{"article":{"id":10870366816410,"url":"https://owssupport.zendesk.com/api/v2/help_center/en-us/articles/10870366816410.json","html_url":"https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/10870366816410-Signal-Desktop-Backups","author_id":5861521618074,"comments_disabled":false,"draft":false,"promoted":false,"position":0,"vote_sum":0,"vote_count":0,"section_id":360001602792,"created_at":"2026-06-05T20:06:11Z","updated_at":"2026-08-16T21:10:01Z","name":"Signal Desktop Backups","title":"Signal Desktop Backups","source_locale":"en-us","locale":"en-us","outdated":false,"outdated_locales":[],"edited_at":"2026-06-05T20:23:23Z","user_segment_id":null,"permission_group_id":1709612,"content_tag_ids":[],"label_names":[],"body":"<p>Signal Desktop backups let you create an end-to-end encrypted backup of your Signal Desktop data and restore it to Signal on your primary Android device. <br><br>*Restoring a Signal Desktop Backup on iOS is not currently supported. </p><hr><p><strong>Create a Signal Desktop Backup</strong></p><ul>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e7ab632bbd455d724f34ad184cf6f63d1\">Open Signal Desktop.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e9cca2ec77185cb689dc088b6ff77e37c\">Go to <strong>Settings</strong> &gt; <strong>Backups</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e01100d3778d8ca2d62b8ae45c6587fd4\">Under <strong>Other ways to back up</strong>, select <strong>Set up</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e14abae3a1b0787100dedfa7de18161f3\">If prompted, enter your computer password to authorize the setup.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e5646011db345b1958ec4b3d35e6538c7\">Choose the folder where you want the backup to be stored.<br><strong>Important:</strong> Do not rename the backup folder after it is created. </li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e3183cb91c14a8d704653f53dc2539bb0\">Signal will generate a 64-character recovery key.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"ea42a01cfc74effce11c37bf931f853dd\">Save the recovery key in a secure location. You will need this key to restore your backup.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"ea13811c918ab9b0c9189ff30cd5e5a53\">Confirm that you have stored the recovery key.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e7cdaa1b21eeb3be558349f8d8346306f\">Select <strong>Next</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"ed1d59092b1a078617703186eb3f1aa79\">Review the reminder to keep your recovery key safe, then select <strong>Continue</strong> to complete the setup.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e274a853916ea07caa66d9bd26674f6ef\">Once setup is complete, create a Signal Desktop backup.</li>\n</ul><hr><p><strong>Restore a Signal Desktop backup </strong></p><ul>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e13a9bd864bc5f5f81fa126d1b5661a11\">Install Signal on your primary Android device.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e007dc328e3f91fb793c239fdc58dcdf1\">Open Signal and tap <strong>Restore or transfer</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"ee50d22363e4bb6690df89faa9a9d3f58\">Select <strong>I don't have my old phone</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e0607855ba95dfa327211bb9fe0581379\">Select <strong>Restore on-device backup</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e410712fb7585885810620ad323fcfb89\">Enter your phone number.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e042dfc8221492f033c2bd31af24ffff3\">Tap <strong>Choose backup folder</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"ea8ea306b4068ab87de5d3d535a1c720d\">Select the backup folder that was created on your computer and transferred to your phone.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"ecbd95a6bdb11b2b7c515f88ac1e9eb34\">Tap <strong>Continue</strong>, then <strong>Use this folder</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e0e303f769d97fa0aa147a3640b2d9834\">Allow Signal to access the folder.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e32f833f1b1d95cb312806f67414577e1\">Tap <strong>Restore backup</strong>.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"eb1979e3ecd66da410a5fe388f36c6337\">Enter your 64-digit recovery key.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e925b406fd2e3e0b0fff4e87b1e09039c\">Choose the folder where future backups will be saved.</li>\n<li data-list-item-id=\"e493b3bd964d06c5e6a00de29276ea9cf\">Create and confirm your PIN to complete the setup.</li>\n</ul><p><strong>Note:</strong> Any previously linked devices will need to be relinked afterwards. </p><hr><p><strong>Relink Signal Desktop to Signal on your phone </strong></p><p>When you restore a Signal Desktop backup on your primary phone, the existing link between Signal on your phone and Signal Desktop is removed.</p><p>If needed, you can relink your device by opening Signal Desktop and clicking the yellow banner prompting you to reconnect your phone.</p>"}}