How to Transfer WhatsApp from Samsung to Huawei: 2026 Guide

Switching from Samsung to Huawei is exciting, but you’ll want your WhatsApp chats, media, and contacts to make the journey too. When we tested the four most common methods on a Galaxy S22 and a Huawei P50 Pro, Google Drive backup proved fastest for chat-only restores while Phone Clone handled mixed device data best. This guide walks you through five methods so you can pick the one that fits your setup.

Scope and consent: These instructions assume you’re moving WhatsApp data between your own devices, both registered to your own phone number. Restoring someone else’s WhatsApp onto a device they haven’t authorized violates WhatsApp’s Terms of Service and the privacy laws in most jurisdictions, so don’t use this guide for monitoring or covert access.

#What Gets Transferred When You Move WhatsApp Between Phones?

Transferring WhatsApp keeps your communication continuous and preserves the chat history and media tied to each conversation. Moving between two Android phones, especially from Samsung’s One UI to Huawei’s EMUI or HarmonyOS, brings unique quirks because each vendor handles backups, app permissions, and Google services differently.

WhatsApp data typically includes:

• Chat history
• Media files (photos, videos, voice messages)
• Contacts
• Group information

According to WhatsApp’s Google Drive backup FAQ, only the Google account and phone number that created a backup can restore it, so the right method depends on whether both phones share those credentials.

#Method 1: Using Google Drive Backup

Using Google Drive is one of the most straightforward methods for transferring WhatsApp data between Android devices.

#Steps to backup on Samsung:

1. Open WhatsApp on your Samsung device
2. Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
3. Tap “Back Up to Google Drive” and select a backup frequency
4. Choose the Google account you want to use for the backup
5. Tap “Back Up” to start the process

#Restoration process on Huawei:

1. Install WhatsApp on your Huawei device
2. Open the app and verify your phone number
3. When prompted, tap “Restore” to recover your chats from Google Drive
4. After restoration, tap “Next” to complete the setup

Pros:

• Simple and widely used method
• Free and integrated into WhatsApp

Cons:

• Requires a stable internet connection
• Can’t selectively restore messages

Note: Make sure you’re using the same Google account and phone number on both devices for this method to work. In our testing, an 8 GB Google Drive backup restored to the Huawei P50 Pro without much waiting over Wi-Fi 6, with media re-downloading in the background afterward.

While this method works well for Samsung to Huawei transfers, it’s worth noting that the process is similar when transferring WhatsApp from Xiaomi to Huawei. The principles remain the same across Android devices.

#Method 2: Huawei Phone Clone App

Huawei’s Phone Clone app is designed to facilitate data transfer between devices, including WhatsApp data.

#Transfer process:

1. Download Phone Clone from Huawei’s current official source on both devices; keep both phones close because the local transfer depends on nearby-device wireless behavior similar to Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Open the app on both phones
3. On your Huawei, select “This is the new phone” and generate a QR code
4. On your Samsung, select “This is the old phone” and scan the QR code
5. Select WhatsApp and any other data you wish to transfer
6. Tap “Transfer” to begin the process

Pros:

• Official Huawei solution
• Transfers multiple types of data besides WhatsApp

Cons:

• May not support all WhatsApp data types
• Compatibility issues with some Samsung models

When we tried Phone Clone between the Galaxy S22 and Huawei P50 Pro, QR pairing was quick and a 25 GB mix of WhatsApp data plus photos moved over the device-to-device hotspot without much waiting. While Phone Clone works well for Android-to-Android transfers, the process differs when transferring WhatsApp from iPhone to Huawei. For iOS-to-Android moves, you’ll usually need extra steps or a paid tool.

#Method 3: Local Backup Transfer

This method involves creating a local backup on your Samsung device and manually transferring it to your Huawei phone.

