WhatsApp to Let Users Transfer Chats to Another iPhone Without Using iCloud

[MacRumors]

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to transfer their chat history to another iPhone without using iCloud.

Currently, WhatsApp only lets iPhone users migrate their chat history and media to ‌‌another iPhone if they have created a Chat Backup which is uploaded to iCloud.

With the new feature, called "Transfer Chats to iPhone," users need only download WhatsApp on their new phone, register with the same number, and then use their old iPhone to scan a QR code shown on the new device to automatically transfer their chat history.

As noted by WaBetaInfo, the new built-in service offers a significant advantage to users limited to iCloud's 5GB of free storage who do not have the space available to back up their chat history on Apple's servers.

• How to End-to-End Encrypt Your WhatsApp Chat Backups in iCloud

The new chat transfer feature is currently available to some beta testers who have installed the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app. It is expected to roll out to even more people over the coming days, but it's not clear when the feature will appear for regular WhatsApp users.

News of the feature in testing follows parent company Meta's announcement last week that it is rolling out multi-device login support for more than one phone. The change means users will be able to log into the same WhatsApp account on up to four phones, instead of being limited to just one phone and multiple desktop devices.

With the new feature, said to be rolling out to all users within the coming weeks, users' messages will be synced across multiple devices including other phones. So even if one device is switched off, they can access the app on other devices.

Article Link: WhatsApp to Let Users Transfer Chats to Another iPhone Without Using iCloud

 

[DarkPremiumCho]

It's surprising that WhatsApp didn't offer cloud syncing for its users, considering it's a product of such a large company. I thought prominent players in this field offer cloud syncing just like Telegram.

 

[kiranmk2]

Great stuff...where's that iPad app?

 

[mystery hill]

It's surprising that WhatsApp didn't offer cloud syncing for its users, considering it's a product of such a large company. I thought prominent players in this field offer cloud syncing just like Telegram.

WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption for all chats.

Telegram only offer end-to-end encryption for ‘Secret Chats’ which don’t have cloud sync.

End-to-End Encryption FAQ

While checking the results of a recent quiz on how End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) works on Telegram, I noticed that not everyone…

tsf.telegram.org

 

[polyphenol]

Will this undermine the "lost" or damaged phone excuses for UK government members failing to produce historic WhatsApp chats for investigation?

 

[mystery hill]

Will this undermine the "lost" or damaged phone excuses for UK government members failing to produce historic WhatsApp chats for investigation?

The lost or damaged phone excuse isn’t very convincing, since it’s already been possible to do end-to-end encrypted backups for WhatsApp to iCloud.

 

[VampyricGentleman]

Great stuff...where's that iPad app?

I second that and a native Apple Watch app would be good

 

[mystery hill]

I second that and a native Apple Watch app would be good

I third that.

 

[iSayuSay]

I second that and a native Apple Watch app would be good

The Watch app was there for a while. It seems only a few uses it because the default notification is enough to reply a basic Whatsapp message.

 

[d5aqoëp]

I second that and a native Apple Watch app would be good

I want EarPods Pro native WhatsApp

 

[mystery hill]

The Watch app was there for a while. It seems only a few uses it because the default notification is enough to reply a basic Whatsapp message.

A watch app would let you answer and make calls.

 

[and 1989 others]

I'm good with iMessage thanks

 

[jasonsmith_88]

So will we finally be able to use WhatsApp with multiple phone numbers as well? Or are they just going to continue ignoring the fact that many people live between multiple countries?

I’m getting real sick and tired of phone numbers. Why are we still using such an outdated, unportable, and insecure mode of communication when email, which is globally accessible, unique, and secure, has existed for over 50 years?

 

[ralpa]

I only need one iPhone and one iPad multi log in and it just takes forever

 

[Skyscraperfan]

People should move away from WhatsApp. The only advantage of WhatsApp is that it has the largest number of users, but basically every alternative gives people more privacy. Try Signal, Threema, Telegram, Teleguard or whatever.

 

[VampyricGentleman]

A watch app would let you answer and make calls.

I get a lot of calls from friends abroad via WhatsApp because who wants to pay the earth for a phone call. The result would be that I wouldn’t need to carry my phone everywhere in case they call.

 

[MuppetGate]

Great stuff...where's that iPad app?

If they supported iPads then they couldn’t demand that you give them your phone number.

 

[4odomi]

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to transfer their chat history to another iPhone without using iCloud.

Currently, WhatsApp only lets iPhone users migrate their chat history and media to ‌‌another iPhone if they have created a Chat Backup which is uploaded to iCloud.

With the new feature, called "Transfer Chats to iPhone," users need only download WhatsApp on their new phone, register with the same number, and then use their old iPhone to scan a QR code shown on the new device to automatically transfer their chat history.

As noted by WaBetaInfo, the new built-in service offers a significant advantage to users limited to iCloud's 5GB of free storage who do not have the space available to back up their chat history on Apple's servers.

• How to End-to-End Encrypt Your WhatsApp Chat Backups in iCloud

The new chat transfer feature is currently available to some beta testers who have installed the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app. It is expected to roll out to even more people over the coming days, but it's not clear when the feature will appear for regular WhatsApp users.

News of the feature in testing follows parent company Meta's announcement last week that it is rolling out multi-device login support for more than one phone. The change means users will be able to log into the same WhatsApp account on up to four phones, instead of being limited to just one phone and multiple desktop devices.

With the new feature, said to be rolling out to all users within the coming weeks, users' messages will be synced across multiple devices including other phones. So even if one device is switched off, they can access the app on other devices.

Article Link: WhatsApp to Let Users Transfer Chats to Another iPhone Without Using iCloud

Good news for multiple phone owners, as far as the syncing phone to phone, neither here nor there for most iPhone users, who use iCloud as back up

 

[4odomi]

The Watch app was there for a while. It seems only a few uses it because the default notification is enough to reply a basic Whatsapp message.

The watch app is a third party app and not very good, the default notifications nor the third party app will not show attachments, only text, which a the real problem using WhatsApp on the watch 😏

 

[Mity]

Why not allow choosing a storage service like Google Drive, DropBox, OneDrive, iCloud, etc.?

 

[svish]

Good to see this. Will be great if it supports backup to other cloud services.

 

[Dracarris]

Does anyone know what happens if the new phone already has some Whatsapp data on it from an icloud backup (device backup, not the builtin one?). Will it overwrite this data or merge them together?