7 Ways to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone Simply

Part 1. Quick Checklist: How to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone

Here's a quick checklist of all 7 methods to transfer WhatsApp stickers from an old phone to a new one, explained in the latter section. You can see which method works and which doesn't for your situation:

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Method

Android → Android

Android → iPhone

Phone → iPhone

iPhone → Android

iCareFone AI Transfer

Move to iOS

Save Stickers to “Favorites”

partial

partial

iCloud Backup

Google Drive Backup

Manual Folder Migration

QR Code Transfer

limited

limited

Part 2. How We Tested the 7 Ways to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone

To make this guide more practical, we tested all 7 methods to compare which ones actually transfer WhatsApp stickers successfully when switching to a new phone.

Devices Used for Testing

We used the following devices during testing:

• Samsung Galaxy S23 running Android 14
• iPhone 15 running iOS 18
• iPhone 13 running iOS 17
• Google Pixel 7 running Android 13

This setup allowed us to test sticker transfer between Android to iPhone, iPhone to iPhone, and Android to Android.

Sticker Data Used for Testing

To make the results realistic, the WhatsApp account used in testing included:

• 128 favorite stickers
• 9 custom sticker packs
• 4 third party sticker apps
• 63 recently used stickers
• Animated stickers
• User created sticker collections

What We Checked During Testing

Each method was tested using the same WhatsApp account.

For every transfer method, we checked:

• Whether favorite stickers were transferred
• Whether custom sticker packs remained available
• Whether animated stickers worked
• Whether recently used stickers stayed visible
• Whether stickers could still be sent normally
• Whether the transfer required resetting the phone

How We Rated Each Method

Sticker Completeness: Whether all sticker types were transferred successfully.

Ease of Use: How simple the transfer process was for regular users.

Compatibility: Whether the method worked across Android and iPhone.

Transfer Time: The total time required to complete the sticker migration.

Reliability: Whether stickers remained usable after transfer.

Part 3. 7 Ways to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone

The following are 7 ways to move WhatsApp stickers from an old phone to a new one. Pick a method based on each phone's operating system:

1. Easiest Way to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone

If you want to send all WhatsApp stickers at once, Tenorshare iCareFone AI Transfer offers the easiest way. It moves WhatsApp sticker packs, not just loose image files, without resetting your phone. Using AI, it also automatically adjusts data formats so stickers do not get lost during transfer. Moreover, it allows you to choose only stickers to move and supports transfer between the same and cross-platform devices.

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The tool also supports custom packs, downloaded stickers, and Favorites across different platforms, making it a more complete transfer option than standard file-copy methods. Besides, you don't need Google Drive or iCloud to back up stickers as well. Here's what more iCareFone AI Transfer offers:

• Works across all devices: Transfers WhatsApp between Android and iPhone in any direction, as well as same-platform transfers.
• Full data transfer: Moves chats, media, voice notes, call logs, and documents in one process.
• No data loss on phone: Doesn't delete existing data on the new device.
• No reset needed: Can transfer WhatsApp even after setup without factory resetting the phone.
• Backup and restore options: Supports restoring from Google Drive or iCloud and backing up WhatsApp data to a computer.
• Extra support: Can also handle app variants like WhatsApp Business and some modified versions.
• Wide compatibility: Supports the most recent Android 16 and iPhone 17 models and newer OS versions.

Here's an example of moving WhatsApp stickers from your old Android to the new iPhone with iCareFone AI Transfer:

• Download and install iCareFone Transfer on your computer. Then, connect both old and new phones to your computer. Click "Transfer."

• On Android, you may need to enable USB debugging before continuing. Confirm the pop-up and back up your WhatsApp on your iPhone. Click "Continue." You can also choose "WhatsApp data transfer and merge" to combine data.

• If WhatsApp end-to-end encryption is enabled, turn it off first. Hit "Backup" and proceed.
• You may be asked to re-enable encryption and choose the 64-bit encryption key, then scan it to continue.

