Have you ever needed to transfer important WhatsApp conversations from one device to another or keep a backup of your chats? Whether you’re switching phones, reinstalling the app, or simply safeguarding your messages, knowing how to import exported WhatsApp chats is crucial. In this blog, we will walk you through different tested methods to ensure you don’t lose your valuable conversations. We’ll cover everything you need to know about importing WhatsApp chats across various platforms and storage methods. Whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, Google Drive, Gmail, or even exported files like ZIP or text files, we’ve got step-by-step guides to help you out. These methods have been thoroughly tested, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
By the end of this blog, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to seamlessly restore your WhatsApp messages, regardless of the device or format you’re using. So, let’s dive in and explore the best ways to import exported chats on WhatsApp, ensuring your memories and conversations are safely transferred!
Can You Import an Exported WhatsApp Chat?
Yes, you can import an exported WhatsApp chat! WhatsApp provides the ability to export your chat history, including messages, images, and other media. Once you export these chats, you can easily import them back into WhatsApp or view them in other formats. However, the process of importing chats is slightly different depending on whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, or other platforms like Google Drive or Gmail.
The import process allows you to restore your conversations without losing any important details. It’s a useful feature when you’re moving to a new phone or want to keep a copy of your chats for reference. In this blog, we will guide you through the simple steps to successfully import your exported WhatsApp chats, ensuring all your conversations are back where they belong!
How to Import WhatsApp Chat on iPhone?
If you’re switching to a new iPhone or simply want to restore your chat history, importing WhatsApp chats can be easy if you follow the right steps. Below is a tested and reliable method to import WhatsApp chats on an iPhone.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Import WhatsApp Chat on iPhone:
Step 1: Export the WhatsApp Chat from Your Old Device
1. Open WhatsApp on your old phone.
2. Navigate to the chat you want to export.
3. Tap the contact name or group name at the top.
4. Scroll down and select Export Chat.
5. Choose whether to include media files (images, videos, etc.) or export just the text.
6. Select Mail or any other app to send the exported file to yourself.
Step 2: Access the Exported File on iPhone
1. On your iPhone, open the email or app where you sent the exported chat file.
2. Download the attached chat file (usually in a ZIP or text format).
Step 3: Import Chat into WhatsApp on iPhone
1. Install WhatsApp from the App Store if you haven’t already.
2. Open WhatsApp and log in with your phone number.
3. During setup, WhatsApp will ask if you want to Restore Chat History from iCloud (if backed up there).
4. If you’re using an exported file, manually open the exported chat file (in ZIP or text format) to view it. Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not directly allow you to import these files back into the app, but you can view them as text or archive them for reference.
Important Note: iPhone doesn’t allow direct chat restoration from exported files like Android does. However, using iCloud backup is the most seamless way to restore chats on an iPhone.
This method ensures you can access your chat files and media, though it might be more of a backup for reference rather than complete integration into the app. Let’s continue with the next method for Android users!
How to Import WhatsApp Chat on Android?
Switching to a new Android phone or restoring your WhatsApp chats can be easy if you follow the correct steps. Android users have multiple ways to import their chat history, including Google Drive backup and manually restoring exported chats. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you import your WhatsApp chats on an Android device.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Import WhatsApp Chat on Android:
Step 1: Export the WhatsApp Chat from Your Old Device
1. Open WhatsApp on your old Android phone.
2. Navigate to the chat you want to export.
3. Tap the three dots (menu) in the top right corner, then tap More.
4. Select Export Chat.
5. Choose whether to include media (images, videos, etc.) or export only the text.
6. Select a method to send the chat file to yourself (e.g., via email, Google Drive, or another app).
Step 2: Transfer the Exported File to Your New Android Phone
1. On your new Android device, access the email or app where you sent the exported chat file.
2. Download the chat file (either as a ZIP or text file).
3. Save this file to your device’s internal storage in the WhatsApp folder, under Databases. If the folder doesn’t exist, create it.
Step 3: Reinstall and Restore WhatsApp on Your New Android Device
1. Install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store if it isn’t already installed.
2. Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
3. During setup, WhatsApp will prompt you to Restore chats from a backup. If you saved your chats to Google Drive, select Restore from Google Drive.
4. If you are using the manually exported file, WhatsApp should automatically detect the local backup from the Databases folder and ask if you want to restore it.
Step 4: Complete the Setup
1. Once the restoration is complete, tap Next to finish setting up your WhatsApp account.
2. Your chats should now be available on your new device.
Important Tip:
For a seamless transfer, it’s recommended to regularly back up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive. This ensures your chats can easily be restored when you switch devices without needing to export files manually.
By following these steps, you can easily import your WhatsApp chat history onto your new Android device, ensuring no important conversations are lost. Now that we’ve covered Android, let’s move on to restoring from Google Drive!
How to Import Chat in WhatsApp from Google Drive
If you have been regularly backing up your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive, importing them onto a new device or after reinstalling the app is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you restore your chats from Google Drive to WhatsApp.
