topic Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import in Mobile Apps & Services

Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Members_VCc7Va1 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:45:28 GMT

Hi I'm hoping someone might be able to help after trying to troubleshoot this for 3 days now, it has been a nightmare.

I'm using Smartswitch and a Cable to transfer my Whatsapp from an iphone 13 to Samsung Z Flip 6.

It seems to copy everything across to the Samsung, then it gets to "Importing Chats" (in Whatsapp) on the Samsung. This seems to fail at 92% every time.

Even though it fails, it puts me in Whatsapp on the Samsung, asks me to put in my name, then takes me into my chats. In there all I see are my Group chats (with no chat history, just empty) but none of my individual chats, they have all been lost.

The Samsung was factory reset before starting this process.

I've done it several times, one of the times I even installed Smartswitch on the iphone as well and tried it again, same problem.

I cant get any support from either Samsung or Whatsapp.

If anyone can help that would be greatly appreciated, also if anyone has used any of the paid for apps to do this, I would love a recommendation. I am happy to pay for it but I would prefer something that doesn't back p to the cloud, that just transfers the data between the two phones offline as I dont want all my data going to some random server.

Thank you in advance!

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

AndrewL — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:10:46 GMT

@Members_VCc7Va1: WhatsApp has its own dedicated backup/restore process, therefore I recommend exploring your options here, rather than transferring the dat via Smart Switch.

With this in mind, on your iPhone, please open WhatsApp > Tap the 3 dots in the top right > Settings > Chats > Scroll to the bottom of the menu > Chat backup, then follow the on-screen prompts.

Once you're happy that the backup has completed successfully, uninstall/reinstall WhatsApp on your Z Flip6, and you should be prompted to restore the backup at the setup stage.

There is also a 'Transfer chats' option in WhatsApp > Settings > Chats, however I'm unsure if this is possible for iOS to Android. Let me know how you get on.

EDIT: If the steps above don't work, please follow the steps via the WhatsApp support page below.

https://faq.whatsapp.com/1295296267926284

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

GusB — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:08:00 GMT

Just posted on your other thread of the same, but try cloud saves onto Google drive to back up / import

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Members_VCc7Va1 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:58:23 GMT

Hi Andrew, thanks so much for the reply.

A few things:

"With this in mind, on your iPhone, please open WhatsApp > Tap the 3 dots in the top right > Settings > Chats > Scroll to the bottom of the menu > Chat backup, then follow the on-screen prompts"

-These exact menu options dont exist on iphone so I assume youre looking at Android?

If the point of this step is just to make sure I have a backup then I do, I have done one with icloud, backed up the whole app which is data and chats (not actually in Whatsapp itself as strangely enough it doesnt give me the option as it says "icloud not connected" when it is)

"Once you're happy that the backup has completed successfully, uninstall/reinstall WhatsApp on your Z Flip6, and you should be prompted to restore the backup at the setup stage."

-Im confused as where is whatsapp going to get the data from to restore? Unless you're suggesting that the phones are connected via the cable at this point?

"There is also a 'Transfer chats' option in WhatsApp > Settings > Chats, however I'm unsure if this is possible for iOS to Android. Let me know how you get on."

-In iphone there is a "Transfer chats to Android" option, this is the option that I use when doing with Smartswitch via a cable.

Apologies if I have misunderstood anything, appreciate your help....

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Members_VCc7Va1 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:59:56 GMT

Thanks for the reply, I don't see your comment on the other post?

You can't backup to Google on the iphone - thats the problem, you can only backup to icloud. And then of course you cant restore from icloud on the Android, only from Google.

Is that what you are suggesting?

Re: Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

GusB — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:53:25 GMT

Ah...yes...

Re: Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Funmi83 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:26:06 GMT

Can I ask what the storage size of the iPhone and Flip 6 is?

From my past experience, if the storage size of the flip 6 is lesser than the iPhone, transfer will be unsuccessful via smart switch.

Re: Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Members_VCc7Va1 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:56:38 GMT

Hi,

Flip 6 Total Size 256GB / Free space 212GB

iPhone 13 Total Size 256GB / Free space 136GB

Re: Re: Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Funmi83 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:03:10 GMT

Hmm, I see no problem with these storage sizes. Alternatively, have you used the move chats to android option on your iPhone? I have used it befores, it requires a strong WiFi connection .

