Having your WhatsApp chats stored in the cloud is a handy feature but backups can sometimes be a big as three or more gigabytes, depending on how long you've been using the messaging app and if you are saving photos and videos. That's a lot of data to download when you are switching devices, especially if you've got a slow WiFi connection. Luckily, WhatsApp has just introduced a new way to transfer your chats to your new handset where you can scan a QR code on the new device to initiate the switchover, with no need for a cloud backup. With the added bonus of the transfer completing in a much shorter time than when using the cloud backup.
WhatsApp says that the transfer is encrypted on both ends and that no data is shared to the cloud during the process. The two main requirements are that the devices need to be connected to the very same WiFi network and that they are both running on the same platform – Android to Android or iPhone to iPhone.
Once both devices are connected to the same WiFi network you just need to follow these simple instructions:
- Download WhatsApp on your new handset
- Register with the same phone number
Once the QR code appears on the new phone
- Open up WhatsApp on the old device
- Head over to Settings>Chats>Chat Transfer
- Tap Start and use the viewfinder to scan the QR code showing on the new handset
- Accept the prompt to accept the connection
- Stay on the screen on both devices until the transfer is complet
And that's pretty much it. If you are running the WhatsApp beta on your handset the feature should already be available otherwise it's set to roll out to the stable channel in the coming weeks.
