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How To Move Or Export Your WhatsApp Messages To Telegram

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For years, WhatsApp has dominated the instant messaging space globally. However, in recent times, Telegram has rapidly grown in popularity, attracting millions of users due to its speed, privacy features, cloud-based storage, and flexible customization options.

In fact, Telegram announced that it surpassed 500 million active monthly users in early 2021, and since then, its user base has continued to grow steadily. Many people are now switching from WhatsApp to Telegram, especially after concerns about privacy policy changes on WhatsApp.

To make this transition smoother, Telegram introduced a feature that allows users to export their chat history from WhatsApp to Telegram, ensuring they don’t lose important conversations or memories.

This guide will walk you through step-by-step instructions for both iOS and Android users, explain the benefits of migrating, and address common issues.

Why Move Your WhatsApp Messages to Telegram?

Before diving into the “how-to,” it’s important to understand why millions of users are making the switch:

  1. Privacy and Security

    • Telegram offers end-to-end encrypted secret chats, stronger privacy controls, and self-destruct timers for messages.

    • WhatsApp’s policy updates in recent years have raised privacy concerns.

  2. Cloud Storage and Accessibility

    • Telegram stores messages in the cloud, so you can access them from multiple devices seamlessly.

    • WhatsApp restricts backup to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iOS).

  3. Group and Channel Features

    • Telegram allows up to 200,000 members in groups, compared to WhatsApp’s limit of 1,024.

    • Channels can broadcast to unlimited audiences.

  4. Media and File Sharing

    • Send files up to 2GB each on Telegram.

    • WhatsApp compresses media heavily, reducing quality.

  5. Customization and Bots

    • Telegram offers themes, advanced bots, and automation.

    • WhatsApp is more rigid in customization.

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Clearly, moving your chats is not just about preserving old conversations, but also about enjoying new features.

How to Export WhatsApp Messages to Telegram on iOS

If you’re using an iPhone, here’s how to move your chats:

  1. Open WhatsApp

    • Launch the WhatsApp app on your iPhone.

  2. Select the Chat to Export

    • Navigate to the conversation you want to move.

    • This can be an individual or group chat.

  3. Tap on Contact or Group Info

    • At the top of the chat window, tap the contact’s name or group name.

  4. Choose “Export Chat”

    • Scroll down and tap Export Chat.

  5. Select Media Option

    • You will be asked whether to include media (photos, videos, voice notes) or not.

    • Choose based on your storage preference.

  6. Select Telegram

    • From the iOS share menu, choose Telegram.

  7. Pick Destination in Telegram

    • Choose the chat or group where you want to import the messages.

That’s it! Your WhatsApp messages are now available in Telegram.

How to Export WhatsApp Messages to Telegram on Android

For Android users, the process is just as simple:

  1. Open WhatsApp

    • Launch WhatsApp on your device.

  2. Select the Chat

    • Tap on the conversation you want to move.

  3. Tap on “More” Options

    • At the top-right corner, tap the three dots (menu).

    • Select More → Export Chat.

  4. Choose Media Option

    • Decide whether you want to include media files or not.

  5. Select Telegram

    • From the share menu, tap Telegram.

  6. Pick Destination in Telegram

    • Choose the Telegram contact or group where the chat should appear.

After this, Telegram will process the import, and your chat history will appear just as it did in WhatsApp.

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Things to Note Before Migrating

  • Storage Space: Including media files will take up more space.

  • Chat Order: Imported chats will appear in the order you import them, not based on original timestamps.

  • Multiple Chats: You’ll need to export chats one by one; bulk export is not yet available.

  • Backups: Keep a backup of WhatsApp on Google Drive/iCloud as a precaution.

Advantages of Using Telegram After Migration

  1. Seamless Sync: Your chats are available on any device (phone, PC, tablet).

  2. No Backup Hassles: Unlike WhatsApp, you don’t need separate backups.

  3. More Features: Advanced group settings, stickers, bots, and channels.

  4. Future-Proof: Telegram keeps innovating with features like video chats, scheduled messages, and enhanced security.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

1. Can’t see Telegram in the share menu?

  • Update both WhatsApp and Telegram to the latest versions.

2. Import fails midway?

  • Ensure you have stable internet.

  • Try importing without media to reduce file size.

3. Imported chats missing timestamps?

  • This is normal—Telegram shows the import date but preserves message content.

4. Storage getting full?

  • Clear Telegram cache in settings → data & storage.

Conclusion

Migrating from WhatsApp to Telegram no longer means losing your chat history. With Telegram’s export feature, you can easily move your conversations—including media—from WhatsApp to Telegram on both iOS and Android.

In 2025, as more users look for privacy-focused, feature-rich messaging platforms, Telegram stands out as a powerful alternative. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, moving your chats ensures you don’t lose valuable messages while exploring Telegram’s advanced features.

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