Whatsapp transfer headache

D

dazzazzad

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
1,015
Reaction score
9
Ugh.

So I am in Berlin for a few more weeks. My old HTC One was slowly dying so I got a new phone. I want to transfer my entire whatsapp history across. The steps to do so are fine except for one problem, my old phone uses my SA sim card number for whatsapp. When I install the app on my new phone it wants to authenticate it with a phone number - I have the SA sim here but it's a Vodacom prepaid, so that's not gonna work.

Even if I decided to link it to my German number (which is a bad idea for other reasons) I believe I would lose my database as the number has to be the same as the old phone.

I'm wondering if copying all the whatsapp folders across (initially they recommend just the database backup and other folders once the app is set up) may trick it into thinking it's the same phone :erm:
 
I backed up all my mom's contacts by using whatsapp's built in back up restore feature.

Backed it to the SD card and then restored it.
 
Yup, that would be fine but for installing the app on the new phone requires linking to a phone number and it has to be my SA number.
 
Is there any way to set up SMS roamer on Vodacom from Berlin?
 
Rickster said:
Does your SA SIM work?

You said you were going to try but you didn't.
Click to expand...

I did. It doesn't. Then I looked up roaming and saw that you have to set it up before departure. I assume it's the same story with SMS Roamer. Doh.
 
Can't you get someone in SA to get a sim swap done on the number, stick in to some phone then you can input the SA number on your whatsapp and they can sms you the code when the new sim gets the sms?

However I'm sure you can back up the chats and just copy over the messages, just copy the correct text file from the old phone, to the new phone. It can't hurt to try on the new german number...

Think just any groups you had may be dodgy since you won't be part of them...
 
In account settings there is an option to transfer number. It says "Changing your phone number will migrate your account info, groups and settings. Before proceeding please confirm that you are able to receive SMS or calls at your new number. If you have a new phone and a new number, first change your number on your old phone"

So I guess transfer your number first, back up your chat to the SD card the put the new sim in and re authenticate and restore the backup.
 
My neighbour seems to think it will work as he has done it overseas. Problem is just that my german sim is micro and my new phone is nano, so need to find an adapter.

But I just thought of Helium, that is pretty good at transferring whole apps across to phones, right? Going to see if that might do the trick.
 
WhatsApp has an option to change your number under Settings --> Account.

Here's how you do it:

- Put your new SIM into your old phone.
- Open WhatsApp, go to Settings --> Account --> Change number. Change it.
- Settings --> Chats and calls --> Back up chats

- Make sure WhatsApp is not installed on the new phone.
- Insert the new SIM into the new phone.
- Copy the chats onto the new phone like so. *If you have installed and used WhatsApp on the new phone previously it might be wise to delete WhatsApp\Databases so it restores the right chats. You will lose those chats but nothing can be done about that as you can't merge databases.
- Install Whatsapp and let it restore.

When you go back just insert your old SIM and change numbers again.
 
Last edited:
hubb said:
WhatsApp has an option to change your number under Settings --> Account.

Here's how you do it:

- Put your new SIM into your old phone.
- Open WhatsApp, go to Settings --> Account --> Change number. Change it.
- Settings --> Chats and calls --> Back up chats

- Make sure WhatsApp is not installed on the new phone.
- Insert the new SIM into the new phone.
- Copy the chats onto the new phone like so.
- Install Whatsapp and let it restore.

When you go back just insert your old SIM and change numbers again.
Click to expand...
ah...nice post. Need to do this actually...mine is still tied to an old number.
 
I used an app called Share it. Transferred all my apps from old phone to new. I was on a prepaid sim but am on contract now..my whatsapp didnt ask for authentication..still using it in my old prepaid number....hope you come right.. :)
 
hubb said:
WhatsApp has an option to change your number under Settings --> Account.

Here's how you do it:

- Put your new SIM into your old phone.
- Open WhatsApp, go to Settings --> Account --> Change number. Change it.
- Settings --> Chats and calls --> Back up chats

- Make sure WhatsApp is not installed on the new phone.
- Insert the new SIM into the new phone.
- Copy the chats onto the new phone like so.
- Install Whatsapp and let it restore.

When you go back just insert your old SIM and change numbers again.
Click to expand...

But isn't the problem with this that all my contacts would need to be contacted to change my number in their contacts? And then back again in a few weeks when I return.
 
I guess. Nothing you can really do about that. Contacts can have multiple numbers though so they'd just have to add your new number.
 
dazzazzad said:
My neighbour seems to think it will work as he has done it overseas. Problem is just that my german sim is micro and my new phone is nano, so need to find an adapter.
Click to expand...

Ummm....what? Nano is smaller than micro. What you're saying is that the German sim doesn't work in your phone...And there's no such thing as an adapter that goes smaller. Larger yes, but not smaller.
 
SCHUMI-4-EVA said:
Ummm....what? Nano is smaller than micro. What you're saying is that the German sim doesn't work in your phone...And there's no such thing as an adapter that goes smaller. Larger yes, but not smaller.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know, realized after that I had it the wrong way around. Downloaded a guide to cutting my sim into the right shape haha.
 
...well actually you should be doing a sim-swap (if you want to keep the number) to get a nano sim card...not simply cutting away

Ich wünsche dir viel Glück dabei
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X