WhatsApp has announced that iPhone owners can now transfer messages, photos, and videos to certain Android smartphones in a bid to make it easier to switch between the platforms.
There are some notable limitations on this newfound freedom. WhatsApp said the data transfer is currently only available from an iPhone to a Samsung device running Android 10 or higher, for example, and it requires the smartphones to be connected using a USB-C to Lightning cable.
WhatsApp said the feature “will be available on more Android devices soon.” But this still appears to be a one-way transfer; the company doesn’t offer any guidance for Android smartphone owners looking to move their chat history to an iPhone using a similar process.
The company did hint at the possibility of this feature enabling data transfers in both directions. “This is just a start,” WhatsApp said. “We look forward to making this option available for more people to switch between platforms of their choice and securely take their chats with them.”
Instructions for transferring WhatsApp chat history from an iPhone to a compatible device—and for troubleshooting issues with that process—can be found on the service’s website.
