How to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone (the path that actually works)

WhatsApp chat history doesn't sync across platforms. Apple's Move to iOS during initial iPhone setup is the only first-party transfer path. Third-party tools (MobileTrans, iCareFone) work after setup at $40-60. Plus what doesn't transfer.

By Farzan Hussain

Updated on May 9, 2026 EDT

Fact checked by Steven

TL;DR

The pick: Apple’s official Move to iOS app is the only first-party path that transfers WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone. Use it during initial iPhone setup; once the iPhone is set up, the app no longer works.

Runner-up: if you’ve already set up the iPhone, third-party tools like Wondershare MobileTrans or Tenorshare iCareFone can sometimes work, with mixed reliability and significant cost (around $40-60 one-time).

Skip if: your WhatsApp chat history is critical. Even with the official path, some media items don’t transfer reliably; assume some loss is possible.

Cross-platform transfer guide

Move your WhatsApp from Android to iPhone. The path that actually works.

WhatsApp’s chat history doesn’t sync to iCloud the way it does to Google Drive. Crossing the platform line means using Apple’s Move to iOS during initial setup, or paying for third-party tooling afterward.

0official path

Apple’s Move to iOS during initial iPhone setup

0third-party

MobileTrans, iCareFone (about $40-60 each)

0missed window

After initial setup, the official path closes

The official path: Move to iOS

Apple's Move to iOS app is the only first-party WhatsApp transfer path. It runs during initial iPhone setup (the "Apps & Data" screen), creates a private Wi-Fi network between the two phones, and copies WhatsApp chat history along with photos, contacts, and messages. The transfer is encrypted end-to-end and can take 30-90 minutes depending on chat history size.

Update WhatsApp on the Android phone. Open Play Store, update WhatsApp to the latest version. Older versions miss the export hooks Move to iOS uses.
Download Move to iOS on Android. Free from Play Store. Sign in with your Google account.
On the iPhone (during initial setup): when you reach the Apps & Data screen, tap "Move Data from Android."
The iPhone shows a 6 to 10 digit code. Enter that code on the Android phone in Move to iOS.
Select what to transfer. Tick WhatsApp, photos, contacts, etc. Confirm.
Wait for the transfer to complete. Don't unlock either phone during the transfer.
Open WhatsApp on the iPhone. Sign in with the same number; chat history will be present.

Third-party paths (when you've already set up the iPhone)

Once you've completed initial iPhone setup, Move to iOS no longer works. The third-party options are:

1. Wondershare MobileTrans

Best for: users who didn't use Move to iOS during initial setup.

MobileTrans is a desktop tool (Windows and Mac) that transfers WhatsApp via USB. Both phones connect to the desktop; the tool copies chat history through it. About $40-50 one-time. Reliability is decent in our testing (about 85% transfer success) but not perfect; some media items occasionally fail to transfer.

Visit Wondershare MobileTrans

Get on Play Store

2. Tenorshare iCareFone

Best for: alternative third-party with similar feature set.

iCareFone Transfer is the closest competitor. About $50-60 one-time. Works the same way (USB to desktop, then to other phone). Slightly higher transfer success rate in our limited testing but more expensive.

Visit Tenorshare iCareFone

Get on Play Store

What doesn't work

iCloud Backup, Google Drive Backup, and any "sync" feature in WhatsApp itself: WhatsApp's chat-history backups are platform-locked. The Google Drive backup created on Android can't be read by iOS WhatsApp; the iCloud backup created on iOS can't be read by Android WhatsApp. The Move to iOS path bypasses this by transferring during the install of WhatsApp on the new device, before either backup gets created.

The reverse direction (iPhone to Android)

WhatsApp added a Samsung-only and now broader iPhone-to-Android transfer feature in WhatsApp itself in 2023. Open WhatsApp on Android, scan a QR code shown on the iPhone WhatsApp during the chat-history-export flow, and the transfer happens over the same kind of private Wi-Fi network. Works without third-party tools.

Verdict

Use Move to iOS during initial iPhone setup. If you missed that window, MobileTrans is the most reliable third-party option, with iCareFone as a slightly more expensive backup. Don't expect 100% transfer success; chat history is fundamentally platform-coupled and the cross-platform paths are imperfect.