We tested the transfer of WhatsApp chats from iOS to Android: all the requirements and steps to follow

It was one of those things that we had already resigned ourselves to, but a few months ago it jumped the rumor and just a few days ago it was confirmed: the transfer of chats from iOS to Android is official. Well, we say it with a small mouth because, for now, can only be done between iPhone and some Android phones, specifically the new Samsung folding, the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Z Fold3.

Just these days we were testing the Galaxy Z Flip3, one of the two phones that allows you to pass chats from iPhone (not the other way around). The process is done through WhatsApp for iPhone and Smart Switch, Samsung’s app to transfer data from other phones. We explain the process step by step.

How to transfer chats from iOS to Android with Samsung Smart Switch

As we said, to be able to make the transfer it is necessary to have a Samsung mobile since for now it is not available on other Android. What’s more, Specifically, it must be a Galaxy Z Flip3 or a Fold3. It is expected to reach more of the brand soon, although we do not have dates yet.

In addition to having a compatible mobile, we will need to have an updated Smart Switch, the app that comes standard on all the brand’s mobile phones and that is used to copy data from our old mobile (or a new one). Of course, we have to have an iPhone with the latest version of WhatsApp and finally a USB-C to Lightning cable.

• The first step is to open the Smart Switch on the Samsung mobile. Here we choose ‘Send data’ and then ‘iPhone / iPad’. The app will ask you to connect the two mobiles via cable. Don’t unplug them until everything is done.

• The second step is select the data we want to copy. If like us you only want to copy WhatsApp, choose only Applications and then select only WhatsApp. Click Install.

• At this point Smart Switch will show us a QR code that we can scan with the iPhone camera directly. If it doesn’t work, open WhatsApp on the iPhone and go to Settings – Chats – Move chats to Android.

• Click on Start and the transfer will begin. In our case it has taken a long time, Although it will depend on how many chats and files you have on your WhatsApp.

• When the transfer is finished do nothing as Smart Switch has to organize the data. Here you can already use the mobile because it is done in the background, but do not disconnect the cable because it will be interrupted.

• Now it only remains to configure WhatsApp on the Android mobile. Open the app and enter your phone number as you would when setting up your account on a new mobile. The difference is that when we receive the verification SMS, instead of showing us if we have a backup in Drive, the screen to see on these lines will appear. The process takes a long time, so be patient.

And it would be. If you have not given an error (we have received an error the first time) and you have followed the steps, your WhatsApp chats should have gone from iPhone to Android mobile with integrity.

Now we have to wait for this option to reach more mobiles to see how the process will be, since it will surely change and be done with different apps. If in Samsung it is done with Smart Switch, perhaps in other Android it is done with Google Data Transfer Tool. What is clear is that it has nothing to do with the normal backup process with iCloud or Google Drive

, but it would not be bad if there was a simpler system to make this transfer.

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The news

We tested the transfer of WhatsApp chats from iOS to Android: all the requirements and steps to follow

was originally published in

Engadget Android

by
Amparo Babiloni

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