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WhatsApp to soon allow transfer of chat history from iOS to Android

The report said that one of the bigger shortcomings of WhatsApp is that users can only access their messages on one smartphone at a time.

WhatsApp to soon allow transfer of chat history from iOS to Android

Photo: IANS

Facebook-owned WhatsApp is developing a way for its users to transfer their chat histories from iOS to Android, the media reported.

According to 9To5Google, Google’s ‘Data Transfer Tool’, the standard tool for copying files from one Android to another or from iOS to Android, is preparing to offer a way to copy your WhatsApp chats from your iPhone.

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The report said that one of the bigger shortcomings of WhatsApp is that users can only access their messages on one smartphone at a time.

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Even with the recently launched multi-device beta, which allows the WhatsApp web and desktop apps to work while your phone is offline, the one-smartphone limitation is still in place.

This, unfortunately, means there’s no easy way to move your chats from one device to another if they’re not both Android or both iOS, the report said.

Android has a built-in device-to-device transfer app called “Data Restore Tool,” which is used by the Android setup wizard to copy photos, apps, and files from one phone to another, including from iOS.

With its recent launch to the Play Store, the Data Restore Tool received an update to version 1.0.382048734, which includes preparation for copying your WhatsApp chats and history from an iPhone to an Android phone.

The option to transfer WhatsApp chats from iOS to Android likely won’t appear in the Data Restore Tool until WhatsApp properly launches the new migration settings.

As per the cited source, the Data Restore Tool app will display a QR code which one will be required to scan on the iPhone to begin the chat migration process. Additionally, for this, you will also have to “Keep your iPhone unlocked and WhatsApp open.”

Users can also manually do the chat migration by opening WhatsApp on the iPhone and then visiting the Settings section > Chats > Move Chats to Android. As mentioned above, you will have to keep your iPhone and WhatsApp open until the process is completed.

Now that this feature has been spotted, it seems that WhatsApp will soon launch cross-platform support for Android and iOS devices. As of now, Google has not confirmed the WhatsApp cross-platform chat transfer feature.

WhatsApp is also releasing the multi-device beta program for some beta testers of the app.

With the new feature, users can use WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp Desktop, and Portal without an Internet connection on the main phone.

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