Telegram Working on Tool That Lets You Import WhatsApp Chats

Telegram is working on a way to let users import their chat history from WhatsApp so they won't lose old conversations if they switch messaging platforms.

Telegram app
An update to the app briefly appeared in the App Store on Wednesday detailing the new import tool, but another update was swiftly issued that removed all mention of the tool, suggesting Telegram is still developing it.

WABetaInfo was first to spot the feature and managed to play around with it to see how it works. Users will need to export individual WhatsApp chats using WhatsApp's Export Chat option, then select Telegram from the Actions menu.

Telegram then asks where the imported messages should go to, and offers options to choose an existing conversation or group or to create a new one. After the process is completed, all messages and media (if media was selected as part of the WhatsApp export) can be seen in the chat list labeled as "Imported."

whatsapp telegram import chats scaled
The import tool will be seen by many as a timely addition, after the recent exodus from WhatsApp prompted by the service's poorly explained privacy policy update. Rival encrypted messaging services Telegram and Signal both experienced a surge in signups following the controversy.

WhatsApp has since decided to delay the privacy policy changes for three months while it attempts to deal with the fallout, but it seems likely that for many former users of the Facebook-owned platform, the horse has already bolted.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 4:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Candidates

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:07 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1 updates for testing purposes. The RCs betas come a week after Apple released the fourth betas. The new betas can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

M6 MacBook Pro: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Monday October 27, 2025 9:15 am PDT by
Apple this month refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with its new M5 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026. However, these machines will represent the final update to the current design, with Apple reportedly developing a completely new version of the MacBook Pro packed with next-generation hardware...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
macos tahoe

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for macOS Tahoe 26.1

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:21 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of macOS Tahoe 26.1, which means the update will likely see a public launch next week. The release candidate includes notes on what's in the update, so we have a full picture of the new features that Apple has included. macOS Tahoe 26.1 adds AutoMix support over AirPlay, improved FaceTime audio...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Another Vehicle Brand Gaining iPhone Car Keys Support

Tuesday October 28, 2025 5:27 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to bring support for its digital car key feature to Jetour vehicles, according to evidence uncovered on Apple's backend by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Introduced in 2022, Car Keys allows an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock a vehicle through the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in Wallet, and unlocking can be done by holding an Apple Watch or...
ipad mini 7 feature blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday October 29, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
Rumors are stoking excitement for the next-generation iPad mini that Apple is reportedly close to launching. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to...

Top Rated Comments

Nozuka Avatar
62 months ago
Looking at that list, i don't think telegram is the best option.
https://www.securemessagingapps.com/
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yaxomoxay Avatar
62 months ago
Yep. The horse is bolted. Not going back, Zuck.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
62 months ago

I just don't get why Telegram should be that much better than Facebook, considering their history.
Personally I'd love my circle of friends to change to Signal.
Unfortunately for many kids and Millennials, popular is more important than safety.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cheesyappleuser Avatar
62 months ago
I just don't get why Telegram should be that much better than Facebook, considering their history.
Personally I'd love my circle of friends to change to Signal.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TiTwo102 Avatar
62 months ago

I just don't get why Telegram should be that much better than Facebook, considering their history.
Personally I'd love my circle of friends to change to Signal.
What « history » are you talking about ?

Personnally, I have choosen Telegram over Signal years ago because it offers true multi-devices support, possible because of the cloud system.

Of course it’s less secure than E2E encryption, but for now I have no reason to not trust Telegram. The day I will, I’ll switch to Signal.
And, if I want to, secret chat are available in Telegram.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GadgetBen Avatar
62 months ago
How long before Zucker pulls the plug on the chat export I wonder.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)