Update July 27, 2021: Evidence has once again been found that it will soon be possible to transfer chats from at least iOS to Android. The latest version of Android's default Data Transfer Tool has made preparations for transferring WhatsApp chats from iPhone to Android. Textual directions to the migration tool were found in the code. For example, there is talk about “Transfer WhatsApp chats” and the “Settings > Chat > Move Chats to Android”. During the process, iPhone must remain unlocked and WhatsApp open.
This feature is for migrating chats from iOS to Android. A video has already surfaced showing this in action. It is still unclear how the transfer from Android to iOS works. There may be a special setting in WhatsApp for this.
The new migration tool is one of many new features WhatsApp is working on and coming soon.
Original article April 6, 2021
Transferring your WhatsApp conversations from Android to iOS or vice versa is not yet possible for a number of reasons. Your conversations are currently tied to one device and the backup of your conversations is stored on iCloud and Google Drive (for iOS and Android respectively). You can therefore not so easily transfer all your chats from one operating system to another. Fortunately, that is about to change, according to a beta version.
‘WhatsApp is working on transferring chats between iOS and Android’
The news was discovered by WABetaInfo, the website that regularly discovers new features of WhatsApp at an early stage. The feature is part of the multi-device support. WhatsApp has been working on this for years, but to make this possible, your chats also need to be easy to transfer. For example, you can link an Android device to the account if you use an iPhone. A screenshot shows WhatsApp working on the feature.
The feature allows you to transfer your chats from Android to iOS. The other way around is also possible, as soon as the function is available to everyone. It's about transferring your entire chat history. It is not yet clear how the function will work exactly. It is also unknown when the feature will be available to everyone. As mentioned, it is also part of the multi-device use of WhatsApp, which has been indicated for two years. You will soon be able to use WhatsApp on four devices at the same time. Earlier there was also an indication that you can eventually synchronize your chats between iOS and Android.
If you want to switch from Android to iPhone, currently the only way is to export your WhatsApp chats so you don't lose them. There are tools that claim to transfer your conversations, but that is often against WhatsApp's terms of use.
https://www.iculture.nl/tips/whatsapp-chats-exporteren-media/
Revision history:
- 2021 – July 27, 09:34: Re-evidence surfaced for this upcoming feature. The article has therefore been adapted and republished.