WhatsApp update makes it much easier to transfer your chats to a new smartphone
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WhatsApp update makes it MUCH easier to transfer your chats to a new smartphone – here’s what you need to know
- Until now, users used the backup and restore feature or a third-party app
- But starting today you can just scan a QR code and your new chats will appear
Treating yourself to a new phone is exciting, but the thrill can quickly be tarnished by the annoyance of having to set up all the apps on your new device.
But a new update will put your mind at ease – at least when it comes to downloading WhatsApp again.
Until now, users had to use WhatsApp’s backup and restore feature or a third-party app to get their chats on their new device.
But starting today you can just scan a QR code and your new chats will appear – including large media files and attachments.
“For the first time, users can keep their entire chat and media history without leaving the app,” explains WhatsApp.
Starting today, you can simply scan a QR code and your new chats will appear – including large media files and attachments
WhatsApp hopes it will provide a more secure option for users installing the app on a new phone.
‘Safer than using unofficial third-party apps that have no clear privacy practices, and more private than cloud services, the transfer process is verified with a QR code, data is only shared between your two devices, and is fully encrypted during transfer.” explains WhatsApp. .
“It’s faster than backing up and restoring your chat history, and now you can also transfer large media files and attachments that were usually too big to keep.”
Unfortunately, the new chat transfer tool is only available between devices with the same operating system, so it won’t work if you switch from Android to iPhone, or vice versa.
To transfer your chats, make sure you have both your old phone and your new phone physically with you.
You must be connected to Wi-Fi and have location enabled.
On your old phone, open WhatsApp, then Settings, Chats, and Chat Transfer.
At this point, a QR code should appear on your screen.
Scan the QR code with your new phone and your chats will be transferred automatically.
The new feature is likely to be welcomed by WhatsApp users, many of whom have commented on the chat transfer process over the years.
One user said on Twitter, “annoying that I can’t transfer my WhatsApp chat history to my new phone, but parts of it got over.”
Another added: “It’s very annoying how WhatsApp doesn’t make life easier when transferring chats between an old and a new phone.”
And one simply said, “why is WhatsApp chat the most annoying to transfer.”