How to Transfer WhatsApp from iPhone to Samsung in 2026

Switched from iPhone to Samsung? Here’s how to transfer all your WhatsApp data

Migrating from iPhone to Android has never been exactly simple, and WhatsApp is almost always the biggest concern. Chat history, photos, audio files, favorite stickers, family groups — all of it is trapped in a backup that, by default, iPhone stores in iCloud and Android stores in Google Drive. Two different ecosystems, zero native compatibility until just a few years ago.

The good news is that in 2026, you have at least three viable paths to make this transfer without losing your history. The best path depends on your Samsung model, the version of WhatsApp installed, and how much time you want to spend on the process. This tutorial covers all three methods in order from most recommended to most labor-intensive, with the requirements for each described before the steps.

What you need before you start

Regardless of which method you choose, some points need to be resolved beforehand:

WhatsApp updated on both devices (latest version available in the App Store and Google Play Store in 2026)
The phone number used on iPhone must be the same one you’ll activate on Samsung
Battery above 50% on both devices throughout the entire process
Stable Wi-Fi connection (large transfers can freeze on slow or unstable networks)
On Samsung: device with Android 10 or higher (all Galaxy devices launched from 2021 onwards meet this requirement)
iPhone with iOS 15.1 or higher to use the official cable method

If your Samsung is an older model purchased in Brazil, confirm the Android version in Settings > About phone. Devices homologated by Anatel and sold by official distributors in the country receive updates through the same channel as international versions, but the timeline may vary by a few days.

Method 1: Direct cable transfer (official and recommended)

This is the method that Meta itself began officially supporting from 2024 onwards, and by 2026 it already works quite stably. It uses a physical connection between iPhone and Samsung via a USB-C to Lightning adapter (or USB-C to USB-C, depending on the iPhone model). The transfer happens directly between the two devices, without passing through the cloud.

Specific requirements:

Samsung Galaxy with Android 12 or higher (most models sold in Brazil from 2022 onwards qualify)
iPhone with iOS 15.1 or higher
USB-C to Lightning adapter (if your iPhone is earlier than iPhone 15) or USB-C to USB-C cable (iPhone 15 onwards)
Samsung Smart Switch installed on iPhone (available on the App Store)

Step by step

Install Samsung Smart Switch on your iPhone from the App Store.
On Samsung, open the Smart Switch app (pre-installed on most Galaxy devices; if not, download from Galaxy Store).
Connect the two devices with the adapter cable.
On Samsung, tap “Receive data” and select “iPhone/iPad”.
On iPhone, authorize the connection when Smart Switch requests it.
On the content selection screen, check “Apps” and make sure WhatsApp is in the list.
Smart Switch will ask if you want to include WhatsApp data — confirm.
Wait for the transfer. Time varies depending on history size; chats with many videos may take over 20 minutes.
When Smart Switch indicates it’s finished, don’t open WhatsApp on iPhone. Open it directly on Samsung and log in with your number.
WhatsApp will detect the local backup and ask if you want to restore. Confirm and wait.

This method transfers messages, photos, videos, and audio from chats. Calls and some internal app settings may not be transferred — this is a documented limitation by WhatsApp itself.

Method 2: Local backup via Google Drive (no cable)

If you don’t have the adapter cable on hand or want to do the transfer asynchronously (save first, then restore later), the way is to export your iPhone backup to Google Drive and restore it on Samsung.

Specific requirements:

Google account with sufficient Drive space for your backup size (check in Settings > Storage and usage, within WhatsApp on iPhone)
WhatsApp on iPhone with permission to access Google Drive

Step by step

On iPhone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
Tap “Back Up Now” and select Google Drive as the destination.
Enter your Google account and wait for the backup to complete. Time depends on size and Wi-Fi speed.
On Samsung, install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.
Open the app, enter your number, and verify the code received via SMS.
WhatsApp will automatically detect the backup on Google Drive linked to your account.
Tap “Restore” and wait.

This method is slower and depends on good connection at both times (backup and restore). On networks with instability, the backup may be interrupted and need to restart from scratch. For very large histories — over 5 GB, for example — the cable method tends to be more reliable.

