{"article":{"id":10074659364122,"url":"https://owssupport.zendesk.com/api/v2/help_center/en-us/articles/10074659364122.json","html_url":"https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/10074659364122-Backups-and-Device-Transfers-on-Signal","author_id":5861521618074,"comments_disabled":true,"draft":false,"promoted":true,"position":0,"vote_sum":0,"vote_count":0,"section_id":360001602792,"created_at":"2025-12-17T22:43:20Z","updated_at":"2026-07-17T10:16:26Z","name":"Backups and Device Transfers on Signal","title":"Backups and Device Transfers on Signal","source_locale":"en-us","locale":"en-us","outdated":false,"outdated_locales":[],"edited_at":"2026-06-16T20:58:43Z","user_segment_id":null,"permission_group_id":1709612,"content_tag_ids":[],"label_names":[],"body":"

Signal offers several secure options for backing up or transferring your messages, depending on your device and situation.
 

Signal Secure Backups are an optional, secure backup solution that store your messages and recent media using end-to-end encryption and a recovery key, allowing you to restore your chat history if your phone is lost, damaged, replaced, or even if you switch platforms.
 

On-device backups, available on Android and Desktop only, create encrypted backup files stored locally on your device and protected by a passphrase. These only work during Android device transfers or reinstalls on the same Android device, requiring the backup file. An Android or Desktop on-device backup file cannot be restored on an iPhone. 
 

Device to device transfers let you move your message history during setup between compatible phones on Android and iOS. Both devices must be available, and transfers only work within the same platform.
 

Together, these offerings balance privacy, security, and flexibility. The table below compares which option fits best for recovery and migration scenarios: 

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Use Case\n Signal Secure Backups\n \n Device Transfer
\n Android\n and\n iOS\n 		\n Android On-device backups\n
Reinstalling Signal, after a factory reset or app deletion✅ Yes❌ No✅ Yes
Phone lost, stolen, or damaged✅ Yes❌ No❌ No
\n Replace phone, same platform (Android to Android, old phone\n available)\n ✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
\n Replace phone, same platform (iOS to iOS, old phone available)\n ✅ Yes✅ Yes❌
\n Replace phone, different platform (Android to iOS, iOS to\n Android,\n old phone\n available)\n ✅ Yes❌ No❌ No
Upgrade to new phone (old phone not available)✅ Yes❌ No❌ No
\n Transfer phone, same platform (Android to Android, iOS to\n iOS)\n ✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
\n Transfer phone, different platform (Android to iOS, iOS to\n Android)\n ✅ Yes❌ No❌ No
Switch phones but want backup retained afterward✅ Yes❌ No (moves history)❌ No
I don't want to use Signal Secure Backups❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes
Need full media history (>45 days)✅ Paid tier✅ Yes✅ Yes
\n Recover chat history from linked Desktop\n ❌ No❌ No✅ Yes
\n Recover chat history from linked iPad\n ❌ No❌ No❌ No
\n New phone number\n ❌ No❌ No✅ Yes
\n
"}}