WHATSAPP appears to be working on a new feature that makes it easier to swap phones.
The new tool will let you quickly move your chats from an Android handset to an iPhone.
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Until very recently, ditching iPhone for Android or vice versa was very painful for WhatsApp users.
It almost always meant losing WhatsApp history, which isn’t ideal.
Then late last year, WhatsApp added the ability for iPhone owners to migrate their chats to Samsung phones – and then Google Pixel devices soon after.
So rather than having a fresh start on WhatsApp, you could move chats across.
Sadly, it still doesn’t work in reverse. If you’re switching from Android to iPhone, you lose your chats.
But WhatsApp sleuths at WABetaInfo have discovered a new importing tool.
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The feature was spotted in the new WhatsApp beta version 22.2.74 on iOS.
It means you can transfer Android WhatsApp history using the Move to iOS app.
You’ll need to keep your phone open and unlocked during the process, according to early photos of the feature.
Sadly, it’s not clear exactly when the general feature will roll out.
But you can find out how to sign up to the WhatsApp beta below if you want to test new features first.
Given that an iOS-to-Android migration already exists, the reverse shouldn’t take too long to land on all phones.
WhatsApp’s transfer feature works on voice notes, photos and conversations.
And the app even preserves end-to-end encryption throughout the process.
“Your WhatsApp messages belong to you,” said WhatsApp’s Sandepp Paruchuri.
“That’s why they are stored on your phone by default, and not accessible in the cloud like many other messaging services.
“We’re excited for the first time to make it easy for people to securely transfer their WhatsApp history from one operating system to another.
“This has been one of our most-requested features from users for years, and we worked together with operating systems and device manufacturers to solve it.”
How to get WhatsApp beta
To download WhatsApp beta for your smartphone you need to go to Google Play on your Android and search for WhatsApp.
Scroll down the page until you see “Become a Beta Tester”.
Tap the “I’m In” button and then click “Join” to confirm.
Now all you have to do is wait for the update to the beta version of the app.
Joining the WhatsApp beta on iPhone is more difficult, and has limited capacity.
Follow Apple’s guide here.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