• Create a WhatsApp backup on the source phone and wait for it to finish. The tool will then collect data from the Android device.
• Verify the WhatsApp backup account when prompted. Select stickers, animated GIFs, or other data to transfer. Hit "Continue" to generate it for the iPhone.

• Make sure WhatsApp is already logged in on the iPhone before restoring. Guarantee enough storage space on the target device.

• Turn off "Find My iPhone" if requested. iCareFone AI will restore WhatsApp stickers to the iPhone, and the time it takes depends on their size.

• Once finished, the transfer is complete.

2. Use Move to iOS to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone

Move to iOS is Apple's official app to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone for free. It supports transferring WhatsApp chats, media, and sometimes stickers during the first setup of a new iPhone. However, it only functions during the initial setup. So, if your iPhone is already set up, you'll need to reset it to use the app.

It also only transfers data from Android to iPhone, not the other way around or between similar devices, and custom sticker packs may not always transfer properly. Follow the steps beneath to export WhatsApp stickers on iPhone from Android with Move to iOS:

• Keep your new iPhone on the "Transfer Your Apps & Data" screen. Then, tap "From Android" and wait for a 6-digit code.

• On your Android phone, install and open "Move to iOS." Enter the code shown on your iPhone.
• Let both phones connect through a temporary Wi-Fi network. Choose "WhatsApp" from the data list.
• Click "Next." Then, choose "Continue" and wait for the transfer to complete.

• Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and log in with the same number to finish.

3. Save Stickers to "Favorites"

This is WhatsApp's built-in way to keep the stickers you use most by adding them to Favorites. These saved stickers are often backed up and restored more dependably than full sticker packs. It's not meant for moving entire packs at once, but it's useful for keeping only the stickers you actually use.

However, you have to add each sticker one by one, and it doesn't support transferring between Android and iPhone. Besides, iPhones don't let you export stickers as image files, and animated stickers may not always function properly after restoring. Follow the instructions beneath to save WhatsApp stickers to Favorites:

• Open a WhatsApp chat with the sticker you want to save on your iPhone or Android.
• Press and hold the sticker. Next, click "Add to Favorites" (star icon). Do this for each sticker you want to keep.

• Find your saved stickers in the "Favorites" tab. They will be restored when you back up and restore WhatsApp on the same type of device.

4. iCloud Backup (iPhone to iPhone)

If you're switching from one iPhone to another, using iCloud is the easiest way to move your WhatsApp data. It restores everything, including chats, sticker packs, Favorites, and saved custom stickers, as long as you have a recent backup.

However, it only supports transfer between iPhones, needs enough iCloud storage, and requires the same Apple ID on both devices. You'll also need to reinstall WhatsApp to restore the backup, and if your backup is outdated, you might lose newer stickers. Here's how to backup WhatsApp stickers on iCloud for transferring them between iPhones:

• On your old iPhone, head to "iCloud settings" and make sure WhatsApp is turned on.

• Then, open "WhatsApp." Choose "Settings." Then, tap "Chats." Next, click "Chat Backup." Tap "Back Up Now."

• Wait until the backup finishes uploading to iCloud. On your new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple ID.
• Set up the iPhone and choose to restore from an iCloud backup (or do it later). Install "WhatsApp" from the "App Store."
• Verify your phone number. Hit "Restore Chat History" when asked. Wait for everything to download. Your stickers will come back with the rest of the data.

5. Google Drive Backup (Android to Android)

Google Drive backup is WhatsApp's built-in way to save data on Android, similar to iCloud on iPhone. It lets you restore chats, media, and sticker packs when moving to another Android device, especially the ones you've used or added to Favorites.

However, it only supports Android-to-Android transfers, needs the same Google account on both devices, and large backups can take a long time. Also, sticker packs you never used might not be restored, while official packs can usually be downloaded again from the store. Here's how to transfer stickers from one phone to another with Google Drive:

• On your old Android phone, open "WhatsApp." Then, click the "three-dot menu." Choose "Settings." Tap "Chats." Click "Chat backup."

