According to reports, WhatsApp is developing a way to let you transfer your chat history between operating systems and phone numbers.
Until now, WhatsApp has allowed users to transfer backed-up messages only between devices running the same operating system.
Now, according to reports from WABetaInfo and 9to5Google, WhatsApp is working on a way to allow users to transfer chat histories from iOS to Android.
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The feature has been appearing as in-development since April this year, and now screenshots shared by WABetaInfo show a new “Move chats to Android” option in the WhatsApp app on iOS. The screenshots also show a prompt for users to keep their iPhone unlocked with WhatsApp open while the transfer is taking place.
It was also reported that the transfer would be possible from Android to iOS as well, but so far, most of the evidence points only to an iOS to Android transfer option for the time being.
https://twitter.com/WABetaInfo/status/1420313526757957636
In addition, XDA Developers reports that WhatsApp’s new transfer tool could form part of the new “Switch to Android” iOS app, which is under development by Google, which makes it easier to migrate to Google’s operating system.
Apple has previously offered a “Move to iOS” app to help users migrate from Android to iOS. XDA Developers interpreted code in the Google app which suggests it might integrate with WhatsApp’s unreleased transfer tool.
Furthermore, it has also been reported that WhatsApp is even developing a way to transfer chat histories, not only between devices and operating systems but also between different phone numbers.
Currently, WhatsApp is beta testing multi-device support, a feature that will allow users to access their conversations from multiple devices, independently from having a main phone close.
However, it is not yet clear when the messaging service will announce the release of these new features, nor how it will intend to roll them out and make them widely available.