. If this happens, you will need to start fresh. To avoid this in the future, create a backup shortly before you plan to switch phones, and check that it completed successfully before you move to the new device.

Keep your old phone running until the restore finishes

Do not factory reset or sell your old phone immediately after switching to the new one. Leave it powered on for at least a few hours while your new phone restores the backup. If something goes wrong during the restore, you may need to go back to your old phone to create a fresh backup or verify information.

Once your new phone shows all your chats and you have confirmed everything transferred correctly, you can safely reset your old phone or remove WhatsApp from it. If you sign into WhatsApp on two phones at the same time with the same number, the app will log you out of one of them automatically — WhatsApp does not allow the same account on multiple devices simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my call history transfer to the new phone?

No. WhatsApp backups include messages, photos, and videos, but not call logs. Your call history will not appear on your new phone. If you need a record of calls you made, take screenshots on your old phone before you switch.

Can I restore a backup that is more than a year old?

WhatsApp backups older than about one year may expire and become unavailable. If your backup is very old, you may not be able to restore it. Create a fresh backup shortly before you switch phones to avoid this problem.

What if I do not have the same phone number on my new phone?

WhatsApp ties your account to your phone number. If you have a new number, you cannot restore your old backup — you will have a new WhatsApp account. If you kept your old number but switched carriers, the backup will still work as long as you verify with that same number on the new phone.

Do I need Wi-Fi to restore my backup?

Yes. The restore process downloads your entire backup, which can be large. Use a strong Wi-Fi connection and keep your phone plugged in. Restoring over mobile data is possible but slow and may use a lot of data.

What if my backup failed on the old phone?

If you see an error message when you try to back up, check that you are signed into the correct Google or iCloud account, that you have enough storage space, and that you have a stable Wi-Fi connection. Try backing up again. If it keeps failing, you may need to free up storage space on your phone or account before the backup will work.