How to Transfer GB WhatsApp to a New Phone

A new phone is exciting, but for GB WhatsApp users it comes with a worry: how do you move years of chats when there’s no Google Drive backup? The answer is to carry your local backup folder across yourself. It takes a little effort, but it works reliably.

This guide covers three ways to transfer GB WhatsApp to a new phone, plus a checklist so nothing gets left behind.

What You Need

• Your old phone with GB WhatsApp still working.
• Your new phone, set up and connected to Wi-Fi.
• The same phone number, with the SIM in the new phone or able to receive the code.
• A way to move files: a computer, cloud storage, an SD card or a file transfer app.

Step 1: Make a Fresh Backup on the Old Phone

1. Open GB WhatsApp on your old phone.
2. Go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup.
3. Tap Back up and wait for it to finish.

Do this right before the transfer so you don’t lose recent messages.

Step 2: Find the GBWhatsApp Folder

Android version	Folder location
Android 11 and newer	Internal storage, Android, media, GB WhatsApp package folder, GBWhatsApp
Android 10 and older	Internal storage, GBWhatsApp

The folder contains Databases, Media and Backups. You need all of it for a complete transfer with photos and voice notes.

Step 3: Move the Folder to the New Phone

Option A: Using a Computer

1. Connect the old phone to your computer with a USB cable and choose File transfer mode.
2. Copy the whole GBWhatsApp folder to your computer.
3. Disconnect, then connect the new phone.
4. Install GB WhatsApp on the new phone first and open it once, so its folders are created. Close it at the phone number screen.
5. Paste the GBWhatsApp folder into the matching location on the new phone, replacing the empty one.

Option B: Using Cloud Storage

1. On the old phone, compress the GBWhatsApp folder into a ZIP file with your file manager.
2. Upload the ZIP to Google Drive, OneDrive or another cloud service.
3. On the new phone, download the ZIP and extract it.
4. Move the extracted GBWhatsApp folder to the correct location.

This works well for smaller backups. Large media folders can take a long time to upload.

Option C: Using an SD Card

If both phones have SD card slots, copy the GBWhatsApp folder to the card, move the card to the new phone, and copy the folder into internal storage in the right location.

Step 4: Install GB WhatsApp on the New Phone

If you haven’t already, download the latest version from our GB WhatsApp download page and install it. Our install guide covers every screen. Using the newest version is best, especially if the new phone runs a newer Android version.

Step 5: Verify and Restore

1. Open GB WhatsApp on the new phone.
2. Enter your phone number and the verification code.
3. Tap Restore when the backup is detected.
4. Wait for messages to load, then let media continue in the background.

Moving From an Old Android Version to a New One

If your old phone ran Android 10 or older and your new one runs Android 11 or newer, the folder location changes. Copy the GBWhatsApp folder into the Android, media location on the new phone, not the top level of storage. Our Android 15 and 16 compatibility guide explains the newer folder rules.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
New phone doesn’t find the backup	Check the folder location and name, then reinstall
Can’t access Android, media on the new phone	Use a PC or a file manager with full access
Media missing after restore	Copy the Media folder as well as Databases
Verification code goes to the old phone	Move the SIM or choose Call me
Restore fails	Install the same or newer GB WhatsApp version than the old phone

More fixes are in our backup not found guide.

Transfer Checklist

• Fresh backup made on the old phone.
• Whole GBWhatsApp folder copied, including Media.
• Latest GB WhatsApp installed on the new phone.
• Folder placed in the right location before verifying.
• Same phone number used.
• Two-step verification PIN known.
• Old phone kept untouched until the restore is confirmed.

After the Transfer

Make a new backup on the new phone, check your GB Settings, and keep the old phone’s data for a few days. Once you’re sure everything is there, you can wipe the old phone. For long-term safety, follow our backup and restore guide and keep a regular copy off the phone.

Moving to an iPhone

GB WhatsApp doesn’t run on iPhone. If your new phone is an iPhone, first move your chats to official WhatsApp on Android, then use WhatsApp’s official chat transfer to iPhone. See how to move from GB WhatsApp to official WhatsApp.

Conclusion

Transferring GB WhatsApp to a new phone means moving your GBWhatsApp folder yourself, since there’s no cloud restore. Back up on the old phone, copy the whole folder by computer, cloud or SD card, place it correctly on the new phone, and restore with the same number. Follow the checklist and your chats will arrive complete.

Frequently Asked Questions