Support · 5 min read
Migrate WhatsApp Personal to Business Account
What started as a messaging tool to connect with friends and family has now transformed into a powerful platform for businesses to flourish. WhatsApp has come a long way since its inception and it’s now an integral part of business operations.
24 September 2026 · Amigo Digital Hub
How do I move WhatsApp Messenger to WhatsApp Business?
WhatsApp Messenger and the WhatsApp Business app are two different apps. One phone number cannot sit on both at the same time. You can move that number from Messenger to Business.
WhatsApp lets you migrate the account, including chat history and media. Start by updating Messenger, downloading Business from the store, and opening Business. You do not uninstall Messenger first.
WhatsApp recommends a backup before you move. A restore only works with the same phone number and the same Google Account or iCloud account that made the backup. WhatsApp cannot restore chats for you. The history is not on their servers.
Should I back up before I switch?
Yes. WhatsApp recommends a backup before you move the number. Do the backup in Messenger. Do not uninstall Messenger first.
On Android, open Messenger Settings, tap Chats, then Chat backup, then Back up. Stay signed into the Google Account you will still use when Business looks for that backup. WhatsApp backups are tied to the phone number and the Google Account that created them.
On iPhone, tap WhatsApp Settings or your profile picture, then Chats, then Chat backup, then Back up now. Stay on the same iCloud account.
Chats and media restore from the last successful backup only. Messages after that backup are not in it.
Do not use Chat Transfer for this move. WhatsApp says it is currently not possible to transfer chats on the WhatsApp Business app.
How do I move WhatsApp Messenger to WhatsApp Business on Android?
Update WhatsApp Messenger and download WhatsApp Business from the Google Play Store.
Open the WhatsApp Business app.
Read the WhatsApp Business app Terms of Service and, in some regions, the WhatsApp Business App Privacy Policy. Tap Agree and continue.
The WhatsApp Business app automatically identifies the number you are using in WhatsApp Messenger. Tap the option with your business number. If it is wrong, tap Use a different number, then follow the standard verification process.
Tap Continue then Allow so the app can access your chat history and media. WhatsApp contacts are not yet supported on the WhatsApp Business app, so WhatsApp contacts you created will be lost. In Messenger, turn off WhatsApp contacts in settings and save those contacts to the phone address book first.
WhatsApp sends an SMS with a six-digit code. Enter it to verify.
Create your business profile, then tap Next. You can keep editing the profile after the account is active.
The verification SMS goes to the number you verify. If that SIM cannot receive SMS, verification fails.
WhatsApp will search for backups tied to your phone number. If it finds one, you may be able to restore your chat history.
How do I move WhatsApp Messenger to WhatsApp Business on iPhone?
Update WhatsApp Messenger and download WhatsApp Business from the Apple App Store.
Open the app.
Read the terms. Tap Agree & continue.
The app automatically identifies the number you are using in WhatsApp Messenger. Tap that number. If it is wrong, tap Use a different number, then follow the standard verification process.
WhatsApp sends an SMS with a six-digit code. Enter it to verify. Skip this if iCloud Keychain is enabled and you already verified this number on the same phone.
Tap Continue then Continue, or Continue then Don't Allow, for address book access. WhatsApp contacts are not yet supported on the WhatsApp Business app, so WhatsApp contacts you created will be lost. In Messenger, turn off WhatsApp contacts in settings and save those contacts to the phone address book first.
Create your business profile, then tap Next. You can keep editing the profile after the account is active.
The verification SMS goes to the number you verify. If that SIM cannot receive SMS, verification fails.
WhatsApp will search for backups tied to your phone number. If it finds one, you may be able to restore your chat history.
Will I lose my chats?
You can migrate the account, including chat history and media. WhatsApp looks for a backup on that number. If it finds one, you may be able to restore the history.
The restore needs the same phone number and the same Google Account or iCloud account you used to make the backup. WhatsApp cannot restore, transfer, or delete your chats, contacts, or media for you, because the history is not stored on their servers.
WhatsApp contacts you created in Messenger are not yet supported on the Business app. They will be lost unless you turn WhatsApp contacts off in Messenger settings and save them to the phone address book first.
Can I use WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business on the same number?
No. You cannot link one phone number to both apps at the same time.
You can run both apps if each one has a different number. You can also move the same number from Messenger to Business, then back again.
Can I move back to WhatsApp Messenger?
Yes. You can transfer the account and chat history back to Messenger.
Catalog items and collections stay behind. Those features are unique to the Business app and cannot be transferred.
What do I get in the WhatsApp Business app?
The app is free on Android and iPhone. It has a business profile for address, email, and website, lists to organize contacts, and messaging tools to reply to customers quickly. Ordinary chats and photos still work the way they do in Messenger.
You can keep editing the profile after the account is active.