WhatsApp makes it easier to switch from Android to iPhone by allowing users to transfer their message data via the ‘Move to iOS’ app
- Android phone owners can now transfer their WhatsApp data to an iPhone
- It has only previously been possible to move it to an Android from an iPhone
- Users will have to download the ‘Move to iOS’ app on their Android device
- This app can also transfer other Android-compatible data like photos
WhatsApp users who are switching to an iPhone from an Android phone can now take their message history with them.
Previously it has only been possible to transfer WhatsApp data when moving to Google’s Android platform from an Apple device.
This feature was introduced last year on the WhatsApp chat app, allowing the user to take voice notes, photos and conversations with them if they switch to the Android operating system.
Now, WhatsApp users can securely transfer the app’s data to an iPhone using the ‘Move To iOS’ app, available on the App Store.
Move To iOS is already used to switch over other phone data including contact details, photos and videos, but has been updated to include WhatsApp data.
WhatsApp users who are switching to an iPhone from an Android can now take their voice notes, photos and text conversations with them to their new operating system
Move to iOS (pictured) is a free app built into Apple’s iOS software that securely transfers data from an Android phone to the iPhone, including contacts, photos, videos and messages
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY DATA WHEN I TRANSFER IT?
Transferred data doesn’t go to cloud storage as a result of the migration until you create an iCloud backup.
WhatsApp can’t see the data you transfer.
Your Android phone will still have your data unless you delete WhatsApp or wipe your phone.
Source: WhatsApp
WhatsApp said the transfer will take place while remaining fully encrypted, and that it will begin to roll out today but will take about a week to reach all users.
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of WhatsApp’s parent company Meta, said: ‘We’re adding to WhatsApp the ability to securely switch between phones and transfer your chat history, photos, videos and voice messages between Android and iPhone while maintaining end-to-end encryption.
‘This is a top requested feature.
‘We launched the ability to switch from iPhone to Android last year, and now adding Android to iPhone as well.’
The iPhone must be factory new or reset to factory settings to pair with the Move to iOS app and move data from an Android phone.
Both of the devices must also be connected to a power source and to the same Wi-Fi network, or the Android device could be connected to the iPhone’s hotspot.
The new iPhone must also be using the same phone number as the Android device.
The user will have to then download the Move to iOS app onto their Android phone, and follow the steps until a code pops up on their iPhone screen.
After they enter the code into the app, the user can then request to transfer the WhatsApp data stored on the Android device.
Once the transfer is complete, they can download WhatsApp onto the new iPhone and, when opened and logged in, they will be prompted to download their data.
Last month, it was revealed that WhatsApp was testing a new feature that lets users quietly leave a group chat without sending a notification to other members.
The new feature was first spotted by independent WhatsApp experts WABetaInfo, which searches early beta versions of the app to identify upcoming features before they are released.
It clarified in a blog post that group admins will still be able to see who exits the group when the feature becomes available, but other members won’t.
When you exit a group currently, WhatsApp adds a system message in the chat to inform all participants that you have left the group.
The new feature could prevent awkward confrontations with more sensitive group members who might take your departure badly.
The feature is planned to be rolled out to users ‘in a future update’, according to WABetaInfo, but no date has yet been given for the release.
Mark Zuckerberg first revealed the company’s plans to allow users to silently leave groups back in April, when Meta announced the new Communities feature that lets you place several group chats together and message them all at the same time.
The Communities tool will allow users to organise different group chats together under a single main topic, for example, their children’s school or the street they live on, with Community admins able to share messages with everyone and have control over which groups can be included.
The Meta-owned messaging app said it would begin rolling out the feature slowly and as a test, but Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg said the change was an ‘important evolution’ for WhatsApp.
‘In the same way that social feeds took the basic technology behind the internet and made it so anyone could find people and content online, I think community messaging will take the basic protocols behind one-to-one messaging and extend them so you can communicate more easily with groups of people to get things done together,’ he said at the time.
Other new group features coming to WhatsApp
Reactions – Emoji reactions are coming to WhatsApp so people can quickly share their opinion without flooding chats with new messages.
Admin Delete – Group admins will be able to remove errant or problematic messages from everyone’s chats.
File Sharing – WhatsApp is increasing file sharing to support files up to 2 gigabytes so people can easily collaborate on projects.
Larger Voice Calls – WhatsApp will introduce one-tap voice calling for up to 32 people with all new design for those times when talking live is better than chatting.
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