Quick answer
Use the same phone number, keep both phones plugged in, and don’t set up WhatsApp on the new phone first. Between two Androids or two iPhones, keep the phones close together, start on your old phone and scan the QR code on the new one. Android to iPhone uses Apple’s Move to iOS app instead, and the iPhone must be new or factory reset. If a transfer gets stuck or shows an error, restart both phones (off, wait 30 seconds, on) and try again.
Which phones are you moving between?
Does this match what you see?
- The QR code doesn’t appear.
- The transfer is stuck or won’t finish.
- WhatsApp is already set up on your new phone.
- Your new phone has a different number.
- Some things, like call history, didn’t move.
iPhone & iPadAndroid
Based on WhatsApp Help “How to transfer your chat history”, “Can’t transfer chat history”, “How to move chats from an Android device to an iPhone” and “How to move chats from an iPhone to an Android device” (supplied by the site owner). WhatsApp says chat transfer currently isn’t available on the WhatsApp Business app.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Why a transfer fails, according to WhatsApp (how common each is, is our estimate).
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| QR code doesn’t appear | Wi-Fi and permissions |
| WhatsApp already active on new phone | Start the new phone over |
| New phone, new number | Change number first |
| Stuck or error | Restart both phones |
- WhatsApp is already active on the new phoneCheck this first
WhatsApp says you can only transfer before activating WhatsApp on the new phone.
- Wi-Fi or permissions not setCheck this first
WhatsApp says the QR code may not appear if Wi-Fi is off or permissions weren’t accepted.
- A different phone numberPossible
WhatsApp says you can’t transfer chats to a new number.
- A third-party transfer appLess likely
WhatsApp says non-WhatsApp chat transfer apps aren’t supported and may cause loss of chats.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Both phones are plugged in and have Wi-Fi on.
- You’re using the same phone number on the new phone.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Android to Android
WhatsApp says you need Android 6 or above on both phones, the same number, both phones close together and plugged in, and Wi-Fi on (they don’t need to be connected to a network).
- Old phone: open WhatsApp > More options > Settings > Chats > Transfer chats > Start, and accept the permissions.
- New phone: install and open WhatsApp, tap Agree and continue, verify your number and accept permissions.
- Under Restore or transfer chats, choose Transfer from old phone > Continue > Start, and allow access to nearby Wi-Fi devices.
- Scan the QR code on the new phone with the old phone’s camera, then tap Accept on the new phone.
- Keep both phones unlocked and stay in WhatsApp until it finishes, then tap Next.
WhatsApp says messaging is paused during the transfer, and you can Cancel at any time. On Android 12 and below, it needs precise location permission, but says it doesn’t collect your precise location.
Did it work? Your chats appear on the new phone.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: iPhone to iPhone
WhatsApp says you need the latest iOS and WhatsApp on both, the same number, both phones close together and plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi and the internet, with local network permission.
- Old iPhone: tap your profile picture > Chats > Transfer Chats to iPhone > Start, and allow camera access.
- New iPhone: open WhatsApp, tap Agree & continue and verify your number.
- Tap Continue on Transfer chat history to iPhone and accept local network permissions.
- Scan the QR code on the new iPhone with WhatsApp’s camera on the old one.
- Keep both iPhones near each other, unlocked and in WhatsApp. When you see Transfer completed, tap Next and set up your profile.
Did it work? Your chats list appears on the new iPhone.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: Android to iPhone (Move to iOS)
WhatsApp says this uses Apple’s Move to iOS app, and your iPhone must be factory new or factory reset. If you’ve already set up and used the iPhone, this transfer isn’t available.
- Check you have Android 5 or above, iOS 15.5 or above, the latest WhatsApp on both, and Move to iOS on the Android phone. Put both on the same Wi-Fi (or connect the Android phone to the iPhone’s hotspot) and plug them in.
- Open Move to iOS on Android and follow the prompts. Enter the code shown on the iPhone.
- On the Transfer Data screen, select WhatsApp, tap Start and wait while it prepares. You’ll be signed out on Android.
- Tap Next, then Continue in Move to iOS, and wait for it to confirm the transfer.
- Install WhatsApp from the App Store, log in with the same number, tap Start, and let it finish.
WhatsApp says other data transfer apps aren’t supported and can cause problems, that choosing Files > the WhatsApp folder in Move to iOS isn’t supported during the move, and you can’t transfer call history, your display name, or media received over Channels.
Did it work? Your chats are waiting when you finish setting up WhatsApp.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 4: iPhone to Android
WhatsApp says you need Android 6 or above, the latest WhatsApp on both phones, the same number and a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- iPhone: open WhatsApp > Chats > Transfer chat history > Transfer to Android. When it’s ready, tap Continue and allow camera access. Keep the iPhone unlocked.
- Android: open WhatsApp and verify the same number. Tap Allow so the phones can connect; a QR code appears.
- Scan the QR code with the iPhone, then tap Join on Android to connect to the Wi-Fi network and start.
- When it’s done, tap Next on Android.
WhatsApp says this moves your call history too, but not your display name, status updates or media received over Channels. Bigger chat histories take longer.
Did it work? Your chats appear on the Android phone.
