WhatsApp has finally announced the official availability of the ability to transfer WhatsApp messages from iPhone to Android. This feature has been long awaited by users, as there has been no easy or official way to transfer WhatsApp messages from iPhone to Android.

The new feature allows Android users to switch from iPhones to Android phones while retaining all their WhatsApp messages. This is a major issue users have faced, as WhatsApp backs up chat history to iCloud for iPhones and Google Drive for Androids, preventing conversations from being transferred between phones running different operating systems.

How does the WhatsApp message transfer feature work from iPhone to Android?

The new feature transfers chat history from iPhones like the iPhone 12 Pro to Android phones—Samsung first, before other smartphones—using a Lightning to USB-C cable, rather than sending it over the internet. The transfer process includes all conversations, photos, videos, and voice messages within it.

According to Zuckerberg, the new transfer method is more transparent and secure, as transfer only occurs between the two devices, and the transferred data is encrypted with end-to-end encryption technology.

This new feature eliminates the need to backup chats uploaded and downloaded from cloud storage services, such as iCloud on iPhones or Google Drive on Android devices, or to use third-party software, which can be complex or costly.

Currently, the new feature allows you to transfer conversations between devices running the same operating system—from one Android phone to another, or from one iPhone to another. Transferring conversations from Android to iPhone, or vice versa, is not currently available.

Users can access the new feature on their devices by opening the WhatsApp application, then going to Settings > Chats > then choosing Transfer Chats on the old phone. A QR code will then appear on the screen, and when it is scanned using the new phone, the transfer process will start via a secure wireless connection between both devices directly. This feature allows the transfer of photos and videos as well as messages.

WhatsApp has recently introduced several new features, including Channels, locking chats, the ability to use one account on multiple devices simultaneously, and more.