WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to transfer their chat history to another iPhone without using iCloud.
Currently, WhatsApp only lets iPhone users migrate their chat history and media to another iPhone if they have created a Chat Backup which is uploaded to iCloud.
With the new feature, called "Transfer Chats to iPhone," users need only download WhatsApp on their new phone, register with the same number, and then use their old iPhone to scan a QR code shown on the new device to automatically transfer their chat history.
As noted by WaBetaInfo, the new built-in service offers a significant advantage to users limited to iCloud's 5GB of free storage who do not have the space available to back up their chat history on Apple's servers.
The new chat transfer feature is currently available to some beta testers who have installed the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app. It is expected to roll out to even more people over the coming days, but it's not clear when the feature will appear for regular WhatsApp users.
News of the feature in testing follows parent company Meta's announcement last week that it is rolling out multi-device login support for more than one phone. The change means users will be able to log into the same WhatsApp account on up to four phones, instead of being limited to just one phone and multiple desktop devices.
With the new feature, said to be rolling out to all users within the coming weeks, users' messages will be synced across multiple devices including other phones. So even if one device is switched off, they can access the app on other devices.
Sunday February 23, 2025 2:23 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The first beta of iOS 18.4 is now available, and it includes a small but useful change for CarPlay.
As we noted in our list of iOS 18.4 features, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra, which can be equipped...
Monday February 24, 2025 2:49 am PST by Tim Hardwick
A new CAD render of all the devices in Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 lineup has been shared online by leaker Majin Bu, specifically showing the allegedly different rear camera system designs of the standard iPhone 17, all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models.
The leaker Majin Bu has had some hits in the past, but some of his information has been wrong,...
Monday February 24, 2025 6:11 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to launch a second-generation AirTag in May or June this year, according to a post today from a leaker known as Kosutami.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that a new AirTag would be released in mid-2025. May or June would align with that timeframe.
Below, we recap three new features rumored for the AirTag 2:
With a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the...
Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:58 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple is making significant headway on its long-rumored foldable iPhone, with a new report suggesting the company has achieved a major breakthrough by effectively eliminating the screen crease that plagues current foldable devices.
According to Korean publication ETNews, Apple is finalizing its component suppliers for the foldable iPhone, with the selection process expected to be completed...
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model with a series of improvements.
While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation since the company tends to stick with the same Apple Watch design through three generations before changing it, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way.
By the time the ...
Friday February 21, 2025 1:08 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple finally released the first beta of iOS 18.4 to developers for testing purposes, and while the beta is lacking some of the Apple Intelligence features we were hoping for, there are some notable new additions.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Priority Notifications - Apple Intelligence
There is a new Priority Notifications feature that can show you your most...
Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:18 pm PST by Juli Clover
Multiple iPhone owners today noticed a pronunciation processing issue that causes the word "Trump" to momentarily show up when using dictation to send a message with the word "racist."
In some cases, when speaking the word racist through the iPhone's built-in dictation feature, the iPhone briefly interprets the spoken word as "Trump" and "Trump" text shows up in the Messages app before being ...
Friday February 21, 2025 11:06 am PST by Juli Clover
In iOS 18.4, there's a new Ambient Music option that can be added to Control Center. There are four different sound categories, including Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.
Each category can be added to Control Center separately, and tapping one plays a random selection of sounds or music from that particular category.
You can't choose what's playing from Control Center, but if...
People should move away from WhatsApp. The only advantage of WhatsApp is that it has the largest number of users, but basically every alternative gives people more privacy. Try Signal, Threema, Telegram, Teleguard or whatever.