Leave WhatsApp and take your chat history with you. — Screenshot from website
Telegram has announced that users can now import chat history from other messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Line and KakaoTalk. The company said the feature works for both individual and group chats.
Android users wishing to bring their WhatsApp chats to Telegram can do so by choosing a contact, going to the three vertical dots next to the voice call symbol, and selecting More, then Export Chat. A Share bar will appear at the bottom for available options, from which users can select Telegram.
Users will also be asked if they want to include all media files such as photos, stickers, videos and even shared contacts in the chat, or just the chat history.
Then users will then be directed to Telegram to select the contact to complete the process.
It’s important that users update their Telegram app to the latest version first to see chat history appear as usual chat conversations on the app, or else it will only appear as a.txt file or a text document.
When the transfer process begins, the chat status will display the message “updating” as Telegram downloads the chat history.
If you have a lot of messages to import, then be prepared to wait a while to complete the process. The other person in the chat can also see all the messages that have been exported.
For iOS, users can select Contact Info/Group Info on WhatsApp, click Export chat and then pick Telegram in the Share menu.
The company’s video guide on how to perform the moving process appears to be taking a dig at WhatsApp. A person can be seen sending the message “I wish we can escape this place...” in a green-themed chat window interface with a wallpaper that will look familiar to WhatsApp users.
Here's how you can move your chats to Telegram if you're on Android. pic.twitter.com/VMq3mAeteq
— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) January 28,2021
This new feature comes at a time when the company said over 100 million new users have joined Telegram, “seeking more privacy and freedom”, in a blog post announcing the new feature.
WhatsApp came under fire earlier this month after it announced that it will be revising its privacy policy to share user data with parent company Facebook. Users were required to accept the new terms and services by Feb 8 if they want to continue using the services, or be blocked from the service. However, WhatsApp later announced that it allow people to review the policy until May 15.
Telegram also introduced other features such as the ability to adjust the volume of individual participants to higher or lower in voice chats. Group admins can even mute some participants.
It also announced that users can now report fake channels or groups that impersonate famous people or organisations. If users have encountered such channels or groups, they can report it by opening their profile page and selecting the three dotted line (...) > Report > Fake Account. Moderators will be assigned to check out the group.
Meanwhile, Signal which also reported gaining a huge amount of users due to the WhatsApp controversy announced that a chat wallpaper feature has arrived. Users can customise wallpapers for each chat or just use a default background. The update is available on Signal 5.3 for Android and iOS.
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