You can transfer your WhatsApp data to a new phone by restoring from Google Drive or a local backup.
Restore from a Google Drive backup
In order to successfully restore a Google Drive backup, you need to use the same phone number and Google account used to create the backup.
To restore your backup:
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Open WhatsApp and verify your number.
- When prompted, tap RESTORE to restore your chats and media from Google Drive.
- After the restoration process is complete, tap NEXT. Your chats will be displayed once initialization is complete.
- WhatsApp will begin restoring your media files after your chats are restored.
Note: If you install WhatsApp without any prior backups from Google Drive, WhatsApp will automatically restore from your local backup file.
Restore from a local backup
If you want to use a local backup, you’ll need to transfer the files to the new phone using a computer, file explorer or SD Card.
- Your phone will store up to the last seven days worth of local backup files.
- Local backups will be automatically created every day at 2:00 AM and saved as a file in your phone.
- If your data isn’t stored in the /sdcard/WhatsApp/ folder, you might see “internal storage” or “main storage” folders.
Restore a less recent local backup
If you want to restore a local backup that isn’t the most recent one, you’ll need to do the following:
- Download a file manager app.
- In the file manager app, navigate to sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. If your data isn’t stored on the SD card, you might see “internal storage” or “main storage” instead of sdcard.
- Rename the backup file you want to restore from msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12 to msgstore.db.crypt12. It’s possible that an earlier backup might be on an earlier protocol, such as crypt9 or crypt10. Don’t change the number of the crypt extension.
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp.
- Tap RESTORE when prompted.
How to archive chats
The Archive Chat feature allows you to hide a conversation from your Chats screen and access it later, if needed. You can archive groups or individual chats to better organize your conversations.
Note: Using Archive Chat doesn’t delete the chat or back it up to your SD card.
To archive a chat
- In the Chats screen, tap and hold the chat you wish to hide.
- On the top bar, tap Archive .
The chat is now archived and won’t appear on your Chats screen.
To unarchive a chat
- Scroll to the bottom of the Chats screen and tap Archived.
- Tap and hold the chat that you wish to unarchive.
- On the top bar, tap Unarchive .
To archive all chats
- In the Chats screen, tap More options > Settings.
- Tap Chats > Chat history > Archive all chats .
Archived chats will also reappear when you receive a new message from that conversation.