Can you backup Signal messages? The answer is yes, and we tell you how

When your phone breaks and you lose everything you had stored on it, it’s a shame. Losing photos hardly ever happens anymore; between iCloud and Google Photos, we are used to storing them in the cloud. However, with conversations, you are not always so lucky.

And what a shame to lose that fun conversation with your bestie or the first conversation you had with your partner via text. We are nostalgic creatures, what can we do?

Now, the well-known messageing app, Signal, has launched a new secure backup feature aims to solve the problem of losing your messages and media if your phone is lost or damaged.

How Signal secure backup works

The first thing you should know is that you can back up all your conversations and the last 45 days of your multimedia content for free.

If you want to keep it for more than 45 days, you will have to pay $1.99 per month. And remember, the feature is entirely optional.

• End-to-end encryption: The backups are encrypted, so only you can access them. The key to decrypting your backup is created on your device and is never stored on Signal’s servers. This means Signal itself cannot access your backup.
• Recovery key: To restore your backup, you will need a 64-character recovery key, which is generated on your device. Losing this key means losing access to your backup forever. It is important to store this key somewhere secure, like in a password manager.
• Daily backups: Your device automatically creates a new backup every day. The previous day’s backup is replaced, and messages or media that were deleted or set to disappear will no longer be included in the backup.

It is currently available only for Android beta testers, the feature will soon be rolled out to iOS and Desktop users. Signal also plans to allow you to store backups in a location of your choosing, with support for transferring data between devices in the future.

The goal of these backups is to help users keep their important conversations without compromising Signal’s privacy and security principles.

What is Signal app

Signal is a messaging app designed with privacy at its core. It allows you to send texts, voice messages, photos, videos, stickers, GIFs, and files for free, using your phone’s data connection to avoid extra fees like SMS or MMS charges. With Signal, you can make encrypted voice and video calls and host group calls with up to 50 people.

For larger groups, Signal supports chats with up to 1,000 members, and you have control over who can post and manage group members with admin permissions. You can also share images, text, and video Stories that disappear after 24 hours, with privacy settings that let you decide exactly who can see them.

The app is available for both Android and iOS users (iPhone and iPad). Also, you can use Singal on Windows, Mac or Linux devices.

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The app does not collect data or store information about who you are talking to, and its open-source Signal Protocol ensures that no one, not even Signal itself, can read your messages or listen to your calls. This means your communication is fully private.

Signal is independent and operates as a nonprofit. It is supported by donations, not advertisers or investors, which ensures that your privacy remains the priority, without the influence of commercial interests.

Image: Signal