If you’re moving to an iPhone, the last thing you want is to lose your WhatsApp memories. The short answer: you don’t have to. In 2025, you can move your chats, photos, videos, and documents using Apple’s free Move to iOS option or a reliable paid tool when the official route gives you trouble.
What actually transfers and what doesn’t
You can move:
- Account info and profile photo
- Individual and group chats with full message history
- Communities and channel updates
- Media: photos, videos, documents, voice notes
- Basic chat settings and preferences
You can’t move:
- Call history
- Display name and status text
- Peer-to-peer payment messages
Method 1: Use Apple’s Move to iOS app (free, official)
This is the first thing to try. It’s built to move WhatsApp safely during iPhone setup.
You’ll need:
- Android 5.0 or newer
- iPhone on iOS 15.5 or later
- The same phone number on both phones
- A brand-new iPhone or one reset to factory settings
- Both phones charged and near Wi-Fi (or Android on the iPhone’s hotspot)
Step by step
Prep both phones
- Update WhatsApp on Android and iPhone
- Install Move to iOS on Android
- If the iPhone isn’t new, back up what you need, then factory reset
Start setup on iPhone
- Begin iPhone setup, choose Move Data from Android
- Open Move to iOS on Android, enter the code shown on iPhone
Pick WhatsApp
- In Move to iOS, select WhatsApp
- Tap Start to prepare your WhatsApp data on Android
- Wait until WhatsApp signs you out on Android
Finish up on iPhone
- Tap Continue to transfer
- Install WhatsApp from the App Store
- Verify the same phone number, then tap Start to import chats
Pros and cons
Why it’s great
- Free and official
- End-to-end encryption stays intact
- No third-party servers involved
Where it can frustrate
- Requires a factory-fresh iPhone
- Can stall around 40% or 99%
- Slower than some cable-based tools
- Only works during initial setup
Method 2: Paid desktop tools when the official route fails
If Move to iOS keeps failing, or you can’t reset your iPhone, a desktop transfer app is often the most reliable fallback.
Trusted options to consider:
- MobileTrans (Wondershare) – roughly $49.99/year or $65 lifetime. High success on large histories. No iPhone reset needed.
- Mobitrix WhatsApp Transfer – about $18.95/year. Handles very large chat counts, including some modded WhatsApp variants.
- Dr.Fone WhatsApp Transfer – around $21.95/year. Simple one-click style with local backup to your computer.
Pricing may vary by region and promotions, so think of these as ballpark figures.
How these tools usually work
- Install the software on your computer.
- Connect Android and iPhone with their USB cables.
- Choose WhatsApp Transfer, confirm source and target.
- Let the tool back up Android WhatsApp locally.
- Restore to iPhone without wiping your existing iPhone data.
Why people pick this route
- No factory reset on iPhone
- Better odds with big media libraries
- Generally faster, especially over a cable
Method 3: Phone-to-phone apps (no computer)
If you don’t have a computer handy, some apps can move WhatsApp directly between phones.
Example: Mutsapper
- Connection: USB-C to Lightning cable
- Process: Direct device-to-device transfer
- Time: Often up to 30 minutes, depends on data size
App-only methods are convenient, but success can vary. Read recent reviews before paying.
Comparison table: three ways to move WhatsApp
| Method | Cost | Needs factory reset on iPhone | Computer needed | Typical time* | Large data success | Keeps current iPhone data | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move to iOS (official) | Free | Yes | No | 15–45 min* | Mixed | No | Reliable when it works, may stall at 40% or 99%. Only during initial setup. |
| Paid desktop tools (MobileTrans, Mobitrix, Dr.Fone) | Paid | No | Yes | 10–40 min* | High | Yes | Best odds with big libraries. Use official downloads only. |
| Phone-to-phone apps (for example, Mutsapper) | Paid | No | No | 15–30 min* | Mixed | Yes | Needs USB-C to Lightning. Read recent reviews for your phone models. |
*Time varies with media size, cable speed, and network stability.
