Transfer WhatsApp from one iPhone to another
Updated on Aug 20, 2026
Reading time ~4 minutes
Getting a new iPhone should be straightforward, but WhatsApp chats do not always carry over the way you expect, and you are left without a separate copy of that conversation history.
iMazing can help you transfer your chats by backing up WhatsApp data from your source iPhone, or from a backup of it, then restoring it to your new iPhone. This gives you a standalone copy of your conversation history on your computer, which you can keep as an archive or restore whenever you need it.
Here's how to transfer WhatsApp messages from one iPhone to another.
Back up WhatsApp data from the source device
Open Manage Apps
From the Device Overview, click Manage Apps in the Quick Actions panel on the right.
You can also access Manage Apps from the Device Screen sidebar, under Tools.
Back up the app data
Make sure the Device tab is selected. Scroll to find WhatsApp, select it, then click the 3 dots and choose Back Up App Data.
The Back Up App Data wizard opens and explains how the process works.
Choose a destination folder (your Desktop by default), then review the options. Back up the current app data (this will trigger a fresh backup of your device), or back up from the latest backup, if one exists.
Click Next and confirm. iMazing backs up WhatsApp data to a .imazingapp file. If you chose to back up current data, iMazing backs up your device first. The first backup can take a while.
Locate the exported file
When the operation is complete, iMazing displays a green checkmark. From the completion screen you can:
- Click Open at the bottom left. Unlike other datasets, the
.imazingappfile can't be opened directly from here: a dialog appears with guidance on the rest of the process. - Choose Quick Look to see the size and date of the file.
- Select Show in Finder (or Show in Explorer on Windows) to open the file's location on your computer.
Close the completion screen, then click Close in the device sidebar to return to the Home Screen.
Tip: You can also extract WhatsApp data from an existing iMazing backup. See the "Extract app data from a backup" section of our guide on How To Export, backup and transfer iOS Apps' Data and Settings.
Restore WhatsApp data to the target device
Select the target device
From the Home Screen, open the Devices section and select the target device you want to transfer your WhatsApp messages to.
Open Manage Apps
From the Device Overview, click Manage Apps in the Quick Actions panel on the right.
You can also access Manage Apps from the Device Screen sidebar, under Tools.
Make sure the Device tab is selected.
If WhatsApp is installed on the target device, select it and click Uninstall. To restore app data, iMazing needs to reinstall the app along with its data, so WhatsApp cannot already be present on the device.
Restore the app data
In the bottom toolbar, click the 3 dots next to Uninstall, then choose Restore App Data.
The Restore App Data wizard opens. Click Choose, pick the WhatsApp.imazingapp file you exported from the source device, then click Continue to start transferring your WhatsApp data.
Tip: If Find My is active on the target device, iMazing warns you to turn it off temporarily. On the device, go to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone. You may also need to turn off Stolen Device Protection first, in Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
Sign in and complete the Setup Assistant
Because WhatsApp is not installed on the target device, iMazing asks you to sign into the App Store so it can download the app. Enter your Apple Account password, then click Sign In.
Downloading the app may take a while, depending on your bandwidth and the size of the app. iMazing also restarts your iPhone or iPad. After the restart:
- Your device displays the Setup Assistant. Go through the steps normally.
- At the Apps & Data step, choose Don't Transfer Apps & Data.
- Complete the remaining steps and enter your device passcode.
WhatsApp is ready to use with your restored chats.
Transfer all your data to a new phone
To move everything, not only WhatsApp, use iMazing's Transfer to Another Device feature. It transfers all your app data and settings at once, which is the better option when you have data in several apps to move.
Learn how to do this in our guide on Transfer data from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to another device.
Alternative method: You can also back up and restore WhatsApp data from the Apps data view. Select your device, go to Data > Apps, select WhatsApp, then use Copy to Mac (or Copy to PC) to back up, and Copy to Device to restore.