Transfer WhatsApp by copying the internal app files
As of 2025, the default method of WhatsApp to Backup and Restore requires a Google Account and Chat data transfer using local Wifi requires Android features that are not available on Sailfish OS.
You will need to have the developer access enabled (access via SSH) and system administration experience is of good value.
We start on the old phone:
- Turn off Android: As a first step, open the Settings App, go to System, and select Android™ AppSupport. Tap the Stop button and wait until he action is completed.
- Open Terminal or Login using SSH
- Enter
devel-su - Run
tar -czf /home/nemo/whatsapp.tgz /home/.android/data/data/com.whatsapp/ - Transfer the resulting file to the new phone
Then, continue on the new phone:
- Start WhatsApp once and stop it again
- Open the Settings App, go to Apps, select WhatsApp and delete the data and clear the cache.
- The, still in the settings switch to System, and select Android™ AppSupport. Tap the Stop button and wait until he action is completed.
- Open the terminal and enter
devel-su - Run
ls -ld /home/.android/data/data/com.whatsapp/and remember the owner and group ids. They both are the same and likely look like 100XX. - Delete the existing directory
rm -r /home/.android/data/data/com.whatsapp/ - Run
cd / && tar -xzf /home/nemo/whatsapp.tgz - Reset the permissions as read before:
chown -R 100XX:100XX /home/.android/data/data/com.whatsapp/
Now start WhatsApp and enjoy!