Common problems and quick fixes
Stuck at 40% or 99%
- Force-restart iPhone: press volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until you see the Apple logo
- Turn off iCloud for WhatsApp if your backup is larger than available iCloud space
- Free up storage on both phones
- Try again. Many users succeed on the second or third attempt
“Something went wrong” errors
- Keep both phones on stable internet the whole time
- Update WhatsApp on both devices
- Double-check you’re using the same phone number
- On Android: clear WhatsApp cache, then retry
QR code won’t scan
- Max out Android screen brightness
- Clean the iPhone camera lens
- Remove screen protectors on Android if they cause glare
- Put both phones on the same Wi-Fi
A simple fallback: export a few chats by email
Good for one-off chats you really need.
- Open the chat in WhatsApp on Android
- Tap More or ⋮ > More > Export chat
- Choose with or without media
- Email it to yourself, then open on iPhone
This creates a .txt file. You can read it, but it won’t merge back into WhatsApp.
Pro tips for a smooth transfer
Before you start
- Make a local Android backup: Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back up
- Update Android, iOS, and WhatsApp to the latest versions
- Clear some storage headroom on both devices
- Charge both phones to at least 80%
During the move
- Keep both devices plugged in
- Don’t use the phones while the transfer runs
- Stay on one stable network, avoid switching Wi-Fi
- Be patient. Large libraries can take 30 minutes or more
After you finish
- Confirm every must-have chat is present
- Create an iCloud backup on iPhone right away
- Open a few media-heavy chats and make sure photos and videos load
Which method should you pick?
Go with Move to iOS if:
- Your iPhone is brand new or you’re fine resetting it
- You want a free, official method
- Your WhatsApp data is modest in size
- You don’t mind a couple of retries if it stalls
Pick a paid desktop tool if:
- You can’t factory reset your iPhone
- You have years of chats and lots of media
- You want the best chance of success in one shot
- You need to keep current iPhone data untouched
Try a phone-only app if:
- You don’t have a computer
- You have the right cable on hand
- You want a quick, mobile-only move and are okay with mixed reviews
Security and privacy basics
- The official Move to iOS path keeps WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption model intact during migration.
- Paid tools vary. Stick to reputable brands, download from official sites, and read their privacy policy.
- Avoid free, unknown utilities that promise “instant” transfers. If it sounds too good to be true, it often is.
Quick “What to avoid”
- Don’t delete WhatsApp data on Android until you’ve checked everything on iPhone
- Don’t switch SIMs or phone numbers mid-transfer
- Don’t let either phone die during the process
- Don’t jump between Wi-Fi networks while it’s running
FAQs
Can I move WhatsApp without resetting my iPhone?
The official method needs a factory-fresh iPhone. Many desktop apps can transfer your data while keeping existing iPhone content as is.
Will my photos and videos come over too?
Your media moves with the chats. Very large or corrupt files can sometimes fail, so scan a few heavy chats after the transfer.
Do I need the same phone number?
WhatsApp links histories to phone numbers. If you changed numbers, update your number in WhatsApp on Android first, then transfer.
What about WhatsApp Business?
Business accounts can move chats too. Catalogs and some settings may need a quick recheck after you land on iPhone.
How long does the transfer take?
It depends on the size of your media and the method. Cable transfers and desktop tools are usually faster than Wi-Fi only.
Why does Move to iOS keep failing at 40% or 99%?
Clear space, update apps, keep a steady connection, and try again. Many transfers complete on a second attempt.
Will call history transfer?
WhatsApp doesn’t migrate call logs between Android and iOS.
Bottom line
You can safely move WhatsApp from Android to iPhone in 2025. Start with Apple’s free Move to iOS. If that doesn’t cut it, a paid desktop tool is usually the quickest path to a complete, no-reset transfer. Prepare well, be patient, and don’t erase anything on Android until you’ve confirmed your chats on iPhone.
Source: WhatsApp