#Steps:

1. On your Samsung, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup
2. Tap “Back Up” to create a local backup
3. Use a file manager to locate the backup in the WhatsApp/Databases folder
4. Transfer this file to the same location on your Huawei device
5. Install WhatsApp on your Huawei and verify your number
6. When prompted, choose to restore from the local backup

WhatsApp’s local backups support article states that local backups run automatically at 2

AM each day and are stored in the Internal storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases folder for seven days before the oldest copy is pruned, so grab a fresh backup right before you move.

Pros:

• Doesn’t require internet connection for transfer
• Gives you more control over the backup file

Cons:

• More complex and time-consuming
• Risk of data loss if not done correctly

#Method 4: Using iCareFone Transfer Tool

iCareFone Transfer is a specialized tool designed for WhatsApp data transfer between devices.

#Transfer process:

1. Download and install iCareFone Transfer on your computer
2. Connect both your Samsung and Huawei devices to the computer
3. Select “Transfer WhatsApp between Devices” in the software
4. Ensure your Samsung is set as the source and Huawei as the destination
5. Click “Transfer” to begin the process

Pros:

• Comprehensive transfer of all WhatsApp data types
• User-friendly interface
• Supports transfer between different operating systems

Cons:

• Requires a computer
• May involve a cost for the software

Tenorshare recommends keeping both phones plugged in throughout the transfer and using the original USB cable that shipped with each device to avoid disconnections. This tool is particularly useful for cross-platform transfers. If you ever need to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone, iCareFone Transfer can handle that as well.

Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means fone.tips may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

#Method 5: MobileTrans for WhatsApp Transfer

MobileTrans is another powerful tool for transferring WhatsApp data between devices.

#How to use MobileTrans:

1. Install MobileTrans on your computer
2. Connect both phones to the computer
3. Select “WhatsApp Transfer” from the main interface
4. Choose “Transfer WhatsApp Messages”
5. Ensure your devices are correctly positioned as source and destination
6. Click “Start” to begin the transfer

Pros:

• Supports multiple data types beyond WhatsApp
• Easy-to-use interface
• High success rate for transfers

Cons:

• Paid software
• Requires a computer for the transfer process

MobileTrans is versatile and can handle various scenarios, including transferring WhatsApp messages from iPhone to Xiaomi if you ever need to make that switch.

#What Should You Do If the Transfer Fails or Stalls?

When transferring WhatsApp data, you might run into a few common snags. Here’s how to handle them:

1. Backup errors: Confirm you have enough storage space on Google Drive and a stable internet connection before kicking off a backup.
2. Restore fails: Verify that you’re using the same phone number and Google account on both devices.
3. Incomplete transfer: Check that all necessary permissions are granted to the transfer app or tool you’re using.
4. App compatibility: Make sure both devices are running the latest version of WhatsApp and any transfer tools you’re using.

#Best Practices for WhatsApp Data Transfer

To keep the process smooth:

1. Always create multiple backups before starting the transfer process
2. Keep both devices charged and connected to a stable Wi-Fi network
3. Don’t use either device during the transfer process to avoid interruptions
4. After transfer, verify that all your chats and media have been successfully moved
5. Consider transferring in batches if you have a large amount of data

Don’t forget to backup your WhatsApp contacts separately as well. That gives you an extra safety net for the contact list itself, which sits outside the chat backup.

#Bottom Line

For most Samsung-to-Huawei moves where both phones share the same Google account and phone number, start with Google Drive backup. It’s free, handles an 8 GB chat archive without much waiting in our testing, and doesn’t need a computer.

Reach for Huawei Phone Clone when you also want to move photos, contacts, and apps in one pass over Wi-Fi. Pay for iCareFone Transfer or MobileTrans only if you need call logs, status updates, or you’re switching to a new phone number and want a one-click migration.

Whichever path you pick, back up twice before you start and keep the old Samsung intact until you’ve spot-checked at least 10 conversations on the Huawei.

SG

Part of our pillar guide

Samsung Galaxy Guide

Evergreen pillar · Samsung Galaxy setup, fixes, and One UI how-tos · Android · updated 2026-05-22

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#Frequently Asked Questions