WhatsApp Rolling Out Ability to Transfer Chats Between iOS and Android

[MacRumors]

One of the biggest hurdles for customers looking to switch between Android and iOS is their inability to transfer their WhatsApp chats between the two different ecosystems. Now, that's coming to an end, as WhatsApp has officially announced that it will easily allow users to transfer their chats between Android and iOS.

As reported first by Engadget, WhatsApp used airtime during Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event to announce the new feature. WhatsApp tested the feature for the past few weeks and said it was difficult to implement due to "end-to-end encryption," requiring added assistance to make it work.

The feature will first arrive on Android devices, specifically Samsung smartphones, allowing users to initially transfer chats from iOS to Samsung smartphones. The transfer will include the chat itself, photos, videos, and voice memos, and should be available to Samsung users in the "coming weeks." WhatsApp has not said when the feature will arrive for a wider range of WhatsApp devices and on iOS.

Article Link: WhatsApp Rolling Out Ability to Transfer Chats Between iOS and Android

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

One of the biggest hurdles for customers looking to switch between Android and iOS is their inability to transfer their WhatsApp chats between the two different ecosystems. Now, that's coming to an end, as WhatsApp has officially announced that it will easily allow users to transfer their chats between Android and iOS.

As reported first by Engadget, WhatsApp used airtime during Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event to announce the new feature. WhatsApp tested the feature for the past few weeks and said it was difficult to implement due to "end-to-end encryption," requiring added assistance to make it work.

The feature will first arrive on Android devices, specifically Samsung smartphones, allowing users to initially transfer chats from iOS to Samsung smartphones. The transfer will include the chat itself, photos, videos, and voice memos, and should be available to Samsung users in the "coming weeks." WhatsApp has not said when the feature will arrive for a wider range of WhatsApp devices and on iOS.

Article Link: WhatsApp Rolling Out Ability to Transfer Chats Between iOS and Android

Ahhh! Making the transition very easy. I’m sure it will benefit both IOS and Android software.

 

[ian87w]

Whoa that's a long awaited feature. Hopefully it can go both ways (Android to iOS).

 

[zorinlynx]

I'm rolling my eyes so hard at WhatsApp getting features today to fix issues that Telegram never had because it had good multiple device support from the start. Not to mention WhatsApp has always done things in a clunky manner, such as the desktop app relaying everything through your phone. It's sad that it has such a large user base making it hard for people to move to something better.

 

[nouvejetzt]

I'm pretty sure they want us we transfer WhatsApp from iOS to Android hehe

 

[jav6454]

I wonder how they bypassed the E2E encryption dilema.

 

[yellow8]

Did this prevent someone here to make the switch to Androïd (or from Androïd)? I'm curious.

 

[diddl14]

Wonder how they will access the encrypted ICloud data on Samsung and who else can than access these backups..

 

[DreamyLucid]

Whoa that's a long awaited feature. Hopefully it can go both ways (Android to iOS).

It is both ways.

 

[DreamyLucid]

I wonder how they bypassed the E2E encryption dilema.

Probably decrypt with your phone number... That is assuming that Facebook actually has E2E for WhatsApp.

 

[jav6454]

Probably decrypt with your phone number... That is assuming that Facebook actually has E2E for WhatsApp.

Still, it means that conversation are not E2E because WhatsApp can decrypt a message using your phone number only.

 

[ian87w]

Wonder how they will access the encrypted ICloud data on Samsung and who else can than access these backups..

Looks like they don't. It's phone to phone transfer, not from iCloud, at least from the brief video.

 

[marmiteturkey]

…and how about an iPad app?

I HATE whatsapp.

 

[ian87w]

I'm rolling my eyes so hard at WhatsApp getting features today to fix issues that Telegram never had because it had good multiple device support from the start. Not to mention WhatsApp has always done things in a clunky manner, such as the desktop app relaying everything through your phone. It's sad that it has such a large user base making it hard for people to move to something better.

You do have to realize that not only Whatsapp was conceived earlier than Telegram (2009 vs 2013), Telegram doesn't do e2e encryption by default, only on secret chats.
As bad Facebook is, in this regard, I favor whatsapp vs Telegram.

 

[sliceX]

About 10 years too late.

 

[ian87w]

About 10 years too late.

But still better than never as whatsapp is de-facto messaging in many countries.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Could be good news for as in most countries, Android has a way bigger market share than iOS, and WhatsApp is ubiquitous. Might remove one of the major obstacles to switching to iOS.

 

[justperry]

It is both ways.

Currently it isn't:

"The feature will first arrive on Android devices, specifically Samsung smartphones, allowing users to initially transfer chats from iOS to Samsung smartphones. The transfer will include the chat itself, photos, videos, and voice memos, and should be available to Samsung users in the "coming weeks." WhatsApp has not said when the feature will arrive for a wider range of WhatsApp devices and on iOS.

 

[DreamyLucid]

Currently it isn't:

"The feature will first arrive on Android devices, specifically Samsung smartphones, allowing users to initially transfer chats from iOS to Samsung smartphones. The transfer will include the chat itself, photos, videos, and voice memos, and should be available to Samsung users in the "coming weeks." WhatsApp has not said when the feature will arrive for a wider range of WhatsApp devices and on iOS.

WhatsApp will let you transfer your chat history between Android and iOS

WhatsApp is introducing the ability to migrate your chat history between Android and iOS, starting with Samsung phones.

www.engadget.com

"but it'll eventually be available on both operating systems."

 

[alijahsimon]

That’s weird; I’ve been able to do this since 2014 with Telegram with zero effort thanks to its secure and encrypted cloud backups. WhatsApp still doesn’t do this? ?

 

[sunapple]

Oh. My. God. I tried transferring Whatsapp messages from my grandma’s old Motorola to her new iPhone using 3rd party software; it cost me three hours, €30, it didn’t work and all data was lost with no recovery possible.

Now they’re rolling this out. But it’s just for one specific kind of transfer and one brand. Great work guys!

 

[JronMasteR]

Took them long enough

 

[justperry]

WhatsApp will let you transfer your chat history between Android and iOS

WhatsApp is introducing the ability to migrate your chat history between Android and iOS, starting with Samsung phones.

www.engadget.com

"but it'll eventually be available on both operating systems."

You said "It is both ways", I said it isn't currently...that's a fact.

 

[ikir]

I'm rolling my eyes so hard at WhatsApp getting features today to fix issues that Telegram never had because it had good multiple device support from the start. Not to mention WhatsApp has always done things in a clunky manner, such as the desktop app relaying everything through your phone. It's sad that it has such a large user base making it hard for people to move to something better.

Telegram is cloud based, you don't need backup, you can have 100 devices using the same data without using your device space. Telegram is just perfect.

 

[ikir]

You do have to realize that not only Whatsapp was conceived earlier than Telegram (2009 vs 2013), Telegram doesn't do e2e encryption by default, only on secret chats.
As bad Facebook is, in this regard, I favor whatsapp vs Telegram.

Saying WhatsApp is better is a joke. In everything Telegram is far superior: cloud based, multi devices, no need for backup, better groups, better admins tools, much more faster, doesn't eat your device space and yes it is very very secure

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