Transferring WhatsApp chat from iOS to Android is now a reality. The company has announced to roll out new support for the same. It allows users to migrate chats. The company said that users can transfer their chat history when they switch from iOS to Android devices. This is, however, restricted to Samsung Android devices. Notably, Samsung at its Unpacked event had announced the feature. For now, WhatsApp didn’t allow users to transfer chats when they switch from one OS to another. This resulted in losing the chat data. According to WhatsApp, users can transfer only during the initial setup. It said that the new device should be factory new.
WhatsApp earlier allowed users to store their chat. Users can transfer chat through its cloud backup feature. But iOS and Android chat histories were stored differently. The feature stored iOS chat histories in iCloud. Android’s histories were stored in Google Drive. This didn’t allow transferring chat on devices running on different OS. When users switched from iOS to Android or vice-versa, they could not transfer their chat. They were able to transfer chats only between phones that are running the same OS. The company said that besides moving chat and chat histories of both individuals and groups, users can also transfer account information, profile photo, and media.
WhatsApp said that old iPhone owners should need to run the instant messaging app’s version 2.21.160.17 or above to enjoy the transfer chats feature. The new Samsung devices should run the app’s 2.21.16.20 Android version or above. Also, Samsung’s new device should have the SmartSwitch app installed. The app’s version 3.7.22.1 or above is required for migrating chats. Users will also need USB-C and Lightning cables. The chart transfer will take place via these two. Users will need to complete the activation of the new device once the transfer is finished. Users will then be able to see the chats. Notably, the ability to transfer chat was a long pending demand by the users.
