There is no perfect, one-click, officially supported way to transfer your exact WhatsApp sticker library from Android to iPhone. But several reliable methods will transfer WhatsApp stickers to new phone
This guide walks through the safest approach, shows what to do when stickers are missing, and answers common questions such as “how do I transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone?” and “how do I backup WhatsApp stickers?”
Why Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone is Tricky
When you move WhatsApp from Android to iPhone using the official transfer method, WhatsApp can transfer your account information, individual and group chats, communities, chat history, media, and settings.
However, stickers use a different format; they may not transfer correctly. You might find that some or all of your stickers are missing after the move.
Stickers are typically stored locally or in the cloud. On Android, WhatsApp stores sticker files in .webp format in a real folder on your device:
- Android 11 and newer: Internal Storage/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Stickers/
- Android 10 and older: Internal Storage/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Stickers/
You can open a file manager and copy that folder.
On iPhone, this folder is locked. iOS uses sandboxed storage—no file manager app can browse into WhatsApp’s private directory. So even if you copy the sticker files over, there’s no supported way to “import” them back into WhatsApp’s sticker picker.
That’s the wall every Android-to-iPhone sticker transfer hits.
How do I Transfer WhatsApp Chats from Android to iPhone
Before learning about sticker transfer, you need to learn how to transfer chats from Android to iPhone.
Step 1: What you need
- A brand-new or factory-reset iPhone (Move to iOS only runs during the initial setup flow)
- Android 5.0 or newer with WhatsApp 2.22+ installed
- Both devices on the same Wi-Fi or a USB-C to USB-C cable for a faster wired transfer
- The same phone number on both devices
Step 2: Install Move to iOS on Android
On your Android phone, install Apple’s Move to iOS application.
Step 3: Connect the Two Phones
During iPhone setup, look for the screen related to transferring apps and data. On the “Transfer Your Apps & Data” screen, choose the option to move data from Android.
Step 4: Enter code
A 6-digit code appears on the iPhone. Enter it in the Move to iOS app on Android.
Follow the on-screen instructions until the Android device asks you to connect to the temporary network created for the transfer.
Step 5: Select the content
On the Android device, select the content to transfer. Make sure WhatsApp is checked.
WhatsApp on Android will display a prompt: “Move chats to iOS.”
Tap Start.
Step 6: Wait for the transfer
Wait for the transfer to complete. Then finish iPhone setup, install WhatsApp from the App Store, and verify your number.
When prompted, tap Start to restore your chat history.
WhatsApp specifically warns users not to delete, reset, or uninstall WhatsApp from the old phone until they have confirmed that the transfer was successful.
For standard chat history migration methods, please refer to “How to Restore Your Official WhatsApp Backup to MB WhatsApp Without Data Loss?”
After opening the iPhone, you may find that an important sticker collection did not appear as expected; you may need to move more parts to transfer the stickers.
How to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone After Migration
Verdict on Method 1: Free, official, and transfers the bulk of your sticker content. But it’s not a clean “my entire sticker library followed me” experience. Please be prepared to factory reset the iPhone.
Method 2: Third-Party Desktop Tools
If you want your stickers to arrive on the iPhone as actual usable stickers—in the picker, in Favorites, ready to fire—third-party computer software is currently the most reliable route.
How they work
- Install iCareFone Transfer on your PC or Mac.
- Connect both your Android and iPhone to the computer via USB.
- Click Transfer.
- On Android, go to WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup → create a fresh backup.
- In the tool, select the data types to transfer—make sure “Stickers” is checked.
- The software decrypts the Android WhatsApp data, repackages it in a format the iPhone can accept, and writes it directly into WhatsApp’s iOS database.
- When finished, open WhatsApp on the iPhone and your stickers are in place.
Why these tools succeed where Move to iOS falls short
When you restore WhatsApp using Google Drive, stickers are often treated as basic image files. However, iCareFone transfers them so they function like actual stickers on your new device. This is because the tool recreates the sticker database entries instead of just copying the pictures.
Other tools
- Wondershare MobileTrans / Mutsapper
- iMyFone iTransor
- FonePaw WhatsApp Transfer
- Dr.Fone – WhatsApp Transfer
How to Backup WhatsApp Stickers
Speaking of which, do you back up your stickers? Backing up your stickers works exactly like backing up your chats. When you save your chat history, your stickers are automatically saved too.
Cloud Backups
WhatsApp includes your downloaded and favorite stickers automatically when you back up your entire chat history to the cloud.
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Chats, then select Chat Backup.
- Tap Back Up to save your current data.
- When you install WhatsApp on a new phone using the same account and phone number, tap Restore to bring back your chats and stickers.
Manual File Backup
If your Android phone allows file access, you can copy the raw sticker files directly.
- Open a File Manager app on your phone.
- Go to Internal Storage > Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Stickers.
- Copy the WhatsApp Stickers folder to a computer, an SD card, or cloud storage like Google Drive.
Quick Alternatives
Send important stickers to a saved chat with yourself or a friend, then mark them with a star so you can find them easily later.
Final Summary
The safest answer is to transfer your WhatsApp account and chats using the official Android-to-iPhone migration process rather than manually copying sticker files. Third-party apps might be more suitable for transferring stickers. Personally, I think this is the most practical solution.
