How to migrate Whatsapp from Android with Google account to Shift OS-L
Hi all, I am sharing my experience with moving from traditional Android OS with Google accounts and Playstore to Shift OS-L with MicroG and AuroraStore. MicroG and AuroraStore are running in a Work Profile (I am using Shelter) and I keep using the same phone number on the new device.
The challenge was to bring the WhatsApp backup from device with Google accounts to new device where I dont have a Google account set up.
Solution
Notes:
In case you are using AuroraStore inside a Work Profile, you need to use a file manager app that is installed in the Work Profile. I use the LocalSend application, which is installed in my Work Profile, for receiving the back up folder on my new phone.
(wrote this in EN so more people can profit)
Hi all, I am sharing my experience with moving from traditional Android OS with Google accounts and Playstore to Shift OS-L with MicroG and AuroraStore. MicroG and AuroraStore are running in a Work Profile (I am using Shelter) and I keep using the same phone number on the new device.
The challenge was to bring the WhatsApp backup from device with Google accounts to new device where I dont have a Google account set up.
Solution
- Export a local backup to your device : Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > click "Back up" button which is above "Manage Google storage"
- This should create the folder structure
WhatsApp/
├── Databases/
├── Media/
└── Backups/
Locate these folders, which you can find usually under "/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp". On older Android versions the WhatsApp folder might be in another directory, such as the root directory of "Internal".
Inside "Databases" there needs to be a file called "msgstore*.crypt14".
Now make sure that WhatsApp is installed on the new phone, but has not been opened (and thereby initialized) yet. - Copy the WhatsApp folder from your old device with Databases, Media, Backups inside into "Android/media/com.whatsapp/" so that you have this structure:
Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/
├── Databases/
├── Media/
└── Backups/
Create the "WhatsApp" folder if it doesnt exist yet. The "com.whatsapp" is created by installing WhatsApp, which is why you need to install it but just not launch it before copying the folders. - Now launch WhatsApp, activate it and press the "Restore" option (it should be above the "Transfer" option). If you placed the WhatsApp folder to a wrong location "Restore" will be greyed out and not available. You then need to follow the reset instructions below.
- Uninstall WhatsApp (work profile)
- Reboot (recommended but not required)
- Re-copy files
- Install WhatsApp
- Launch and restore
Notes:
In case you are using AuroraStore inside a Work Profile, you need to use a file manager app that is installed in the Work Profile. I use the LocalSend application, which is installed in my Work Profile, for receiving the back up folder on my new phone.
(wrote this in EN so more people can profit)
