Edgar Cervantes/Android Authority
TL; PhD
- WhatsApp will eventually allow chat history and media transfer between iOS and Android.
- Currently only Samsung’s foldable phones can take advantage of this feature.
- It will be rolled out to other Samsung phones in the next few weeks.
WhatsApp may eventually enable a feature that will make it easier for users to jump from iOS to Android. WhatsApp’s iOS to Android chat migration tool was first reported in April and is now live. However, not every WhatsApp user can take advantage of it.
At the launch of Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, Samsung Shows How will users who come from iPhone use a USB cable to transfer their WhatsApp chats and media to the new foldable phone. Samsung pointed out in its presentation that this is the first of any Android smartphone.
WhatsApp later confirmed edge Starting from Samsung’s foldable phone, it does add the ability to move all voice notes, photos and conversations to Android phones for iOS users. “In the coming weeks,” this feature will also be available on other Samsung phones running Android 10.
Unfortunately, if you wish to replace your iPhone with any other Android device, you are currently unable to take advantage of the new transfer tool.
The iOS to Android WhatsApp migration feature will “finally” land on all Android phones, although it is not clear when it will happen.
If you back up your WhatsApp history on iOS, your information will be stored on iCloud. To move it to Android, you need to have a Google Drive backup. The new tool goes beyond this limitation, allowing the use of a Lightning-to-USB-C cable to transfer between the two operating systems.
According to WhatsApp, if you use this method to migrate iOS chat history and back it up on Android, you will lose any existing backups you may have on Google Drive.