Step 1: Ensure Google Drive Backup is Available
On your old Android device, ensure that your WhatsApp chats are backed up to Google Drive.To check, go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Here, you will see the last time your chats were backed up to Google Drive.
Step 2: Install WhatsApp on Your New Device
On your new Android device, download and install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store. Open WhatsApp and verify your phone number.
Step 3: Restore Chat History from Google Drive
After verifying your phone number, WhatsApp will automatically detect the Google Drive backup linked to your account. Tap Restore to start the process. This will restore all your chat messages and media files from the most recent backup available on Google Drive.
Step 4: Wait for the Restoration Process to Complete
Depending on the size of your backup and your internet speed, this may take a few minutes. Once the restoration is complete, tap Next to finish setting up your WhatsApp account.
Step 5: Media Restoration (Optional)
While your chat messages will be restored first, your media files (photos, videos, voice messages) will continue downloading in the background. You can start using WhatsApp while media files finish restoring.
Important Notes:
Ensure that the Google account you used to back up your chats is linked to your new device.
Use a stable Wi-Fi connection during the restoration process, especially if you have a large backup to avoid interruptions.
By following these steps, you’ll successfully restore your WhatsApp chats and media files from Google Drive, ensuring your conversations are seamlessly transferred to your new device. Ready for the next method? Let’s move on to importing chats from Gmail!
How to Import Chat in WhatsApp from ZIP
If you’ve exported your WhatsApp chats as a ZIP file, you can easily access the content, though direct import into the WhatsApp app is not as straightforward as with Google Drive backups. However, you can still view and reference these chats. Here’s how you can import WhatsApp chats from a ZIP file.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Import WhatsApp Chats from a ZIP File:
Step 1: Export the WhatsApp Chat as a ZIP File
1. On your old device, open the WhatsApp chat you wish to export.
2. Tap the contact name or group name at the top to open the chat info.
3. Scroll down and select Export Chat.
4. Choose whether to include media (images, videos) or not.
5. Select a method to send the exported chat (e.g., email or Google Drive). This will export the chat as a ZIP file containing your messages and media.
Step 2: Transfer the ZIP File to Your New Device
1. Access the email or app where you sent the exported ZIP file.
2. Download the ZIP file on your new device.
3. Make sure to save it in an accessible folder on your device, like the Downloads folder.
Step 3: Extract the ZIP File
1. Open the File Manager on your Android or iPhone.
2. Navigate to the folder where you saved the ZIP file.
3. Tap the ZIP file and select Extract or Unzip (depending on your device).
4. The extracted folder will contain the chat history in a text file (.txt) and possibly media files (if included during the export).
Step 4: View the Exported WhatsApp Chats
1. Once extracted, open the folder where the files are stored.
2. Open the .txt file to view the chat messages in plain text format.
3. You can now reference these chats, but note that they won’t be integrated back into the WhatsApp app like a traditional chat. Instead, these chats are available for offline viewing and archival purposes.
Important Note:
Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not support the direct import of ZIP files back into the app. While you can view the messages and media, you cannot restore them into WhatsApp’s active chat interface. However, this method is perfect for saving and referencing old conversations.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to extract and view your WhatsApp chats from the ZIP file format. This method is helpful when you need an offline copy of your chat history for reference or record-keeping.
How to Import Chat in WhatsApp from a Text File
Exporting WhatsApp chats as a text file is a great way to save a record of your conversations. While WhatsApp doesn’t allow you to directly import these text files back into the app for live chatting, you can still access and view the chats for reference. Here’s a step-by-step guide to importing and viewing WhatsApp chats from a text file.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Import WhatsApp Chats from a Text File:
Step 1: Export the WhatsApp Chat as a Text File
1. Open WhatsApp on your old device.
2. Go to the chat you wish to export.
3. Tap on the contact or group name at the top of the chat window.
4. Scroll down and select Export Chat.
5. Choose to export Without Media to keep the file size smaller.
6. Select Email or another sharing method to send the chat file to yourself. This will export the chat as a text file (.txt).
Step 2: Download the Text File on Your New Device
1. Access the email or app where you sent the exported chat file.
2. Download the .txt file to your new device, saving it in an easily accessible folder like Downloads.
Step 3: Open the Text File to View the Chats
1. On your new device, open the File Manager or use a text editor app.
2. Navigate to the folder where you saved the exported .txt file.
3. Tap the file to open it. You will now see the entire chat history displayed as plain text, including timestamps and messages.
Step 4: Save and Archive the Chat
1. You can keep this text file on your device for reference or move it to cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, etc.) for safekeeping.
2. You can also search within the text file for specific conversations, but note that these chats cannot be re-imported into WhatsApp as active conversations.
Important Note:
Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not provide a way to restore chats from a text file into the app itself. The text file acts as a backup for reading and referencing conversations, but it won’t reintegrate into WhatsApp’s interface. This method is ideal for archiving important conversations or saving a copy for personal records.
By following these steps, you can easily export, view, and store your WhatsApp chats as text files. This method offers a simple way to preserve your conversations for future reference.
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