Re: Re: Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Members_VCc7Va1 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:27:16 GMT

I did try that (with a cable) but wasnt quite sure how to use it, didn't seem to do anything.

What steps did you follow whenn you used it?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Funmi83 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:47:10 GMT

https://faq.whatsapp.com/1066696467238362/?helpref=uf_share

I hope this is useful

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

Moiramon — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 20:10:51 GMT

Unfortunately smartswitch doesn't backup WhatsApp chats. The other problem is that WhatsApp on IOS back's up chats to iCloud and WhatsApp on android back's up to Google drive.

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

EtienneVR — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 16:32:45 GMT

So...I have been stuck with this very same issue...at this point I want to give the Samsung device back as it is not allowing my WhatsApp to successfully import....I need it for record purposes, I am using Smart Switch initiated from the target Samsung device and for all purposes the ~1.5 hours feels like it is transferring the data, even though when I check the Samsung storage size I cannot see where the 1.5 hours is being spent on doing what with the "small" space now supposedly being consumed by my WhatsApp transfer...

I have purchased a third-party transfer tool...and it is just as "useless"...my next check / test it to another android device to see what will happen....if this works then the issue must be with the Samsung phone and WhatsApp.

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

JenArmy — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:32:14 GMT

Hi there,

im just wondering if you managed to get it right? I am struggling with the same issue and have tried so many times! I thought the latest iOS update would help… but alas… and all my apps are the latest version (have deleted and reinstalled etc etc)

Ive tried only copying whatsapp and not the whole phone.. I’ve tried the smart switch way.. (numerous times), I’ve tried setting up the Samsung, installing whatsapp and trying the move to android function…

I’ve tried moving my iPhone back up to a new iPhone first… I’ve tried using a different Samsung device (s23 ultra - factory reset every time..)

I honestly feel like I’ve tried every possible method and I am not winning 🤯 I also NEED all my chats 😣 and I’m beyond frustrated ….

I keep hoping it’s a bug that gets fixed… but I’ve been trying since I got my S25 ultra in January… and I don’t know where the problem lies?? Samsung? IPhone? Whatsapp? I’ve reached out to whatsapp with no response…

So I guess I’m just wondering if you managed to get it to work???

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

EtienneVR — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:01:05 GMT

So...I never got SmartSwitch to work...I went to Samsung (online chat support), went to iPhone (physical tech support store) and spoke to some WhatsApp BOT (very useless)...all were pointing to each other as the issue (Samsung & Apple)...the WhatsApp BOT only reset my mobile device to re-register, and that was the extent of the support from them; I did take full prints of the chats with all of them (as proof), and NOTHING, not one could help.

I then made use of a 3rd party product to move my WhatsApp's over, this is the only way I managed, wasn't too expensive, but now I have a lifetime tool to make backups and switch whenever I want between iPhone or Android, within any part of them.

Hope this response helps, it sucks that Samsung could not even support their own tool....btw my WhatsApp is ~40GB big, so maybe there is a size issue / limitation, I did make an effort to read-up on this nor try it with a small WhatsApp repository.

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

JenArmy — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 22:03:39 GMT

Thanks so much !!! So glad you got it to work!! I’d be so keen to try your third party app then!!! Which one did you try? I mean I have nothing to hide on whatsapp.. no passwords or nefarious things… I just need the comms…. So I’m DEFO Happy to pay!! Honestly… I mean the price of the phone.. to just sit there.. it’s ridiculous!!
Was it pretty straight forward to use?

I had worried about the size of my whatsapp… but then again.. all these phones brag about their memory and speed etc etc so not sure why whatsapp transfer should be such a biggie?! Surely they could zip the file… and open on other end and wait for restore?!

I don’t know… I’m not a huge tech geek… but I’d definitely say I’m tech savvy….
I just wonder how many people have done this with no problem?? And why mine has been such a hack 😅😂

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

JenArmy — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 22:04:51 GMT

Sorry… and did your media transfer too? Or just the chats?

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

EtienneVR — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:16:16 GMT

Used Samsung SmartSwitch to do everything else except WhatsApp....make sure there is adequate space on the target device.

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

JenArmy — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:41:55 GMT

Thanks will do.. but which app did you use to get whatsapp across?

Re: Whatsapp transfer from iphone to Samsung failing to import

EtienneVR — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:56:01 GMT

MobileTrans