Hi Daniel .. this is the reply from David. I am hoping you may be able to add to this. Hi Stephen, Thank you very much for posting the problem and forwarding Daniels response. Initially this looked promising as I was able to see all my chats on my new phone - whoop, whoop!!!! However, when I opened the chats on the new phone none of the photo/video files were present. Furthermore, none of the media files were listed when I viewed the chat details through Settings. When I clicked on the blank media file placard holder within the chats, the file downloaded but this isn’t a long term solution. I’d like to have all the files on the device and available for viewing offline. The other concern is what happens when I transfer my WhatsApp account to my new phone. By default, it now becomes the primary device and is therefore no longer “linked” to my old phone. Any further insights Daniel can offer would be very much appreciated. Thank you. Regards, Stephen Chape Mac by choice Windows because my employer knew no better
On 20 Oct 2025, at 9:34 am, Daniel Kerr via WAMUG <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Stephen, If he just signed in to WhatsApp on the new iPhone - then goes to “Link New Device” - it should automatically sync all the chats from the old phone - without needing to “transfer it”. That’s the way I’ve done it for other clients. Just sign in to WhatsApp on the new iPhone and go through the steps to sign in again - and all their chats appeared automatically. Didn’t need to “back up” or do anything. That all worked. So I’d recommend perhaps trying that first and see how it goes. You can find the steps to it here - https://faq.whatsapp.com/1317564962315842/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref= platform_switcher • Go to Settings (the gear icon). • Tap Linked devices. • Tap Link device. • You may be prompted to verify your identity using your phone's passcode or Face ID/Touch ID. • Scan the QR code that is displayed on the new iPhone's screen. Otherwise some steps here also - https://faq.whatsapp.com/209942271778103/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref=p latform_switcher Other thing that could be causing an issue could be things like - 1. Some “corrupted” chat or data is blocking it. 2. If it’s a very large “chat history” and data, or photos (lots of photos). 3. Corruption of an image or attachment with in. 4. Privacy settings are set correctly on both iPhones. 5. Encryption of a particular chat is “blocking” it. 6. Not enough storage on either device - even though it’s going to iCloud - the old iPhone would still need enough storage on the iPhone to “save” it into iCloud Drive so it can be accessed on the new phone. So if the old phone has limited storage, it could be “stopping it”. But they would be some of the things I would try and work through first. Kind regards Daniel Sent from my iPhone 16 Pro --- Daniel Kerr MacWizardry p : 0414 795 960 e : <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au> w : <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> **For everything Apple** NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or warrant any form of warranty or accept liability. It would be appreciated that if any information in this email is to be disseminated, distributed or copied, that permission by the author be requested. *** Avoid Scams! - Get my latest eBook to help protect yourself, your finances and what things to look out for. Grab your copy today from - https://ebooksonline.com.au/ *** On 19 Oct 2025, at 10:51 pm, STEPHEN CHAPE via WAMUG <[email protected]> wrote: My son bought a new iPhone 16 a few months ago. He has been able to transfer everything from his old iPhone except WhatsApp chats. Even his local Apple store could not help him. When transferring from phone to phone via WiFi it stops at 37% consistently. When uploading to iCloud (200GB capacity) the phone compresses the chats first. And stores the compressed folder on his old phone before uploading. Problem is that the old phone does not have the capacity to store the folder. Does anyone have another idea that might work please ? Regards, Stephen Chape Mac by choice Windows because my employer knew no better -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug>
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