Method 3: Third-party apps (for specific cases)

There are apps like Dr.Fone, iMobie PhoneTrans, and similar ones that promise to transfer WhatsApp between different operating systems. They usually require a computer as an intermediary and work by creating an iPhone backup via iTunes (or Finder on recent macOS) and extracting WhatsApp data from that backup.

This method can be useful if the two previous ones fail for some reason — for example, if your iPhone is too old and doesn’t support the Smart Switch version, or if you don’t have a Google account.

The important caveat: these apps are paid (prices vary widely, check the official site for each one before buying) and transfer quality depends on the app version and recent WhatsApp updates. Since WhatsApp changes its file structure frequently, it’s possible that an outdated version of third-party software won’t work correctly. Research recent 2026 reviews before paying.

For those who just want to transfer WhatsApp and have no special needs, methods 1 and 2 solve the issue at no additional cost.

Common problems and how to fix them

Smart Switch can’t find WhatsApp data

This usually happens when WhatsApp on iPhone doesn’t have full storage access permission. Go to iPhone Settings > Privacy and Security > Photos and check if WhatsApp has access to “All Photos”. Then, repeat the process.

Google Drive backup gets stuck or takes too long

Check if your Wi-Fi connection is stable and if there’s enough space in Drive. Remember: Google offers 15 GB free, shared between Gmail, Drive, and Photos. If your WhatsApp backup is larger than available space, you’ll need to free up space or subscribe to Google One.

WhatsApp on Samsung doesn’t recognize the backup

Confirm you’re logging in with the same phone number and same Google account used in the backup. If you have more than one Google account on the device, make sure the correct account is selected as primary.

Photos and videos don’t appear after restore

In some cases, media needs a few minutes to be indexed after restore. Wait, close, and reopen WhatsApp. If they still don’t appear, check the app’s storage permissions in Android settings.

Number is not verified on Samsung

If you’re temporarily using a different physical SIM, make sure you have access to the original number to receive the verification SMS. WhatsApp allows call verification as an alternative if SMS doesn’t arrive.

Frequently asked questions about transferring WhatsApp between iPhone and Samsung

Will I lose my messages if I do the transfer wrong?

If you follow the steps in the correct order and don’t activate WhatsApp on Samsung before completing the transfer, the risk is low. The most critical point is: don’t deactivate WhatsApp on iPhone before confirming that restoration on Samsung completed successfully. While the number isn’t activated on another device, messages remain accessible on iPhone.

Does the transfer work for groups and stickers?

Groups and group messages are transferred normally by methods 1 and 2. Third-party created stickers depend on the original pack — if the pack is still available, they appear; if not, some may be missing. Stickers you created through WhatsApp itself tend to be maintained.

Do I need a specific Samsung Galaxy to use Smart Switch with cable?

Smart Switch works on the vast majority of Samsung devices launched after 2020. Galaxy S line models, Galaxy A (from A32 onwards), and Galaxy M sold in Brazil in 2026 are compatible. For older models or specific versions, consult the official Samsung Smart Switch page.

Can I transfer WhatsApp Business using the same method?

Yes, the process is basically the same. WhatsApp Business has its own backup, separate from personal WhatsApp. If you use both on iPhone, you’ll need to transfer each one separately, following the same steps.

What to do after the transfer

With WhatsApp running on Samsung, it’s worth doing some quick checks: confirm that the most important conversations are complete, test sending and receiving messages in at least one group and in a personal chat, and check if notifications are configured correctly in Android permissions.

Then, set up automatic backup on your new device. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and choose the frequency (daily is recommended for frequent users). This ensures that the next time you switch devices, the process will be even simpler.

If you’re taking advantage of the migration to better organize your daily routine with your new Galaxy, it might be a good time to explore other useful integrations. Those who use smart home devices, for example, can find a complete guide on how to connect Tuya Smart Life with Alexa step by step useful for setting everything up in the Android ecosystem without hassle.

The switch from iPhone to Samsung became much less traumatic than it was a few years ago. With the methods available in 2026, losing your WhatsApp history is unlikely as long as you follow the correct sequence — and now you have this roadmap in your hands.