Move to iOS not showing WhatsApp? Here’s why, and what to do

There’s a particular kind of frustration in getting all the way to the Move to iOS data screen, seeing Contacts, Messages, Photos… and no WhatsApp.

The good news is that the cause is almost always one of a handful of things, and most take a minute to check. Work through them in order. The first two account for the majority of cases.

1. The iPhone has already been set up

This is the big one. Move to iOS only offers WhatsApp during the iPhone’s first setup, on the Apps & Data screen, via Move Data from Android. If your iPhone is already up and running, there is no way to open that screen without erasing the phone.

How to tell: if you can see your iPhone’s home screen, you’re past the point where Move to iOS can transfer WhatsApp.

What to do: either erase the iPhone (Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings) and redo setup, or use a desktop tool that works on a set-up iPhone. We cover both in moving WhatsApp after your iPhone is set up.

2. WhatsApp is out of date on one of the phones

Move to iOS can only see WhatsApp if the installed version supports the migration. Older versions simply don’t appear on the list.

What to do: on Android, open Google Play, search WhatsApp and tap Update. If the iPhone is still at setup, you can’t update its WhatsApp yet, and that’s fine; the Android side is the one that matters at this stage. Then close Move to iOS fully and start again.

3. The phones aren’t on the same network

Move to iOS creates a direct connection between the phones. If the Android phone is on a different Wi-Fi network, on mobile data, or on a network that blocks device-to-device traffic (common in offices, hotels and universities), the transfer can start but skip WhatsApp, or fail outright.

What to do: put both phones on the same home Wi-Fi. If that’s not possible, connect the Android phone to the iPhone’s temporary network when Move to iOS prompts you. Turn off any VPN on the Android phone.

4. You’re using WhatsApp Business, a clone, or “Dual Messenger”

Phones from Samsung, Xiaomi and others let you run a second copy of WhatsApp (Dual Messenger, Dual Apps, App Twin). Move to iOS looks for the main WhatsApp app only. Unofficial modified versions of WhatsApp aren’t supported either.

What to do: make sure the account you want to move is in the standard WhatsApp app from Google Play. Business accounts have their own rules; check WhatsApp’s help centre for the current status before you start.

5. The Android version is too old

As of November 2026, WhatsApp asks for Android 5 or later on the old phone and iOS 15.5 or later on the iPhone. Most phones from the last decade clear that bar, but a very old Android phone may not.

What to do: check Settings › About phone › Software information on Android. If it’s below the minimum and can’t be updated, the official route isn’t available.

6. Battery saver or low battery

Power-saving modes on Android can pause background apps, and Move to iOS needs WhatsApp to respond while the transfer is being prepared.

What to do: plug both phones in, turn off battery saver on Android, and keep both screens on during the transfer.

7. Move to iOS needs a restart

Sometimes the app simply gets stuck in a bad state after a failed attempt.

What to do: force stop Move to iOS (Settings › Apps › Move to iOS › Force stop), restart the Android phone, and on the iPhone go back to the start of the Move from Android screen. Then try again from scratch.

Quick checklist

If none of this works

At this point you have two realistic choices.

Keep trying the official way. If the iPhone is still at setup, it’s free, and some people succeed on the third or fourth attempt after fixing the network.

Move the chats another way. If the iPhone is already set up, or you’ve spent an evening on this and want it done, a desktop tool like WaMover moves the chats over USB through a Windows PC. Nothing about Wi-Fi, setup screens, or the Move to iOS list matters for that route.

Frequently asked questions

Does Move to iOS transfer WhatsApp automatically?

No. You have to tick WhatsApp on the list of data in Move to iOS, then tap Start inside WhatsApp on the Android phone when it asks. If WhatsApp isn’t on that list, nothing gets transferred.

Can I add WhatsApp to an iPhone after Move to iOS has finished?

Not with Move to iOS. Once the iPhone finishes setup, you can’t run it again without erasing the phone.

Is it safe to retry Move to iOS several times?

Yes. Move to iOS copies data from your Android phone; it doesn’t delete it. Just don’t uninstall WhatsApp or reset the Android phone between attempts.