Changing Phones Without Losing Your Chats

A new phone should be exciting, not a gamble with years of conversations. Here's how to move without losing anything.

#How different messengers handle it

- **WhatsApp:** needs a recent Google Drive/iCloud backup or a phone-to-phone transfer. - **Signal:** transfer from the old phone; without it, history is lost. - **Telegram:** cloud chats appear on sign-in; secret chats don't move. - **Yapie:** regular chats appear on sign-in; secret chats can be moved by linking devices; a recovery vault protects everything else.

#Moving to a new phone with Yapie

Step 1 — Install Yapie

Get the Android app or install the web app on iPhone from the [download page](/download).

Step 2 — Sign in

Use your username, email or phone and password (and your two-step code if it's on). Your chats, groups, channels and contacts are there.

Step 3 — Move secret chats (optional)

Secret chats are end-to-end encrypted and live only on devices that hold the keys. On the old phone, open **Settings › Devices & linking**, and link the new phone by scanning its QR code.

Step 4 — Check notifications

On Android, allow notifications and switch off battery optimisation: **Settings › Notifications & sounds › Reliable delivery**.

Step 5 — Secure the old phone

- In **Settings › Devices**, end the old phone's session. - Factory-reset it before selling or giving it away.

#If your phone was lost or stolen

1. Sign in on any device — your chats are safe on the server. 2. Immediately **end the lost phone's session** in Settings › Devices. 3. **Change your password** and turn on **two-step verification**. 4. Need something you deleted? [Request a recovery](/blog/recover-deleted-chats).

#Android ↔ iPhone

Yapie works the same on both: sign in and your chats are there. On iPhone, Yapie runs as an installed web app — see [installing the web app](/blog/what-is-a-pwa-install-web-app).

#Frequently asked questions

Do I need a backup to move Yapie to a new phone?

No. Regular chats are stored on the server; sign in and they're there.

How do I move secret chats?

Link the new device from the old one in Settings › Devices & linking so the encryption keys are transferred.

What if I don't have the old phone anymore?

Regular chats still appear when you sign in. End the old session, change your password and turn on two-step verification.