• Choose "Back up to Google Drive" and select your Google account. Next, select "Back Up Now" or enable daily backups.

• Wait until the backup is complete. On your new Android phone, install "WhatsApp" from the "Google Play Store."
• Verify the same phone number you used before. When WhatsApp finds your backup, tap "Restore."

• Wait for the restore to finish. Your stickers and chats will return with the backup.

6. Manual Folder Migration

This method lets you manually copy WhatsApp sticker files from one Android phone to another using a computer, without needing extra apps or accounts. It functions because Android allows access to WhatsApp's sticker folders, unlike the iPhone. However, it only copies the sticker image files, not the full sticker pack setup.

So, the stickers may not appear automatically inside WhatsApp. It's mainly useful for saving custom stickers, and may not function fully on Android 11+ versions due to storage restrictions. Here's how to transfer WhatsApp stickers to new phone with manual folder migration:

• Connect your old Android phone to a computer with a USB cable. Then, choose "File Transfer" mode.
• Open the phone's storage. Next, head to "WhatsApp." Choose "Media." Then, open the "WhatsApp Stickers" folder. Copy the entire sticker folder to your computer.

• Connect your new Android phone in "File Transfer" mode. Then, paste the folder into the same location on the new phone.
• Open WhatsApp on the new Android. Official sticker packs may appear automatically. But custom stickers might need to be added again manually.

7. Use QR Code to Transfer WhatsApp Stickers

WhatsApp's QR code, the device linking feature, can also be used as a quick way to access stickers on a new phone. This method supports both the same and cross-platform transfers. By scanning a QR code, you can move WhatsApp chats, which include stickers, to your new phone.

However, this method doesn't move stickers outside chats, and custom sticker packs may not fully transfer or may need to be re-downloaded. Here's how to transfer WhatsApp stickers from iPhone to Android or vice versa:

• On your old phone, open "WhatsApp." Then, head to its "Settings." Next, choose "Chats." Tap "Transfer chats to [new device]."
• Click "Start." Then, allow permissions and give camera access. On your new phone, install WhatsApp and begin setup.

• Scan the QR code shown on the new phone using the old phone. Accept permissions and wait for the chat transfer to finish.

Part 4. FAQs on Transferring WhatsApp Stickers to New Phone

Q1. Where are WhatsApp stickers stored on Android/iPhone

If you want to know where are WhatsApp stickers stored on Android/iPhone, here's how you can find them on Android. They are saved as ".webp image files" in a visible folder:

• Internal Storage → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Media → WhatsApp Stickers.But on iPhone, things are different because of iOS security rules. Sticker files are stored inside WhatsApp's private app storage. So, you can't access or copy them through the "Files app" or "iTunes" without using special third-party tools.

Q2. Can I export my WhatsApp stickers?

Yes. On Android, you can copy the WhatsApp Stickers folder to a computer or another storage location. But this only saves the image files and doesn't bring them back as usable sticker packs inside WhatsApp on a new phone.

On iPhone, exporting stickers directly isn't possible through normal methods. For moving stickers between Android and iPhone, the most dependable option is a tool like iCareFone AI Transfer. It transfers full sticker packs instead of just the image files.

Q3. How can I restore my WhatsApp stickers?

The way you restore WhatsApp stickers depends on your device. On Android, you can use a Google Drive backup to restore. While on an iPhone, you do the same using an iCloud backup. Stickers you've used or saved to Favorites are more likely to come back fully.

However, if you're switching between Android and iPhone, cloud backups alone won't transfer everything properly. So, you may need a cross-platform tool like iCareFone to move stickers completely.

Conclusion

You can transfer WhatsApp stickers to new phone using several manual methods and automatic tools. But each method comes with certain limitations, like partially saving the stickers or not supporting selective sticker restoration.

However, a tool like Tenorshare iCareFone AI Transfer supports full sticker transfer between the same and cross-platform phones. It can move custom stickers, and allows selective sticker restoration inside WhatsApp instead of just copying files.