Did Fix 4 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 4. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Transfer failed or stuck
The QR code doesn’t appear
- WhatsApp says make sure you scan the QR code shown after you finish registering on the new phone.
- Android to Android: turn Wi-Fi on for both phones (they don’t need a network), accept all permissions, and on Android 12 and below allow precise location.
- iPhone to iPhone: both need Wi-Fi and an internet connection, local network permission, and all other requested permissions accepted.
WhatsApp is already active on the new phone
WhatsApp says you can only transfer before activating WhatsApp on the new phone, so uninstall it there first, then start again from the old phone. Android to iPhone: WhatsApp says you’ll need to wipe the iPhone and start over. iPhone to Android: WhatsApp’s how-to page says uninstall WhatsApp on the Android phone first; its troubleshooting page says to factory reset the Android phone, but only in certain cases (see iPhone to Android problems below). You can’t merge new chats on the new phone with old chats from the old one.
Your new phone has a different number
WhatsApp says you can’t transfer chats to a new number. On your old phone, change your WhatsApp number to the new one first, then transfer.
Stuck, or an error message
Restart both phones: turn them off, wait 30 seconds, turn them on, and start the transfer again. WhatsApp says it doesn’t delete chats during a transfer, and they aren’t lost if an error happens.
iPhone to Android problems
- Setup: WhatsApp’s troubleshooting page says both phones should be plugged in and on the same stable Wi-Fi, with iOS 15.5 or above, the latest WhatsApp, the same number, and an Android phone that’s new or factory reset with Android 10 or above. (Its how-to page lists Android 6 or above and doesn’t mention a new or reset phone.)
- Already set up WhatsApp on the Android phone? WhatsApp says only factory reset it if your chats are still on the iPhone and you don’t need any chats or messages currently on the Android phone (a factory reset deletes them). Then reinstall WhatsApp on the iPhone, restore your chats there, and start a new transfer. If your chats aren’t on your iPhone any more, WhatsApp says don’t reset the Android phone or uninstall WhatsApp on the iPhone; restore from a backup instead.
- “Something went wrong with your chat history”: WhatsApp says your chat history is corrupted and can’t be moved.
- “Could not import”: WhatsApp says the history may be corrupted, but you can try again. If importing stops partway, it’s likely a connection problem.
- Can’t scan the QR code: WhatsApp recommends turning the Android phone’s brightness to maximum, cleaning the iPhone’s camera, checking it’s the right QR code, and removing any screen protector from the Android phone.
- Samsung Smart Switch or Google’s Data Restore Tool failed: WhatsApp says it can’t fix third-party apps; contact Samsung or Google.
- If the transfer finishes but some chats didn’t move, WhatsApp says it can’t retrieve them.
Waiting for a verification code
WhatsApp says if you’ve tried several times and have to wait for a code, there’s no way to speed it up, but you may be able to get a code by email. See verification code not received.
What does and doesn’t transfer
- Every method: you can’t transfer peer-to-peer payment messages or media received over WhatsApp Channels.
- Call history: WhatsApp says it doesn’t move iPhone to iPhone or Android to iPhone, but does move iPhone to Android.
- Display name: doesn’t move Android to iPhone or iPhone to Android. Status updates don’t move iPhone to Android.
- For iPhone to iPhone and transfers between Android and iPhone, WhatsApp says transferred data doesn’t go to cloud storage unless you back up afterwards, and it can’t see the data you transfer.
How to know it worked
- Your chats are on the new phone, and only then do you clear the old one.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Want to use a backup instead? See WhatsApp backup or restore not working.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
- WhatsApp Help: How to transfer your chat historyWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- WhatsApp Help: Can’t transfer chat historyWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- WhatsApp Help: Move chats from Android to iPhoneWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- WhatsApp Help: Move chats from iPhone to AndroidWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- WhatsApp Help: Can’t move chats from iPhone to AndroidWhatsApp Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Why isn’t the WhatsApp transfer QR code showing?
WhatsApp says check Wi-Fi is on for both phones and you accepted all permissions. On Android 12 and below, allow precise location; on iPhone, both need internet and local network permission.
Can I transfer WhatsApp if I already set it up on my new phone?
Only by starting again. WhatsApp says you can only transfer before activating WhatsApp on the new phone. Between two Androids or two iPhones, uninstall it on the new phone first; moving between Android and iPhone, the new phone has to be factory reset. You can’t merge old and new chats.
Can I transfer WhatsApp chats to a new phone number?
Not directly. WhatsApp says change your number on the old phone first, then transfer.
Does my call history transfer to a new phone?
WhatsApp says call history moves from iPhone to Android, but not iPhone to iPhone or Android to iPhone.
Do I need a new iPhone to move WhatsApp from Android?
WhatsApp says the iPhone must be factory new or factory reset to pair with the Move to iOS app.
Will I lose my chats if the transfer fails?
WhatsApp says no: chats aren’t deleted during a transfer and stay on your old phone, so don’t reset it or delete WhatsApp until you’ve confirmed the transfer.
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Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- How to transfer your chat history (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Can’t transfer chat history (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to move chats from an Android device to an iPhone (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to move chats from an iPhone to an Android device (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Can’t move chats from an iPhone to an Android device (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 29 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 29 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 29 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or WhatsApp. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.