The full functionality of transferring chat history between Android and iOS was finally made official by WhatsApp today. Chat history has been transferred between ecosystems only through third-party tools, but they are usually not free and are hard to use.
Currently, only the Android to iPhone method is available on WhatsApp’s support site, and you’ll need to use the Move to iOS tool on Android to accomplish this. Both sending and receiving devices must also be running the latest version of WhatsApp. You must also keep your old phone number or change it before transferring. A factory reset or new iPhone must also be received.
Based on the steps indicated in the instructions, WhatsApp has worked with Apple to piggyback its Move to iOS app to make a successful transfer of WhatsApp data to a phone on iOS. As per the support page, you’ll be able to transfer account information, profile photo, individual and group chats, chat history, chat media, and WhatsApp settings. You won’t be able to transfer WhatsApp call history or peer-to-peer payment messages.
It has long been a pain point for users switching between Android and iOS to not be able to bring their WhatsApp conversations with them. The WhatsApp messaging app can only be accessed from a single smartphone device and a single number, unlike many messaging apps. The ability to access, send, and receive messages from linked devices was only recently enabled by WhatsApp.
