You can transfer your WhatsApp chats, photos, and message history to iPhone using Google Drive or WhatsApp's built-in backup feature
WhatsApp lets you back up your entire conversation history to Google Drive on Android, then restore it on iPhone. The process takes about 15 minutes and preserves your chats, photos, videos, and voice messages. You'll need both phones, your Google account, and the same phone number on both devices.
The backup method depends on your situation. If you're switching phones when ready, use the Google Drive method — it's the most reliable. If you want to keep both phones active temporarily, you can use WhatsApp's cloud backup instead. Either way, you'll lose your chat backups stored locally on Android (the ones saved only to your phone's storage, not the cloud).
Key Takeaways
- Back up your Android WhatsApp to Google Drive before switching phones, then sign into the same Google account on iPhone to restore everything.
- You must use the same phone number on both devices — WhatsApp ties your account to your number, not your email.
- The transfer includes all text messages, photos, videos, and voice notes, but not call logs or group admin status.
- After restoring on iPhone, your Android backup stays in Google Drive until you delete it manually — it won't automatically disappear.
Back up WhatsApp on Android to Google Drive
Open WhatsApp on your Android phone. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select Settings. Scroll down and tap Chats, then Chat backup. You'll see a Back up to Google Drive option with a green button labeled Back up.
Tap the green button. WhatsApp will ask you to choose a Google account — select the one you plan to use on iPhone. Then choose how often you want automatic backups: Never, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. For a one-time transfer, select Never so it doesn't create new backups you'll have to clean up later. Tap Back up again to start. The backup size depends on how many messages and photos you have — it might take a few minutes if you have years of conversations.
When the backup finishes, you'll see a timestamp showing when it completed. Stay on this screen and verify the date matches today. If it says "Never" under the automatic backup setting, you're done with the Android side.
Set up iPhone and restore from Google Drive
Turn on your new iPhone and go through the initial setup. When you reach the screen asking about transferring data, tap Don't Transfer Apps & Data — WhatsApp needs a clean start to restore from Google Drive properly. Complete the rest of the setup, then go to the home screen.
Open the App Store and search for WhatsApp. read and install it. When you open WhatsApp for the first time, it will ask for your phone number. Enter the same number you used on Android — this is critical. WhatsApp will send you a verification code via SMS or call. Enter the code when prompted.
After verification, WhatsApp will ask if you want to restore your chat history. Tap Restore Chat History. It will connect to Google Drive using the account you selected during backup on Android. If you're not signed into that Google account on iPhone, you'll be prompted to sign in. Once WhatsApp finds your backup, it will show you the backup date and size. Tap Restore and wait — this can take several minutes depending on how much data you're restoring.
What transfers and what doesn't
Your backup includes all text messages, group chats, photos, videos, voice messages, and document files you've shared. Your contact list transfers too, though WhatsApp rebuilds it from your phone's contacts, not from the backup itself. Media files (photos and videos) restore to your iPhone's Photos app and WhatsApp's media folder.
Call logs do not transfer — your iPhone will show no WhatsApp call history from before the transfer. Group admin status also doesn't carry over, so if you were an admin in a group, you'll need to be re-added as admin by someone else. Starred messages and message reactions (emoji responses) do transfer. Chat wallpapers and notification settings do not — you'll need to set those up again on iPhone.
Why the transfer might fail and how to fix it
The most common failure is using a different phone number on iPhone than you used on Android. WhatsApp accounts are tied to phone numbers, not email addresses. If you've changed numbers, you'll need to update your number in WhatsApp on Android before backing up, or you won't be able to restore on iPhone with the new number.
If Google Drive backup didn't actually complete on Android, the restore will fail silently — WhatsApp will open with no chats. Go back to Android, check the backup timestamp in Settings > Chats > Chat backup, and run the backup again if it's old or says "Never backed up". Another common issue is not being signed into the correct Google account on iPhone. When WhatsApp asks to restore, make sure you're signed into the same Google account you selected during backup.
If you see an error saying the backup is corrupted or can't be found, try signing out of your Google account on iPhone (Settings > [Your Name] > Google), then signing back in. This refreshes the connection to Google Drive. If the backup still won't restore after 10 minutes, delete WhatsApp from iPhone, restart your phone, and reinstall WhatsApp from the App Store — then try the restore again.
Keeping your Android phone after the transfer
After you restore on iPhone, your Android phone will still have WhatsApp installed with all your chats. You can keep using it, but WhatsApp will show a warning that your account is active on another device. If you sign into WhatsApp on Android again, it will deactivate on iPhone.
To avoid confusion, uninstall WhatsApp from Android after confirming the restore worked on iPhone. Your backup stays in Google Drive for 30 days by default, then Google deletes it automatically. If you want to delete it sooner, open Google Drive on any device, find the WhatsApp folder, and delete it manually. This doesn't affect your iPhone — the restore is already complete and stored locally on your phone.
Using WhatsApp Cloud Backup instead of Google Drive
WhatsApp also offers its own cloud backup service, separate from Google Drive. This method backs up to iCloud on iPhone and Google Drive on Android, but the backups are encrypted and WhatsApp controls them, not Google. To use this method on Android, go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup and look for WhatsApp Cloud Backup (this appears on some Android versions).
The WhatsApp Cloud Backup method is slower and less common than Google Drive backup, and it requires a paid WhatsApp Cloud subscription on some devices. For most people switching from Android to iPhone, the Google Drive method is simpler and free. Use WhatsApp Cloud Backup only if you specifically need WhatsApp's encryption or if your phone doesn't support Google Drive backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer WhatsApp without a Google account?
No. Google Drive backup requires a Google account, and it's the only way to move chats from Android to iPhone. If you don't have a Google account, create one before backing up. It takes two minutes and requires only an email address.
What if I don't have access to my old Android phone anymore?
If the backup was already sent to Google Drive before you lost the phone, you can still restore it on iPhone using the same Google account. If you never backed up, your chats are gone — they're stored only on the Android phone itself. For future transfers, always back up before switching phones.
Will my contacts transfer with WhatsApp?
WhatsApp doesn't transfer your contact list itself. Instead, it rebuilds your WhatsApp contacts from your iPhone's Contacts app. Before switching phones, make sure your contacts are synced to iCloud or your Google account so they appear on iPhone automatically.
Do I need to keep my old phone number?
Yes. WhatsApp ties your account to your phone number. If you change numbers, you must update it in WhatsApp on Android before backing up, or the restore will fail on iPhone. You can change your number in WhatsApp settings under Account > Change number.
How long does the restore take?
The restore usually takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many messages and photos you have. If you have 10 years of chat history with lots of media, it might take 30 minutes. Don't close WhatsApp or turn off your phone while it's restoring — wait until you see all your chats appear.