How to restore old messages in WhatsApp on a new phone?

How to restore old messages in WhatsApp on a new phone - briefly?

To restore old messages in WhatsApp on a new phone, first ensure you have backed up your chats using Google Drive or iCloud. Then, during the setup process on your new device, log in with the same phone number and email address associated with your backup. This will allow you to seamlessly transfer your chat history from your old phone to your new one.

How to restore old messages in WhatsApp on a new phone - in detail?

To restore old messages in WhatsApp on a new phone, follow these detailed steps:

  1. Backup Your Data: Before switching phones, ensure you have the latest backup of your chats. On your old phone, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Tap on "Back Up" to create a new backup. This process saves your chat history, photos, and videos to Google Drive.
  2. Transfer Data Using Google Drive:

    • On Your Old Phone: Ensure you have a Google account set up. Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and tap on "Back Up" to create a new backup. You can choose the frequency of backups (daily, weekly, monthly).
    • On Your New Phone: During the setup process, you'll be prompted to restore your chat history from Google Drive. Enter the same phone number and Google account credentials used on your old phone.
    • WhatsApp will automatically detect the most recent backup and give you the option to restore it. Tap "Restore" to begin the process. The time it takes depends on the size of the backup and the speed of your internet connection.
  3. Manual Transfer (Without Google Drive): If you prefer not to use Google Drive, you can manually transfer your chat history using a local backup:

    • On Your Old Phone: Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap on "Back Up" to create a new backup. This will save the backup to your phone's internal storage or SD card.
    • Transfer Backup File: Transfer the backup file (named "msgstore.db.crypt12") from your old phone to your new phone using a file manager app, USB connection, or cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox.
    • On Your New Phone: Install WhatsApp and verify your phone number. When prompted to restore chat history, tap "Cancel" at the bottom of the screen. Then, go to your file manager and navigate to the folder where you saved the backup file. Long-press on the file and select "Restore".
  4. Complete the Restoration Process: After restoring from Google Drive or manually transferring the backup file, WhatsApp will begin loading your messages. This process may take some time depending on the size of your chat history. Once complete, you'll see a progress bar indicating that your media is being downloaded.
  5. Verify Restoration: To ensure all your messages have been restored, compare the timestamps of your oldest and newest messages with those from your old phone. You can also check for specific conversations or media files to confirm that nothing has been lost.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully restore your old WhatsApp messages on a new phone.