Signal is rolling out secure message backups with both free and paid options, designed to protect your chats without compromising privacy. The company says moving and storing large amounts of data costs real money, and because it doesn’t collect or sell user data, a $1.99 subscription tier will help cover infrastructure expenses.
True to Signal’s privacy-first approach, backups use a zero-knowledge design. Backup archives are stored without any direct link to a payment method or your Signal account, preventing anyone—even Signal—from tying a backup to a specific user. Restoration relies on a recovery key generated on your device. This 64-bit key never touches Signal’s servers and is the only way to regain access to your backup. If you lose it, Signal cannot recover your data.
You can try secure backups right now by installing the latest beta version of the Android app from the Play Store and enabling the feature in Settings. Wider availability across Android, iOS, and desktop is planned soon.
Signal says the technology powering this initial release lays the groundwork for even more flexible, privacy-preserving options. Upcoming enhancements are expected to include saving a secure backup archive to a location you choose and seamless transfer of your encrypted message history between Android, iOS, and desktop devices.
What this means for you:
– Private by design: Zero-knowledge backups keep your data inaccessible to anyone but you.
– Recovery key required: Store your 64-bit key safely—losing it means losing access to your backup.
– Early access on Android: Opt in via the beta app today, with cross-platform support on the horizon.
– Future-proof foundation: More robust backup locations and cross-device encrypted transfers are in the pipeline.
For users who want encrypted backups without sacrificing control or privacy, this update brings a meaningful step forward and signals more cross-platform convenience to come.
